Scott Stewart Jumps to Two Championships in Split Pre-Green Hunter Division

Wellington, FL – The second week of the 2007 Winter Equestrian Festival greeted hunter riders with better weather and a chance to win more championships in a variety of divisions.

The Pre-Green Hunter 3’ division had more than 70 entries and was split into two sections. In Section “A,” it was Way Cool and Scott Stewart of Flemington, NJ, who brought home the tricolor. Reserve champion went to Sandy Ferrell riding Emerson, owned by BF Associates LLC.

“He was great both days. It’s only his second horse show, and I’ve had him a year,” Stewart commented. “He got broke down here last year. He jumps great – probably the best jumper I’ve ever had. He’s related to Cool Blue, one of my junior hunters, and they are very similar to ride – just really fun to ride.” In last week’s Pre-Green division, the 5-year-old competed for the first time and was first and third.

In the “B” section, it was Stewart again earning the championship on Night Life, owned by River’s Edge Farm.

“We got Night Life last spring, and this is only my second time showing her. She won the hack at Devon. She’s a nice mare, a beautiful mover and very brave,” he said about the 5-year-old Westphalian mare. The pair were first in both classes today. The reserve championship went to Ken Berkley and Sambalino.

In the Pre-Green Hunter 3 & 4 Year Olds division, Sandy Ferrell and Prestwick came out on top. The pair took second place over fences on Wednesday and blue ribbons in the over fences and under saddles classes today. Prestwick is owned by Megan Fellows. Jay Matter and Candelabra jumped to the reserve championship position.

The Grand Hunter Ring hosted Regular Conformation, Regular Working and Second-Year Green hunters again, and Tim Goguen repeated his championship performance from last week in both the Second Year Green Hunters and the Green Conformation Hunters.

His mount Boulevard Deir is a 7-year-old bay gelding owned by Janet Read, and while Goguen cited last week’s rainy, cold weather as a cause for the gelding’s two poor rounds (eighth place and a score of 40), he couldn’t make the same complaint today.

“I thought he went beautifully, he went really, really well,” Goguen commented. “I’m happy with his performance. He went well both days. Next week he will have off and then come back. He’s a good horse, and I was very happy with him today.”

The pair took first and fourth places yesterday and third and seventh places today in the Second Years, and in the Green Conformation division, they earned first, second, and third yesterday, and first and fourth today. Pamela Polk and Fiyero were the reserve champions in the Second Year Green Hunters, and Sandy Ferrell and Compliment took reserve in the Green Conformation.

Hunter competition will continue through Sunday afternoon at the 2007 Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Championships in numerous hunter divisions will be finalized and pinned tomorrow as well.

PHOTO CREDIT: Scott Stewart and Way Cool, champions of Section “A” Pre-Green Hunter 3’ division. ©2007 Randi Muster.