Devon, Pa. – May 29, 2017 – The Adult Amateur Jumper division wrapped up on Monday at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair with 23-year-old Lindsey Tomeu of Wellington, Florida, winning the championship aboard DBHC, Inc.’s Bonapart after claiming the first two classes of the division and finishing sixth in the $7,500 NAL/WIHS Adult Amateur Jumper Classic.
After earning reserve champion in the same division in 2016 at the Devon Horse Show, Tomeu was determined to return to Devon in 2017 with her sights set on the championship.
The talented pair are no strangers to the winner’s circle as they captured back-to-back victories in the North American League (NAL) Adult Amateur Jumper Final at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in 2014 and 2015. However, this year, they were finally able to add the Adult Amateur Jumper championship at the Devon Horse Show to their list of accomplishments.
Tomeu, who trains with Michael DelFiandra and Ali and Shane Sweetnam out of Sweet Oak Farm, and the 16-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding kicked off their week at Devon on Sunday with a blue ribbon in the first class of the division, besting an original starting field of 20 horses and riders and a 14-horse jump-off. They continued their winning ways on in to Monday’s second round of competition, finishing with the fastest double-clear effort once again out of 17 contenders.
Monday evening’s $7,500 NAL/WIHS Adult Amateur Jumper Classic saw 10 combinations jump clear over the Kelvin Bywater-designed course to advance to the jump-off, and it was Kendra Sue Walmer and Andrew Ross’ Electra who outpaced the competition to take home the Devon blue. Walmer was awarded the reserve championship for her top performances, while Tomeu grabbed the tricolor as well as the Judy Hill Groves Memorial Challenge Trophy to conclude the Adult Amateur Jumper division.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Lindsey Tomeu
On her win:
“It was like a fairy tale, really. Last year we came and I was first and second, and then had an unfortunate rail in the classic. I came trying to be better than that so I would say I succeeded because I was reserve champion last year. It would’ve been an amazing feat to win all three classes, and that’s what I was going for, but things happen. [Bonapart] went beautifully. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. To go home with two blues and a champion ribbon from Devon is anybody’s dream!”
On Bonapart:
“This is my fourth year showing him. He is my horse-of-a-lifetime. I will never have another animal like him. He is my favorite and he will live with me forever! We mold very well together. He has so much personality. He loves to show and he wants to win, and you can tell. I think the crowd really gets him excited. He has all sorts of tiny quirks, which makes him even more special and he’s just funny and a gem to live with. I’ve been riding my whole life but Bono is the one who has taken my career to a whole new level. Everywhere I could ever dream of he’s taken me.”
On the Devon Horse Show:
“It’s not like any other horse show. The fair and the fact that everything is run by volunteers is amazing. It’s old school. You have carriage horses coming down the road right now! It’s a totally different experience. For the adult jumpers, no where else do you show with a crowd like this and I think that’s really cool.”
RESULTS
$7,500 NAL/WIHS Adult Amateur Jumper Classic:
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / Round One Faults / Time / Round Two Faults / Time
1. Electra / Kendra Sue Walmer / Andrew Ross / 0 / 65.035 / 0 /32.290
2. Kashmire / Lucy Mitchell-Innes / Comfortside Farm / 0 / 65.088 / 0 / 34.668
3. Orlando / Hope Batchelor DVM / Hope Batchelor DVM / 0 / 67.965 / 0 / 35.480
4. Elbo VDL / Angela Pollex / Angela Pollex / 0 / 67.748 / 0 / 36.029
5. David / Samantha Karp / Samantha Karp / 0 / 63.808 / 0 / 36.413
6. Bonapart / Lindsey Tomeu / DBHC, Inc. / 0 / 66.460 / 4 / 31.514
7. Belle Bleu S / Kelly Bauernschmidt / Kelly Bauernschmidt / 0 / 66.404 / 4 / 33.846
8. Charmander / Kimberly Beattie / Kimberly Beattie / 0 / 66.618 / 4 / 35.479
9. Witte Van Bost Z / Sarah Wood / Sarah Wood / 0 / 70.803 / 4 / 41.858
10. Face Value / Wendy Chapot Nunn / Chado Farms / 0 / 64.319 / OffCrs / 0.000
Sandy Ferrell and Because Start Strong in Green 3’9″ Hunter Division
It was a cool and cloudy Monday on Memorial Day at the Devon Horse Show, but Sandy Ferrell, of Belair, Maryland, and Aizlynn Radwanski’s Because out shined the competition in the first over fences round of the Green 3’9″ Hunter division to ultimately capture the blue ribbon. Tuesday’s classes will conclude the division and a new champion will be crowned, which Ferrell is hoping to achieve with her newly-acquired mount.
The Dixon Oval saw Ferrell ride around the Allen Rheinheimer-designed course, where Because’s textbook-style jump and steady rhythm proved impressive to both judges. The 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding was recently purchased by amateur rider, Radwanski, from Lane Change Farm at the end of the Florida winter circuit.
Although it was his first time in the famed Dixon Oval, Because was able to maintain his composure and channel his energy into studying the natural hunter fences to produce a beautiful effort over each one. Ferrell piloted her partner to a score of 89 and is hopeful that he will continue his winning performances on Tuesday to secure more top honors for Ferrell’s Royall Show Hunters team.
Radwanski, of Mohnton, Pennsylvania, is also looking forward to having her turn in the Dixon Oval this weekend and solidifying her partnership with Because in the Amateur-Owner 3’6″ Hunter division.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Sandy Ferrell
On Because:
“He felt amazing. We just acquired him for the Radwanski family at the end of Florida. Obviously, this is the biggest venue we’ve ever had him at so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. He did get a little nervous walking into the ring for the first time. There’s a lot to take in here. It’s Monday, it’s a big crowd and we’re not always used to that in the hunter ring, but there’s one thing about this horse — he does not have the capability of jumping a bad jump. Even though he was a little nervous, he studied the jumps today and it kept his brain where it needed to be.”
On her winning trip:
“As the rider, I messed up the second round but it was wonderful to have him be a little bit nervous the first round and come back the second time and just go around like he has done it his whole life. He really is an amazing horse to ride.”
On the owner, Aizlynn Radwanski:
“[Aizlynn Radwanski] is a younger amateur and she’ll also be showing here. I just got to be the lucky rider today, but she’s learned to ride him beautifully. I think we’re going to have a great weekend.”
On the Devon Horse Show:
“I think everyone knows it is one of the most prestigious shows and arenas that we can ride in. I think it’s just everything and the ambience of being here is unlike any other. This is one of the oldest horse shows, which says a lot for the people that run this organization. The fact that it has lasted this long and kept its prestige is really special.”
Richard O’Donnell Earns Back-to-Back Horse Pairs Championship
Molly Neville Claims Single/Pair Pony Driving Championship
Spectators gathered around the Dixon Oval on Memorial Day to witness the presentation of the tricolors for the Horse Pairs and the Single/Pair Pony Driving championship. Richard O’Donnell, president of the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, received the Challenge Trophy and Horse Pairs championship title for the second year in a row after accumulating the most points throughout the three classes of the division over the course of Sunday and Monday.
The O’Donnell team drove to victory in comfort in their 1880 Spider Phaeton. The Philadelphia-native carriage is one of 16 vintage vehicles the O’Donnell’s own and have on display in their home-base museum.
Next, the evening’s events shifted attention to the ponies, where Molly Neville and Helen Lenahan’s ponies returned to the winner’s circle, after winning Sunday’s Carriage Pleasure Drive championship, to earn the Single/Pair Pony Driving championship. Neville earned the most points over the two-day competition in her Relhok Serenity Blue carriage to receive the Joseph M. Pierce Challenge Trophy. It was a bittersweet win for Neville as Lenahan recently passed.
Championship aprons throughout both divisions on Monday were presented to O’Donnell and Neville by Misdee Wrigley Miller.
The Four-in-Hand Coaching division was also a featured event in the Monday evening session, with John White earning the win in the Excelsior Road Coach after also receiving the Devon blue in the event last year. Four-in-Hand Coaching competition will continue throughout the week at the Devon Horse Show and County Fair.
The Best Tailgate Picnic Trophy and the Gilbert Sheck Memorial Challenge Trophy was also awarded on Monday evening with the title going to William Venditta and the Brewster Coach.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Molly Neville
On her second championship win at the 2017 Devon Horse Show:
“It’s bittersweet. I wish [Helen] could have been here with me for the win. It’s tough but I was happy that [the ponies] were good girls. I know Helen was with me. I’m glad I could do it for Helen.”
On her first time competing at the Devon Horse Show:
“It’s exciting! It’s one of the top horse shows and like no other. It’s really wonderful.”
