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CULPEPER,
VA (August
19, 2006)—Taylor Harpman, of Richmond,
Virginia rode Sorcerer's Stone to the Zone
III Junior Equitation Finals at HITS Culpeper
on Saturday evening capping off an exciting event
at Commonwealth Park.
Harpman is 12 and
will attend Tuckahoe Middle School in the fall
as a seventh grader, and when school starts, she
will have a brand new Tad Coffin Performance Saddle
and Championship Cooler that was awarded to the
winner of the Finals.
"Everyone at HITS
went out on a limb to provide us with an exciting
event," said Teddy Harpman, Taylor's mother and
trainer. "The stands were filled with spectators
and that made it even more special for the kids."
Taylor Harpman has
been riding since she was three, and according
to her mother she likes to hang out with her friends
at Virginia Beach. However, her main passion is
taking care of her horses. "She takes care of
all of them. She doesn't have a groom, so she
does it all, said Teddy Harpman"
The event was open
to residents of Zone III who are active junior
members of the USEF and the USHJA. Two heights
were offered, 3' and 3'6". The 3' section of the
finals was open to junior riders that have not
competed three times or more in the 3'6" division
or classes. The 3'6" section is open. However,
both sections were pinned as one in the final
result.
A group of 12 riders
were asked to return and compete in the flat phase
that counted for 25% of the their final score.
Second was Olivia Wren, from Amissville, Virginia
who is trained by Ginny Wilbrandt and in third
place was Amanda Hall, from Michells, Virginia
who is trained by Paul Mathews. Five hundred dollars
was awarded to the first place trainer, $300 to
second place trainer and $100 to third place trainer
sponsored by Tom Freely/Value Properties. Pam
Freely Show Stables sponsored ribbon sashes for
the top 10. All 32 competitors also were treated
to a welcome reception sponsored by the VHSA Special
Events Committee where they received gift bags.
"The sponsors were fantastic," said
the events Chairperson Pam Freely. "They
gave out a lot of great stuff."
The course was designed
by Rian Biels and after the event Teddy Harpman
praised his route. "The course asked a lot of
questions and Taylor answered all of them on Saturday,"
said Teddy Harpman. "The course designer did a
lovely job mixing in hunter and jumper jumps."
"I made it a
somewhat challenging course for the kids who were
competing in the event because of what was at
stake," said Biels. "I know the winner
went home happy because she was able to do so
well on such a hard course."
"We are thrilled
with the turnout we got for the Finals,"
said HITS President Tom Struzzieri. "HITS
was proud to have this event at HITS Culpeper
and we look forward to hosting the Zone III Junior
Equitation Finals again in future years."
"It's an event
that juniors and trainers want more of,"
said Freely. "HITS was the perfect host for
such an event. We had no clue it was going to
be so popular and so successful. In fact, it went
so well I would like to see it in the Grand Prix
Ring next year."
©Lili
Weik Photography 06
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