Capital Challenge Launches End-of-Year Indoor Championships

This week, the Capital Challenge Horse Show, in Upper Marlboro, MD, launched the end-of-the-year indoor championships.

Lucille Oken, of Charlotte, NC kicked off the indoor season in style, riding her pony Hi Lite to 1st place in the Small Pony Hunters over fences and 3rd place in the Small Pony Hunters U/S. The rankings earned the team Reserve Champion honors for the division.

Oken's over-fences ride received a remarkable score 91.5, which not only bested her 36 competitors but also earned Oken a special medal for "High Score."

"I was really excited, Hi Lite was doing so great and it was just so fun," said the 11-year-old Oken of her notable trip. According to Oken, it was just practice that made near perfect. "We've had a lot lessons," she added.

Oken and Hi Lite have had a stellar year, earning Most Supreme Grand Kahuna Pony Rider honors at the Biltmore Summer Classic and placing 4th in the overalls at this summer's Finals. "He's learned to respect more," said Oken of the team's second year in competition. "When I first got him, he would try to run away with me a lot. It was really funny, because he thinks he's the boss. But now he knows that we're partners."

Sister Alise Oken, who entered the competition as the No.1 -ranked small junior rider in her South East division, also ribboned during the week, taking 8th place in the Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under Stakes/Handy class aboard her horse, Alisette.

"Alisette has gotten a lot quieter, and is much easier to ride," said the elder Oken sister of her second Capital Challenge with the 7-year-old mare. "She's jumping so much better, too."

The Okens live in Charlotte and train with Robert Hunt at Hunters Lane Farm in Monroe, N.C.

Meanwhile, other members of the Flashpoint Media Family were busy showing at the River Glen Fall Gathering.

At the New Market, TN., show, Daniel Geitner, of the Aiken, S.C.-based DFG Stables, rode the amazing mare Sympa, owned by Mrs. Charles Bostwick, to 2nd place in the Animal SOS Rescue Grand Prix.  Geitner and Sympa had double clear rounds in the class, but the jump-off time of 40.163 was not enough to overtake inner Belinda Bond aboard Sea Cove.

Throughout the week, Geitner also earned dual Reserve Champion honors: one in Pre-Green Hunters 3-foot with Ann Anastasio's Theodore and a second in the Pre-Green Working Hunters 3'3" aboard Catherine Stumberg's Farasi.

Fellow Aiken rider Michael Tokaruk, of The Tokaruk Show Stables, meanwhile earned a dual set of Tricolors at River Glen: one in the Pre-Green Working Hunters 3-foot-3 with his horse Windsor, and a second in the Baby Green Hunters about Janet Liu's Up to Something.

Congratulations to all!

Photo: Lucille Oken and Hi Lite © Photography by O'Neills

Flashpoint Media Services, based in Harrodsburg, KY, is a comprehensive public relations firm specializing in the equestrian sports. For additional information about any Flashpoint clients or for exclusive photographs, contact Robbi Meisel, 859-734 3713, robbi@flashpointmediaservices.com or Cynthia Grisolia, 347-423 7322, cindy@flashpointmediaservices.com.