Charleston Summer Classics Finale of Champions

Jennifer Munday & Samaritan ©Flashpoint Photography

Johns Island, SC — July 26, 2010 — The Charleston Summer Classics’ final week of competition at Mullet Hall Equestrian Center on Johns Island, SC found most attendees weren’t so anxious to head home, but rather thinking of extending their stay at nearby Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island beach resorts.

Sunny skies and ocean breezes provided another perfect backdrop last week for not only competition in the arenas, but at area golf courses and nearby beaches as well. “We really have been fortunate with the weather here. With classes starting at 7:30 each morning many of the families have been able to hit the beaches by early afternoon and enjoy all this area offers,” Bob Bell of Classic Company said.

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Tags: Charleston Summer Classics, Classic Company, equestrian competitions, equestrian disciplines, hunter/jumper

Shawna Harding and Rigo Win U.S. Developing Horse Championships

Shawna Harding and Rigo celebrate Developing Horse Championship with victory gallop. © 2010 Ken Braddick

WAYNE, Illinois, July 25 — Shawna Harding on Rigo, a nine-year-old gelding, won the U.S. Developing Horse championship sponsored by the Dutta Corp. and Performance Sales International Sunday, the first national title for the rider.

Shawna of Aiken, South Carolina, and the black Hanoverian by Rotspon and owned by Tonya Rowe, received a score of 73.238 per cent in the championship competition and 69.386 per cent in the qualifying test for a combined score of 71.697 per cent.

Kassandra Barteau of Maple Park, Illinois, on GP Delano, moved up to finish as reserve champion on scores of 66.404 per cent in the qualifying test that had tied them in third place and 69.143 per cent in the championship class for a final result of 68.047 per cent. Anna Whitfield-Watkins of Fort Davis, Texas, on Cipriani, was third with scores of 68.246 per cent in the qualifying and 67.919 per cent in the championship for a combined total of 67.870 per cent.

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Tags: dressage, equestrian competitions, equestrian disciplines, Shawna Harding, U.S. Developing Horse championship

FEI European Dressage Championships for Juniors and Young Riders

The German team that claimed Young Riders gold at the FEI European Dressage Championships for Juniors and Young Riders at Kronberg, Germany: Chef d'Equipe Maria Schierhölter-Otte, Fabienne Lütkemeier, Louisa Lüttgen, Sanneke Rothenberger and Stella Charlotte Roth. Photo Credit: Stefan Lafrentz

GERMANY DOMINATES THE MEDAL PODIUM AT KRONBERG

26 July 2010 – German riders proved unstoppable at the FEI European Dressage Championships for Juniors and Young Riders on their home soil in Kronberg when scooping gold in all six categories of competition.  And to further emphasise their absolute domination, they also claimed gold and silver in both the Young Riders Individual and Freestyle Championship.  The Netherlands took Junior and Young Rider team silver while Danish riders also featured prominently on the medal podium.

Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff and the Schafhof in Kronberg, Germany, played host to these Dressage Championships for the third time.  The wonderful venue where Ann-Kathrin’s mother, Liselott Linsenhoff-Schindling, trained her horse Piaff which won the Olympic gold medal in München 1972, previously staged these Championships in 1980 and 1986. Ann-Kathrin herself competed as a Young Rider in 1981 in Rotterdam when she won team gold and individual bronze, and she proudly and generously opened the gates of the Schafhof to a huge number of talented riders and their horses for this 2010 event from 20 to 25 July.

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Tags: dressage, equestrian competitions, equestrian disciplines, FEI, Kronberg, Young Riders