Zentina B and Samantha Karp Win $10,000 WIHS Children's Hunter Championships

Samantha Karp and Zentina B (Photo: © Shawn McMillen Photography)

Washington, DC – The 57th annual Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) kicked off six days of competition at Verizon Center in downtown Washington, DC, Tuesday. The day featured professional and amateur hunters competing in the first classes of their divisions, as well as year-end championships for the child and adult hunter competitors. This year’s WIHS continues through Sunday, October 25, featuring world-class competition in the hunter, jumper and equitation disciplines.

Tuesday’s highlights included the $10,000 WIHS Children’s Hunter Championship, sponsored by The Heisley Family Foundation. Thirty-two entries showed over a beautiful first round course set by Kenneth Krome, of Westminster, MD, and the top 12 returned for a second round to determine final results. Samantha Karp earned back-to-back scores of 87, totaling 174 points to secure a concrete win with her horse, Zentina B. Carly Martin finished second aboard her own Czech Mate with scores of 82 and 79 to total 161. Lekha Ramachandran guided Jennifer Basile’s Playmore to third place, scoring 74.50 and 84, for a total of 158.50.

Czech Mate and Carly Martin (Photo: © Shawn McMillen Photography)

For the win, Karp and Zentina B were presented the H. Fenwick Kollock Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by Friends of Fen. The 18-year-old rider trains with Heritage Farm, traveling to spend her summers in Katonah, NY, and remaining the rest of the year in her hometown of Wellington, FL. Karp purchased Zentina B, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (by Casantos), almost one year ago.

“I originally bought her to be my jumper, and I found out that I did not really like doing the jumpers,” Karp noted. “We decided to do her in the hunters, just for fun, to see if I could get some confidence, and her first week out, she won. She has won basically every show she has been to since that. She had never done the hunters in her life until this year, but I think she has really enjoyed it.”

Samantha Karp and Zentina B in their winning presentation with WIHS Executive Director Bridget Love Meehan and ringmaster John Franzreb (Photo: © Shawn McMillen Photography)

Tuesday was Karp’s first time competing at WIHS and a memorable experience as the rider finished out her junior career and prepares to become an amateur.

“This is my first time ever doing a season of indoors. It was nerve-wracking, but she (Zentina B) is a pro. She has been to indoors before,” Karp explained. “I do not think I could have been on a better horse to show me the ropes and give me experience doing this. She did an amazing job, and I cannot thank her enough for that.”

Final Results: $10,000 WIHS Children’s Hunter Championship, sponsored by The Heisley Family Foundation
Place, Number, Horse, Rider, Owner, Round 1 Score, Round 2 Score, Overall Score
1. 815 ZENTINA B SAMANTHA KARP SAMANTHA KARP 87.000 87.000 174.000
2. 574 CZECH MATE CARLY MARTIN CARLY MARTIN 82.000 79.000 161.000
3. 495 PLAYMORE LEKHA RAMACHANDRAN JENNIFER BASILE 74.500 84.000 158.500
4. 813 BELLAGIO ZOE GANEK ZOE GANEK 78.000 78.000 156.000
5. 727 DON RAMIRO AMY CORETZ AMY CORETZ 72.500 81.000 153.500
6. 123 SERENITY MORGAN VAN NORTWICK MORGAN VAN NORTWICK 77.000 75.000 152.000
7. 696 COMARADERIE ABIGAIL WHITMER ABIGAIL WHITMER 73.000 77.000 150.000
8. 728 SWEET POTATO PIE AMY CORETZ AMY CORETZ 76.000 73.000 149.000
9. 800 MATEO SAVANNAH METHENY SAVANNAH METHENY 73.500 70.000 143.500
10. 695 FERRAGAMO BAILEY HARACH BAILEY HARACH 74.000 68.000 142.000
11. 814 PAPARAZZI ZOE GANEK FELECIA WEISS 75.000 60.000 135.000
12. 554 TUIDAM BRITTA STOECKEL BRITTA STOECKEL 80.000 45.000 125.000

For more information, please visit www.wihs.org