MCTA HORSE TRIALS AT SHAWAN DOWNS
May 2-3, 2009
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| Winner of the Advanced Division: Charlie Plumb on Westerly. |
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MCTA HT at SHAWAN DOWNS 2009 - One Wet, Wild Weekend
April showers bring May flowers; but those showers continuing into the first weekend in May made for an interesting event at the MCTA Horse Trials at Shawan Downs.
Early spring heat during the prior week yielded to comfortable temperatures for the first day, with fabulous turf and blooms everywhere. Saturday was devoted to all three phases at Training level, with Advanced and Intermediate riders competing in dressage and show jumping in the afternoon.
Sunday morning dawned gray and damp, quickly progressing to a mild monsoon as Advanced competitors took to the cross country course promptly at 7:45 AM. Four of the 10 starting Advanced riders completed the course. Steady rain continued as Intermediate and Preliminary riders contested cross country, and Prelims and Novices splashed through dressage and show jumping. Easing by the afternoon to intermittent showers, the rain gave way to bright overcast conditions as Novices competed in all three phases on Sunday.
Several riders brought more than one or two horses to MCTA HT at Shawan Downs. Entries for 2009 totaled 432 horses.
Course Designer Tremaine Cooper’s cross country jumps challenged riders with their natural quality and technical questions. Walter Reynolds’ landscape beautification celebrated the season and made jumps inviting. Kathy White oversaw the stadium courses for all levels. Several dressage rings ran under the watchful eye of Gretchen Butts and Cathy Tucker Slaterbeck. Organizers Marie and David Wisner tackled event management with their office and construction teams. More than a hundred volunteers braved the rain and chill to jump judge, start and time riders, manage dressage and show jumping arenas, direct traffic, collect score sheets, score tests, hand out awards, manage the temporary barn area, and tend to a myriad of other stations and tasks. More than 20 volunteers took advantage of a cross country clinic given by competitor Sally Cousins at Shawan Downs in the days following the event.
Division Winners:
Advanced
1 Charles Plumb Westerly
2 Alison Springer Destination Known
3 India McEvoy Master’s Choice
4 Phillip Dutton Longfield Dougal
Intermediate A
1 Laura Ward Golden Opportunity
Intermediate B
1 Sally Cousins Kestrel Key
Preliminary
1 Jamie Furtado Come Out and Play
Preliminary YR Open
1 Katherine Bagwell Ballyduff Ben
Preliminary Open A
1 Kurt Martin Sir Jearly
Preliminary Open B
1 Jennie Brannigan Cambalda
Training
1 Amanda Caputo Noteworthy
Training Open A
1 Lisa Horan Olando
Training Open B
1 Emily Beshear Vince
Training Horse A
1 Lynn Symansky Donner
Training Horse B
1 Leahona Rowland Brusco
Training Junior
1 Jamie Farah CK Dexter Haven
Training Rider
1 Holly Covey Rugby II
Novice
1 Abby Gibbon Prima LGF
Novice Horse
1 Kayla Muller Oakengrove Giselle
Novice Junior A
1 Catherine Hanagan Jersey
Novice Junior B
1 Taylor Ludlum Exodus
Novice Rider
1 Trish Gordon Ella G.S.
Novice Open A
1 Raymond Vinoski Back Street Girl
Novice Open B
1 Jennifer Ward Enough Testing
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