Petaluma, Calif. - The 2019 USEF Junior Hunter National Championships – West Coast concluded with Jordan Allen and Small Occasion claiming the Overall Grand Championship in the 3’6’’ section with a total score of 259.00 points on Tuesday, July 23, at the Sonoma Horse Park. Grace McReynolds and Crowd Pleaser earned the Overall Grand Championship in the 3’3’’ section with a total score of 251.10 points.
Allen (West Bloomfield, Mich.) was in fine form throughout the two days of competition, which included a classic round, a handy round, and an under saddle round. Allen and Small Occasion, a 10-year-old Holsteiner mare owned by Elizabeth Reilly, Chris M. Iwasaki, and Augusta Iwasaki, expertly navigated Scott Starnes’s (Bend, Ore.) courses with the help of trainers Chris Iwasaki and Elizabeth Reilly. They accumulated weighted scores of 107.20 in the classic, 102.60 in the handy, and 49.20 in the under saddle to earn the title as the Overall Grand Champion 3’6”, receiving the Monarch International Perpetual Trophy. Watch their winning ride.
“This is an accomplishment I’ve dreamt of for years, so it’s really exciting,” said Allen of this memorable moment. “[Small Occasion] obviously could do it, because she is incredible! Really, I just wanted to go in and ride well for her, because she could win with her eyes closed.”
Allen also earned the Large Junior Hunter 3’6” 16-17 section championship, the same section in which she and Small Occasion were named reserve champions at the 2018 championships. The pair were awarded the Magic Word Perpetual Trophy, donated by Karen Kay, for their win. Small Occasion was also named 2019 Best Mare as the top-scoring mare of the West Coast competition, receiving the Small Collection Perpetual Trophy, donated by Elizabeth Reilly.
Capturing the Overall Reserve Grand Champion honor in the 3’6” section was Emily Williams (Newhall, Calif.) and Beach Boy, her 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding. Williams and Beach Boy earned the title with a total score of 254.80 points after their performances over two days of competition. In the classic round, the pair receive a weighted score of 105.60. On the second and final day, they received a 98.80 in the handy round and 50.40 in the under saddle, with the help of trainer Archie Cox. Williams and Beach Boy also earned the section championship for the Small Junior Hunter 3’6” 16-17, earning the River Edge Farm Perpetual Trophy donated by River Edge Farm.
The Overall Grand Champion in the 3’3’’ section was McReynolds (Colorado Springs, Colo.) riding Crowd Pleaser, Alexander Miller’s 12-year-old Selle Français gelding. Over the course of two days, the pair swept the Large Junior Hunter 16-17 3’3’’ section, earning weighted scores of 100.40 in the classic, 102.80 in the handy round, and 47.90 in the under saddle. The pair rode to a total score of 251.10 to clinch the Overall Grand Champion 3’3” title with the help of trainers Chris Iwasaki and Elizabeth Reilly. McReynolds and Crowd Pleaser received the Montserrat Perpetual Trophy, donated by the Sonoma Horse Park. Watch their winning ride.
The Overall Grand Reserve Championship in the 3’3’’ section was awarded to Ella Sherman (Agoura Hills, Calif.) aboard Illusion, Elizabeth Reilly, Chris Iwasaki, and Augusta Iwasaki's 20-year-old Hanoverian gelding. Sherman trains with Chris Iwasaki and Elizabeth Reilly. The pair also earned the California Split Small Junior Hunter 3’3’’ Section A championship title, riding to an overall score of 241.90.
Section Champions Crowned at 2019 USEF Junior Hunter National Championship – West Coast
The Small Junior 15 & Under 3’6” section champion title was awarded to Augusta Iwasaki (Calabasas, Calif.) and Luscious, Sloan Lindemann-Barnett's 10-year-old Warmblood gelding. The pair earned a total of 253.80 points and was trained by Archie Cox.
In the Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under 3’6” section, champion honors were awarded to Brooke Morin (Laguna Beach, Calif.) and For Fun, Troy Christiansen's 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding, with a total score of 252.80 points. The pair is trained by Lee Flick.
The championship in the Large Junior Hunter 3’3’’ 15 & Under section was awarded to Avery Kalafatas (Ross, Calif.) and Calendar Girl, her 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare, with a total score of 240.90. The pair is trained by Beverly Jovais.
Grace Russo (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Eclair HBC, her 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, were awarded the Section B champion ship title in the Small Junior 3’3” section on a score of 229.10. The pair is trained by Archie Cox.
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Photos by: Grand Pix