Hunter/Jumper riders bring home ribbons from Tulsa, Okla.

12/5/2011 Mary Ann Beahon
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (573) 592-1127

 

Twenty-one William Woods University students and one alumna recently returned from Tulsa, Okla., where they competed in the Oklahoma Holiday Finale Horse Show, sponsored by the Oklahoma Hunter Jumper Association.

Also attending the competition Nov. 16-20 were four WWU student grooms and a WWU student videographer and photographer.
 
“The season-end competition was the result of several months of hard work by student riders,” said Dr. Linda McClaren, professor of equestrian studies. “All WWU riders had the opportunity to work with their show horses to prepare them for the national level, A-rated show, and they brought home an array of ribbons for their efforts.”
 
The following students showed in the hunter divisions:
 
Kirsten Schwall of New Lebanon, Ohio, rode Varena in the 2’6” Low Hunters, Baby Green Hunters and Modified Child/Adult Hunters. The pair brought home numerous second place ribbons and never placed lower than sixth.  Schwall and Varena won a Reserve Championship in the Baby Green Hunters.
 
Ellie Cole of Friendswood, Texas, showed Reno in the 3’ Low Hunters and the Children’s Hunters. They received first place in the Children’s Hunters O/F class and brought home a variety of other ribbons, never placing below seventh.
 
Ashley Martin of Belvidere, Ill., rode Glory Road in the 3’ Low Hunters and the 3’ and the Amateur Adult Hunters. They won their 3’ Low Hunter class and brought home numerous other ribbons. Ashley and Glory Road also galloped to 10th place in the prestigious Washington International Horse Show/Marshall Sterling (WIHS/MS) Adult Hunter Classic and a Reserve Championship in the Low Hunters.
 
Elizabeth Cato of Grapevine, Texas, showed Timeless in the 3’ Low Hunters and the 3’ Amateur Adult Hunters, as well as in the MS & THIS NAT Adult Medal class and an Adult Equitation on the flat class. The pair won three classes, including first place in the WIHS & MS Hunter Classic. Finishing up with a Reserve Championship in the Adult Amateur Hunters 18-35, Cato and “Timmie” were the toast of the hunter ring for WWU.
 
Melanie Hemstreet of Issaquah, Wash., rode J Arthur in the 3’ Low Hunters and the 3’Amateur Adult Hunters, as well as in the WIHS/MS Adult Hunter Classic, the MS & THIS NAT Adult Medal class and an Adult Equitation on the flat class. Horse and rider brought home numerous ribbons and never placed lower than eighth.
 
Stephanie Fisher of Coppell, Texas, showed the young hunter Catillac in the 2’6” Low Hunters and the Baby Green Hunters. This show was the first national level show for “Cat.” Fisher is training Cat as part of her Mentor-Mentee project collaboration with McClaren. Fisher and Cat earned several ribbons and never placed lower than sixth place.
 
Ashley Dorion of Hinckley, Ill., rode Remington in the 3’ Low Hunter and the 3’ Amateur Adult Hunter, as well as the WIHS/MS Adult Hunter Classic (4th) and the MS & THIS NAT Adult Medal class. They received several ribbons and never placed lower than eighth.
 
Hannah Podgorski of Glastonbury, Conn., showed What the Doctor Ordered in the 2’6” Low Hunters and the 2’9” Modified Child/Adult Hunters. They received first place for their warm up trip on Saturday, and brought home several other ribbons, never placing below seventh.
 
Anna Miller of Tulsa, Okla., rode Sam I Am in the 3’ Low Hunters and the 3’ Amateur Adult Hunters, as well as in the WIHS/MSTER Adult Hunter Classic (9th), the MS & THIS NAT Adult Medal class and an Adult Equitation on the flat class. The pair brought home numerous ribbons.
 
Geri Crawford of Plano, Texas, showed Astound in the 2’3” Beginner Rider Hunters, the 2’3” Very Low Hunters and the 2’6” Low Hunters, as well as in two Beginner Equitation classes. They won a 2’6” Low Hunter class and received several other ribbons. The pair never placed below seventh.
 
Ali Strakal of Tulsa, Okla., rode Merlin in the 3’ Low Hunters and the Children’s Hunters. The pair received first place in one of their 3’ Low Hunter classes and brought home a variety of other ribbons, never placing below eighth.
 
 
The following riders competed in the jumper divisions:
 
Marie Arnold of Waterloo, Ill., rode Bon Voyage in the .90 meter Jumper, 1 meter Low Adult Jumper, and 1.05 meter Low Adult Jumper classes and placed no lower than eighth.
 
Jacque Franco of San Diego, Calif., showed Shadow Fax in the 1.05 meter Jumper, 1.10 meter High Adult Jumper, and 1.15 meter High Adult Jumper classes. The pair received ribbons no lower than fifth place and won their 1.15 meter High Adult Jumper class. Franco and Shadow Fax earned a Reserve Championship in the High Adult Jumper Division.
 
Freshman Victoria Berlin of Southlake, Texas, showed Voilá in the .90 meter Jumper, 1 meter Low Adult Jumper, and 1.05 meter Low Adult Jumper classes. Berlin did a great job with Voilá, introducing this young horse to her first “A” show. They brought home a variety of ribbons and placed no lower than eighth.
 
Meghan Plum of Polo, Mo., showed Omnistarr in the .80 meter Jumper, .90 meter Jumper and the 1 meter Low Adult Jumper classes. They placed no lower than fourth and won the .90 meter Jumper and the 1 meter Low Adult Jumper. In addition, Plum and Omnistarr rode to a Reserve Championship in the Low Adult Jumpers.
 
Heather Cieszynski of Warrenville, Ill., rode Chin Chin in the 1 meter Jumper and the 1 meter Low Adult Jumper classes. They received ribbons no lower than third and they won two of their 1 meter Jumper classes and one class of the 1 meter Low Adult Jumper classes.  Cieszynski rode Chin Chin to a Championship in the Low Adult Jumpers and a fourth place in the Child/Adult Jumper Classic.
 
Sarah Slutz of Middleton, Idaho, rode Nefris in the 1.05 meter Adult Jumper Classic and the 1.10 meter High Adult Jumper classes. The pair won both of their 1.10 meter High Jumper classes, earning a Championship in that division. 
 
Jenna Martin of Valley Center, Calif., rode Rise Above in the .90 meter Jumper classes. The pair received several ribbons and never placed below eighth.
 
Meagan Baker of Larkspur, Colo., showed another young horse, Willoux in the .80 meter Jumper and the .90 meter Jumper classes. Baker galloped Willoux to several ribbons and never placed below eighth.
 
 
Brianna Harris of Garden City, Mo., rode Colonia in the .80 meter Jumper, .90 meter Jumper, 1 meter Low Adult Jumper and the 1.05 Low Adult Jumper classes. The pair brought home a variety of ribbons, and won a first place of their .90 meter Jumper classes, tying for Reserve Champion in that division.
 
Kristen Busher of St. Petersburg, Fla., showed Flint in the .80 meter Jumper, .90 meter Jumper, and the 1 meter Low Adult Jumper. They never placed lower than sixth and won one of their .80 meter Jumper classes, and one of their .90 meter Jumper classes. Busher and Flint sped to a tie for Reserve Championship in the .90 meter jumpers.
 
Colleen Harper-Herzog, a WWU alumna from Fulton, Mo., showed Vaterunser in the .80 meter Jumper classes and received ribbons no lower than fourth.