Upperville, Va. – June 6, 2018 – The professional hunter divisions at the 2018 Upperville Colt & Horse Show (UCHS), presented by St. Bride’s Farm, concluded on Wednesday with Scott Stewart taking home the top honor of Grand Champion Hunter with Dr. Betsee Parker’s Lucador. They were presented with the Sallie J. Sexton Challenge Trophy, donated by Sallie’s family, after acquiring the greatest number of points in one or more of the rated hunter divisions. Additionally, Stewart also claimed the Leading Hunter Rider award and the Charlie Weaver Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by Pamela Vance, Brian Simonson and his friends and family, for his top finishes throughout the start of the 2018 UCHS. As part of his prize, Stewart received a Journeymen custom bridle leather belt and name plate.
Stewart, who is based out of his own Rivers Edge Farm in Flemington, New Jersey, campaigned the 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding in the High Performance Conformation Hunter division, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest M. Oare, where the pair won five out of the division’s six classes for the championship tricolor and the Weather Permitting Perpetual Trophy, donated by Mr. August A. Busch, Jr. and Cismont Manor Farm, for the second year in a row. Lucador’s championship cooler was graciously donated by Mr. and Mrs. Sydney D. Hall.
In conjunction with the Leading Hunter Rider award, Stewart’s partner and trainer Ken Berkley was presented with the Leading Hunter Trainer award and the Eggie Mills Memorial Trophy, donated by Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Drunagel and friends.
Prior to Wednesday’s awards presentations, Stewart also secured the High Performance Hunter championship with Dr. Parker’s Cameo, where the division and championship cooler were sponsored by the Gochman family. The pair claimed the Beau Mac Perpetual Award, donated by Mr. Charles R. McGinnes, after winning two of the over fences classes and the undersaddle class, and placing third in the handy round. Reserve champion went to Samantha Schaefer and Madeline’s In The Know.
The Huntland Conformation Hunter Challenge Series, sponsored by Dr. Parker and Huntland, was won by Chris Wynne, who also won the award in 2017, of Breckenridge Manor in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and his own Gus for accumulating the most points in the Green and High Performance Conformation Hunter divisions throughout the Lexington Spring Premier, Lexington Spring Encore, Keswick Horse Show and Upperville Colt & Horse Show.
Coming up on Thursday at the Upperville Colt & Horse Show, Amateur-Owner Hunter competition will kick-off in the Main Hunter Ring, while Hunter Ring II will feature the Local Pony Hunter divisions.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Scott Stewart – 2018 UCHS Grand Champion Hunter and Leading Hunter Rider
On winning the Grand Champion Hunter and Leading Hunter Rider titles at the 2018 Upperville Colt & Horse Show:
“It’s exciting! We’ve been making this a goal for us. The horses went really nicely [this week] and it’s always great to show here. I was really happy with my horses, Lucador especially. This is only his third horse show of the year. He did Week Six in Florida, then Devon, where he was reserve champion to Private Life, and now here. He won’t show again until the Hampton Classic probably and then indoors.”
On Lucador:
“We’ve had him since he was 5 coming 6. Betsee [Parker] bought him from Brian Walker. He started doing the Green Conformation that next year as a 6-year-old. He’s been a really consistent, good horse.”
On what qualities make Lucador special:
“He’s a beautiful horse, a beautiful mover and a beautiful jumper — he really has it all. He’s probably one of the best movers we’ve ever had.”
On Lucador’s routine at home:
“He doesn’t really jump much at home. Samantha Darling rides him every day at home. I maybe will jump him two or three times before his next show. Overall, he has a pretty easy life.”
On Lucador’s development:
“He’s always been really brave and has all of the good qualities. He’s grown up a lot and has really matured under saddle. He used to be a little fresh sometimes. He’s still a little bit like that. He has a little bit of character to him for sure.”