Catherine Sharp and Church Mouse
One of the annual highlights for Finally Farm riders is the Capital Challenge Horse Show, held September 27-October 5 in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. The show is the first of the major East Coast fall indoor shows and features the finals of the United States Hunter Jumper Association World Championship Hunter Rider Awards program.
After claiming the WCHR Professional Finals victory last year, Finally Farm's Liza Boyd returned to the show for the WCHR Professional Challenge. What a difference a year makes! Liza now has a new daughter named Adeline, and last year's mount Quatrain, now owned by Laura Critz, earned the WCHR National 3'3" Reserve Championship with his new rider.
Liza Boyd and Quatrain
Because Liza was out for most of the season on maternity leave, she wasn't able to qualify to defend her WCHR Pro Finals title, but she did contest the WCHR Pro Challenge. And Laura generously lent her Quatrain for the class.
"He was great, and it was a fun class," said Liza, who earned scores of 88, 86.25 and 90 from the panel of judges. "The competition was fierce, and I was thrilled to take fourth place in such tough company. The scores were outstanding!"
Grace Howard and Bethel's Peri
Finally Farm's Junior Hunters collected impressive ribbons throughout the week, including Quatrain and Laura, Summer Place and Maddy Thatcher, Bethel's Peri and Grace Howard and Eloise and Stella Styslinger.
Pony rider Catherine Sharp guided Church Mouse to solid rounds in the Small Pony section and qualified for and competed in the WCHR Pony Challenge, where she had some impressive jumps!
The Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers at Capital Challenge are always super competitive, and Maddy was right in the mix with her mounts. A highlight was fourth place in the North American 1.35m Challenge with Licapo.
In the Amateur-Owner Hunters, Erin McGuire and Casallo added to their ribbon collection with top placings in the 3'6", 18-35 section, and JoAnn Loheac and Chestnut Avenue earned several ribbons in the competitive 3'3", 36 and over, section.
Liza also made her debut as a commentator, working with Tom Brennan during the WCHR Professional Finals on the USEF Network's live feed, where she earned rave reviews!
The WCHR Southeast Regional Awards were finalized at Capital Challenge, with Finally Farm riders receiving multiple championships, including:
- Tracey London - Adult Amateur
- Erin McGuire - Amateur-Owner 3'6"
- Laura Critz - Junior 3'3"
- Grace Howard - Junior 3'6"
Trainer awards included:
- Jack Towell and Liza Boyd - Amateur-Owner, 3'6"
- Jack Towell, Liza Boyd and Courtney Goldstein - Adult Amateur
- Jack Towell and Liza Boyd - Junior 3'3"
- Jack Towell and Liza Boyd - Junior 3'6"
Finally Farm would also like to congratulate Hardin Towell for jumping to third place in the $55,000 Land Rover Grand Prix of Sacramento aboard Jennifer Gates' Silence. The class, an FEI World Cup Qualifier, was one of the featured events of the Sacramento International Horse Show, September 30-October 5, in California.
Finally Farm's next stop is the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, which runs October 10-18 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
