On the final day of WCHR week, 73 horse and rider combinations came to compete in the Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Hunter Classic, held in the International Arena. After the first round, the riders with the top 24 scores came back in reverse order for a second course. At the end of the two rounds, Schaefer Raposa of Clinton, NY, and Lucille were crowned the winner of section A. Finishing behind Raposa in section A was Brooke Banks riding Brodeur and Caitlin Boyle with her own Iceman rounded out the top three. This week was Lucille’s first show in the United States and the first time competing in the International Arena. The six year-old mare was imported earlier this year from Europe by David Raposa and got to the WEF show grounds for the first time on Tuesday. “I flew in from school on Thursday night, and we debuted in the [E.R. Mische] Grand Hunter ring on Friday,” Raposa started, “She [Lucille] was super brave and marched right around. My dad decided that we should do the classic, and today she was great!” Returning from the first round in third place, Raposa earned a score of 86 in the second round to move into the top spot. “Going into the second round I thought to myself, ‘Okay don’t chip the last jump,’” Raposa laughed, “She [Lucille] felt really nice and after the first few jumps, I knew she was on it and I just had to find my distances.” The section B winner of the Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Hunter Classic went to Megan McCann, from Washington, D.C., riding Laura Flanagan’s horse, First Look. First Look remained consistent over both rounds earning scores of 84 and 84.5. Cynthia Sulzberger piloted Red Carpet to a second place finish in section B and Kimberly Maloomian and Urlala ended the day in third place. McCann started showing First Look, an 11-year-old Warmblood gelding, two years ago after her sister stopped competing. Today was McCann’s first time in the International Arena, but she knew First Look was ready for the new environment. “I felt good. I knew when I went in for the first round that he felt really relaxed. We went in there, took a breath and he was great,” McCann noted. Currently, McCann is flying down to Florida on weekends as much as she can to compete in the Adult Hunters. McCann balances working full time in commercial real estate while riding at a competitive level. Despite a busy schedule, McCann hopes to return to WEF at least a few more times during the second half of the circuit. In the $5,000 Amateur-Owner 3’3” Classic, Caroline Moran and her own Bacardi bested a field of 37 entries. A score of 89 in the first round advanced them to the top 12 where a 92 handily took the victory. In a borrowed shadbelly – because she couldn’t find her own this morning – Moran took all the luck she could get to redeem a rough ride earlier in the week in the International Arena. “My horse [Bacardi] has been amazing all week, but I did not ride the best out here on Friday,” she said. “I wouldn’t have done the class except that I wanted to end on a good note, and I definitely accomplished that.” source: Press/EQunews.com - photo: Sportfot
