NHS Children’s and Adult Championships Conclude DeNemethy Arena Activity at the 122nd National Horse Show and Family Festival

Wellington, FL - December 4, 2005 - The $10,000 Palm Beach Daily News NHS Adult Amateur Jumper Championship made headlines today in the DeNemethy Arena with a 10 a.m. start. The jumps were perfected before the coursewalk by course designer Manuel Esparza before 21 entries took on the challenge. The first round consisted of 15 obstacles and a time allowed of 67 seconds.

“I tried to make it a little bit harder than yesterday’s speed class,” commented Esparza. “I made it tougher today, with less options and a tighter time. It’s also a little higher.”

Under a Table II. 2 (a) format, eight exhibitors posted clear first rounds and returned for the jump-off phase. The jump-off included eight obstacles, with the last fence heading towards the in-gate. Katelin Kane and Le Beau Cheval blazed over the course in a time of 37.344. Kane’s time was untouchable, and she led the victory gallop for a purse of $3,000.

The Settaukett, New York resident also claimed the division championship after her success in today’s class and her win yesterday. A junior at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, the 21 year old will commute from New York to show during the Winter Equestrian Festival. She has trained with Ralph Caristo for four and a half years.

“I haven’t ridden in a few months,” Kane admitted with a smile, “and I’m really proud of myself for coming down here as riding as well as I did. My horse was fantastic; I couldn’t have asked him to be any better for me this week.” She further explained, “He was smooth through the entire course, and I think we were just really on it this weekend.”

Along with the National Horse Show cooler and medal, Kane was presented the Skymaster Memorial Challenge Trophy. This Adult Amateur Jumper high point award was donated by Patricia Adikes-Hill and the Adikes Family Foundation and is awarded to the division champion. If won three times by the same horse and rider combination, the trophy is retired by the winner for permanent possession.

The reserve championship was pinned on the bridle of Rigadoon and Casey Martino from Loxahatchee, Florida. Martino picked up ninth today after a third place finish yesterday and a first in Friday’s class.

Final Standings for The Palm Beach Daily News NHS Adult Amateur Jumper Championship:

• 1. Le Beau Cheval, Katelin Kane , 0, 37.344
• 2. Ganowe 2, Bud Martin, 0, 39.119
• 3. Jurist, Tim Boulton, 0, 40.900
• 4. Romanof, Julie Ann Fontaine, 0, 41.051
• 5. Candeletto, Gigi Stetler, 0, 43.244
• 6. Da Vinci, Gigi Stetler, 4, 43.391
• 7. Oriola, John Martino, 4, 48.757
• 8. Romario, Tim Boulton, 8, 39.823
• 9. Rigadoon, Casey Martino, 4, 63.248 R1
• 10. Colleen, Megan Abbott, 4, 66.248 R1
• 11. Tiny Toon, Alexandra Cherubini, 4, 66.585 R1
• 12. Iroquois, Allene Simmons, 4, 67.662 R1

The $5,000 NHS Children’s Jumper Championship was next in the queue for the DeNemethy Arena with a pool of 30 entries to show. After 20 exhibitors qualified for the jump-off, the riders were put to the test in the second round. The jump-off, with a time allowed of 47 seconds, allotted only seven clear rounds out of the 20 that returned. Of those seven, Heather Timm and Manuela Del Juncal powered through the course in a time of 32.796 seconds. Timm edged Lexy Reed and Newdle into the second position, surpassing Reed’s time of 36.375 by almost four seconds.

Timm rides at Castlewood Farm with Alan Korotkin and resides here in Wellington, Florida. “If that horse goes clean, then I don’t think there is anyone who can beat her,” related Korotkin. “She is such a fast horse. She’s like a little thoroughbred and really careful. The jump-off rode with a fast pace, had a couple turns, and a long gallop home. It really suited our horse.”

In addition to her win today, Timm received the division championship. Reserve champion went to Alexandra Arute aboard Brave Heart, owned by Pala Mosteller.

Final Standings for the NHS Children’s Jumper Championship:

• 1. Manuela De Juncal, Heather Timm, 0, 32.796
• 2. Newdle, Lexy Reed, 0, 36.375
• 3. Royal D’or, Katherine Newman, 0, 38.038
• 4. Private Reserve, Alexandra Arute, 0, 38.558
• 5. Skyland’s Wonder, Josh Dolan, 0, 41.333
• 6. Carrera, Nicole Witala, 41.776
• 7. Arko, Sarah Owen, 0, 44.263
• 8. Ludacris, Euri Uchiyama, 4, 37.913 9.)
• 9. Gallent De Saintho, Isabel Jolicoeur, 4, 39.219
• 10. Seal Harbor, Samantha Senft, 4, 41.043
• 11. Skyland’s Con Chito Z, Josh Dolan, 4, 41.869
• 12. Tiger Lily, Nicole Bellissimo, 8, 37.929