The summer of 2020 brought some challenges, but The Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show endured for its 97th year , allowing the Finally Farm team a sense of normalcy. With wins, championships and grand championships throughout the two weeks in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, July 21-August 2.
Special award winners included:
Wells Fargo Leading Open Jumper Bonus – Erin McGuire
Wells Fargo Rider Bonus Award – Liza Boyd
Cymraeg Rain Beau Memorial Trophy Best Child Rider Pony Week 1 – Elle Boyd
Diane Ward Memorial Trophy Winner USHJA International Hunter Derby - Cassico, owned by Rebekah Warren and ridden by Liza Boyd
Jim Breedlove Memorial Trophy Most Money Won Open Jumper - Kasarr owned by Erin McGuire
Charles Lingle Memorial Trophy – Liza Boyd
Bill Rube Style Award Week 1 – Gigi Manigault
NAL/WIHS Adult Hunter Classic - Curuba and Amy Nolan
Circuit Champion Low Children’s/Adult Jumper – Malbay Dreamer owned and ridden by Grace Ann Nolan
Circuit Champion Special Hunter - Hakuna Matata and Mckenzie Miller
Circuit Champion Large Pony Hunter - Days Of Our Lives owned by Bridget Hallman and ridden by Elle Boyd
Most Workmanlike Tack Room - Finally Farm
Show Champions and Reserves included – Kumano and Mary Caroline Nolan (Children’s Hunters), Malbay Dreamer and Grace Ann Nolan (Low Adult Jumper), Mckenzie Miller (BRCHS Special Equitation 12 & Under), Candid and Elle Gibbs (Junior Hunters), Elegance and Elle Boyd (Medium Ponies), O’Ryan and Mary Caroline Nolan (3’3” Junior Hunters), Walk-Off and Gigi Manigault (Adult Amateur Hunters), Cleopatra’s Smile and Liza Boyd.
Erin McGuire and Kasarr
There were many special moments at this year’s show, and one was a tribute to the Towell family’s dear friend Jim Breedlove who passed away earlier this year. The Towells donated the Leading Open Jumper Rider Trophy in his memory and student Erin McGuire took the inaugural honors.
“Jim was my dad and mom’s great friend,” said Liza Boyd. “He was like an adopted grandfather to us and father to my dad. It was meaningful that Erin won that, and I think Erin said she rode for second the second week in the mini prix because she knew she could win Jim’s trophy. She could have tried to win the class, but she decided to be safe and earn the leading money-won award for Jim. That meant a lot to Erin. My dad, Vick Russell and Johnny Barker stood up and talked about him during the ceremony. They wore some of his old cowboy boots and spread his ashes around the ring. He wanted his ashes at Blowing Rock.”
Jack Towell presents the Jim Breedlove Memorial Trophy to Erin McGuire
Another memorable moment was when Liza topped the USHJA International Hunter Derby with Rebekah Warren’s Cassico. “I feel like at this point that might be my big highlight of 2020,” said Liza of the challenging show season brought on by COVID-19. “Right when we were walking the course we found out that Pony Finals were canceled. So, we knew this might be our Derby Finals. (The USHJA International Hunter Derby Championships in Kentucky were later canceled).
Liza Boyd and Cassico
“Hunt Tosh and Daniel Geitner made me work for the win and go for it,” added Liza. “It was our regional finals you could say. The horse felt great, and he was really ready to go and prepared for Derby Finals, so I was glad we got to have our own final at Blowing Rock. Competing in the evening, it also felt like a special win. There was so much energy and you could feel the crowd of owners and trainers there, cheering everyone on.”
Liza noted that Blowing Rock represents so much family and history behind it. “My dad grew up showing here as a kid. We all grew up spending July here. We had a great show, and it was a wonderful way to make the best out of 2020 with more great memories.”
