Goetzmann and Zettler Triumph in $10,000 WIHS Children’s and Adult Hunter Championships at Washington
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54th Annual Washington International Horse Show Hosts Opening Day |
| Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
WASHINGTON, (Jennifer Woods) – The 54th Annual Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) hosted its opening day on Tuesday, October 23, with a full day of hunter competition at Verizon Center in downtown Washington, D.C. The professional and amateur-owner riders showed throughout the day in the first classes of their divisions and conclude their competition for championship honors on Wednesday. The children’s and adult hunter riders competed for their championships in the evening. The WIHS continues its six-day competition through Sunday, October 28. The $10,000 WIHS Children’s Hunter Championship was the opening class of the evening session with 29 entries competing. J.P. Godard, of Aiken, SC, set the course and the top 12 entries from round one returned for a second round over fences. Coming out on top, Madison Goetzmann, of Skaneateles, NY, earned scores of 76 and 82 for a combined total of 158 aboard Sirius Black, owned by Christina Gellos. For the win, the pair was awarded the H. Fenwick Kollock Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by Friends of Fen. Catherine Rodda guided her horse Weekend Affair to second place honors with scores of 82 and 73 for a 155 total. Third place was awarded to Emma Fass and Son of a Sailor with a 154 point score (83 and 71.5). “I have had lots of success with Black,” the rider stated after her win. “He is pretty easy. He was my first horse that I have gotten, so he was a great starter horse.”
“He needs a forward ride; he is really lazy, but he lit up in this ring a little bit,” she stated. “Actually both of my horses did, so I didn’t need as much leg as I usually do.” “My first round on Black was good; I had one jump that messed me up to get a lower score, but the second round I really liked,” she stated. “He was really good in the second round; it was consistent.” “On Balisto, my first round was really good and I felt really good on him, and my second round we just had that one long jump,” Goetzmann admitted. “He is new to this kind of show indoors, but I have more shows to come on him, so I have more tries.” “I have really good trainers,” she acknowledged. “I have improved so much. I started out on small ponies just cantering around and now I have made my way up to here.” On showing at WIHS, Goetzmann described, “I like this show because it is different. Obviously you would wish for a bigger schooling area and a bigger ring, but that makes it special I guess. I like being in the middle of the city because during the day my dad and I walked around and went to some museums. It was fun; there is a lot of stuff around here.” Amy Zettler and Glad Rags Take the Win in the The $10,000 WIHS Adult Amateur Hunter Championship concluded day one at the 2012 WIHS with 31 entries showing over the first round course. The top twelve were brought back and Amy Zettler, of Aldie, VA, rode her horse Glad Rags to the championship with scores of 79 and 82 for a 161 point total. y “I’m just so thrilled,” Zettler beamed after her win. “We had a little bit of a challenge at Harrisburg, so to come back and be this great, I’m so proud of him. He was a little nervous going into Harrisburg. Here he was so relaxed and so confident; it makes me thrilled.” “We had an incredible year,” she continued. “He was second in the $250,000 HITS Hunter Prix. We got $45,000 for that class. To top it off with being first here is just incredible! I could not ask for a better year; it’s just amazing.” On showing at the WIHS, Zettler described, “I think if you have never been here before and aren’t a horse person you would think this was crazy, stalls underneath here and everything, but what an opportunity. Who gets to say they get to ride at Verizon Center? You get to watch hockey here, but to go in here and ride? It’s amazing and a great opportunity.” Zettler’s husband is on a six-month deployment in the military and she looks forward to telling him about the big win when he returns. She also thanked her trainers Peter Foley and Dale Crittenberger of Woodhall Farm in Virginia, who she has been riding with for three years. “They’re just incredible; I couldn’t ask for better trainers,” she smiled. The Fairfax Hunt Race Association Challenge Trophy was awarded to Scott Stewart and Enjoy, owned by Rose Hill Farm, for the best Green Working Hunter handy round. The pair had a high score of 87 as the overall winner of classes 23 and 33, also a First Year horse. The WIHS is excited to announce that the $100,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix, CSI 3*-W will be aired on NBC Sports Network on Sunday, October 28, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. EST. The show will also be live streamed in its entirety at www.wihs.org, and also available on USEF Network on Saturday evening at www.usefnetwork.com. WIHS tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000. General admission is $15 Tuesday through Sunday with children 12 and under admitted free for daytime performances before 5 p.m., courtesy of Washington Area Chevrolet Dealers. Reserved and VIP tickets are available for evening performances. Ending times are approximate. For Discounted Group Sales, call 202-661-5061. Tickets also may be purchased in person at the Verizon Center Box Office. For information about Verizon Center accessible seating and services, call 202-661-5065 (TTY). Full ticket information can be found by visiting www.wihs.org/tickets/. For full results, more information, or to watch the free live feed of the show, please visit www.wihs.org. Final Results: $10,000 Children’s Hunter Championship 1 359 SIRIUS BLACK Madison Goetzmann Christina Gellos 76.000 82.000 158.000 Final Results: $10,000 Adult Hunter Championship 1 731 GLAD RAGS Amy Zettler Amy Zettler 79.000 82.000 161.000 Photo Credit: Photos © Shawn McMillen Photography, www.shawnmcmillen.com. These photos may only be used in relation to this press release and with full photo credit. About the Washington International Horse Show (www.wihs.org) An equestrian tradition since 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is the country’s leading metropolitan indoor horse show and the pinnacle of the equestrian year with top riders, including Olympic medalists and their world-class horses. More than 500 horses participate in show jumping, hunter and equitation events during the six-day show, with many competing all year just to qualify. Highlights include the $100,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix (a World Cup qualifier), the Puissance (high jump) and WIHS Equitation Finals featuring the country’s top junior riders. Exciting equestrian exhibitions, boutique shopping and community activities, such as Kids’ Day and Breakfast with the Mounted Police, round out this family-friendly event. Since its debut, the WIHS has been a Washington, D.C. institution attended by celebrities, business, military, and diplomatic leaders, as well as countless horse enthusiasts of all ages. Washington International Horse Show Association, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. © 2012 Jennifer Wood Media Inc. |
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