Haness Triumphs In His First $25,000 USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider Professional Finals

Upper Marlboro, Md.—Oct. 8, 2022—Riding in his first-ever $25,000 USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider Professional Finals, Nick Haness, of Temecula, California, triumphed for victory on Friday, October 7, at the Capital Challenge Horse Show held at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Haness beat six of the country’s top professional Hunter riders in six rounds of competition.

The $25,000 WCHR Professional Challenge, held on Wednesday, October 6, counted as the first score toward the WCHR Professional Finals. The top six riders in the national WCHR professional standings brought forward their scores from Wednesday into Friday’s class in the Playoff Round. The riders included Scott Stewart, competing in his 22nd WCHR Pro Finals; John French, who received a wild card to compete due to his win in Wednesday’s WCHR Pro Challenge; Elizabeth Boyd; Michael Britt-Leon; Nick Haness; Geoffrey Hesslink and Amanda Steege.

The seven riders competed in the opening Playoff Round over a Handy Hunter course on the horse of their choosing. The top four riders following that round then advanced to the Final Four, where they took turns riding unfamiliar horses. They competed in front of judging panels that included David Beisel and Tom Brennan, Shane George and Bobbi Reber, and Gavin Moylan and Dale Pederson.

French, Haness, Stewart and Britt-Leon started on a clean slate as they returned to each jump four courses, rotating turns on horses generously donated by their owners. An honorable mention goes to Elizabeth Boyd, who had the highest score in the Playoff Round of 91.66 with Rebekah Warren’s MTM Hand Him Over, but who couldn’t overcome her WCHR Pro Challenge score of 80.41 to make it into the Final Four.

In his first-ever WCHR Professional Finals, Haness took the lead in the first rotation with a score of 90.66 on Elise Iafrate’s Etiquette and never let up. He piloted Iafrate’s Nabisco in round two to a score of 92.66, Daniel Bedoya’s Singani to 90.16 in round three, and Laura Shatzko’s Kynaz to the highest score of the night of 94.33 for a four-round total of 366.65 and victory. Haness was the only rider to receive scores over 90 in every round.

“This is absolutely an incredible feeling,” said Haness. “I feel very honored to be here amongst this group of guys and in this type of finals. My expectations tonight were low. I really hadn’t thought this could be my outcome but obviously, I’m very excited, and it's a dream come true.”

Along with the WCHR Professional Finals win, Haness finished as the WCHR Professional National Champion. It’s been a banner year for the 34-year-old, who also picked up the Grand Hunter Championship at the Devon Horse Show.

“This has been an extraordinary year for my career absolutely,” expressed Haness. “I had this [WCHR] armband on all week long. I just wanted to maintain that throughout the week. I was very fortunate to have a great string of horses at this show that helped secure my position, which was really exciting.”

He continued, “Obviously it takes a lot of teamwork, great horses, trainers, owners and sponsors, so I definitely have to thank all of them for their support leading up to this moment because without them this wouldn’t be possible.”

Stewart, of Wellington, Florida, was pleased with the quality of the horses provided at this year’s Finals. He moved up from fourth place in round one and two to second place in round three after a score of 90.66 on Nabisco, the horse that handed him his seventh win in last year’s class. Another high-scoring round of 91.33 on Etiquette kept him solidly in second place with a total of 358.98.

“I thought they were actually some of the best horses,” said Stewart, “and thanks to all of the owners for letting us use them. I’m really grateful for the opportunity to ride in the class still and to have a group of great horses and customers to get me here. I’m really thrilled to still be doing it.”

John French, who was pleased to have even qualified for this year’s Finals, slotted into third place with a total score of 345.48, including his high score of 91.66 on Etiquette.

French, of Wellington, Florida, admitted, “I didn’t really think this year I had a chance because I did break my leg and had a hip replacement, so I came in really low [in the national standings], and I didn’t even know that there was a wild card. I had a great week here with Babylon and with Milagro in the Playoff Round. It’s one of your goals of the year to come back here to this show and make that final four.”

Michael Britt-Leon, riding in his second Finals after a win in 2020 in a shortened format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, placed fourth with a total score of 321. The of Alpharetta, Georgia, rider's high score of 89 came with two horses, Singani and Nabisco.

“I was super excited to do this format,” said Britt-Leon. “I came to this horse show really hoping to make the final four. Getting on at the gate and walking into the ring and the first trot step you take on the horse is in front of everybody and in front of the judges—it definitely tests us and can prove to be a little bit difficult.”

Britt-Leon leaned into the camaraderie between the top four riders, which made it one of the most enjoyable parts of the evening.

“What I loved about tonight is the group of gentlemen that I’m sitting with, was that everyone helps each other,” he said. “We are communicating with each other on what we felt out there, and what horse you’re going on next, and watching them.”

Fifth place went to Boyd, of Camden, South Carolina, with a two-round total in the Playoffs of 172.07, while Amanda Steege, of Ocala, Florida, and Cheryl Olsten’s Lafitte de Muze scored 169.37 for sixth place. Geoffrey Hesslink and Trademark, owned by Shadowfax Equestrian LLC, placed seventh with 162.82.

For his win in the WCHR Professional Finals, Haness was presented with the All The Way Perpetual Trophy, donated by Elizabeth Busch Burke and Lisa Burke Horkan. For the second year, Nabisco, a 9-year-old Zangersheide gelding owned by Elise Iafrate of Oakland, Michigan, was honored with The Far West Farms Perpetual Trophy, donated by The Karazissis Family as the horse with the highest cumulative point total in the four rounds of the WCHR Professional Finals, which came from scores of 89.16, 92.66, 90.66, and 89.

Also held throughout the week were eight WCHR Challenge classes. These classes are open to the top-ranked riders nationally and regionally, as well as from the corresponding section at the Capital Challenge Horse Show. Congratulations to the following winners and good luck to those competing in the Pony, Children's, 3'6" Junior and 3'3" Junior Challenges:

• $25,000 WCHR Professional Challenge and Little Brook Perpetual Trophy donated by Gary Duffy - John French and Babylon
• $10,000 WCHR Developing Professional Challenge and Bittersweet Perpetual Trophy donated by Rachel Kennedy - Jared Depermentier and Sebastian
• $5,000 WCHR Amateur Owner 3’6” Challenge and Amateur Owner Challenge Perpetual Trophy donated by the Texas Hunter Jumper Association - Callie Seaman and Silver Lining
• $2,500 WCHR Amateur Owner 3’3” Challenge - Kelly Sims and Private I
• $2,500 WCHR Adult Amateur Challenge and Pat Thompson Memorial Perpetual Trophy donated by Page Tredennick in memory of her mother - Carolyn Anderson and Playbook

The following WCHR awards and trophies were also presented throughout the week:

• In Disguise Perpetual Trophy donated by Ellen and Jim Toon and presented to the trainer of the WCHR Amateur Owner 3’6” National Champion - Tom Wright
• Professional American Style of Riding Award - Jennifer Hannan
• Developing Professional American Style of Riding Award - Halie Robinson
• Charles Johnson Perpetual Trophy in memory of Charles Johnson and presented to the high-point rider from the Midwest region - Rachel Losch
• Urlala Perpetual Trophy donated by Kimberly Maloomian and presented to the Adult Amateur horse-and-rider combination earning the most points in the Adult Amateur sections using their top four WCHR Member Events plus the Capital Challenge Horse Show - Carolyn Anderson and Playbook
• Rox Dene Trophy donated by Elaine and Chanda Boylen and presented to the owner of the horse ridden by a Professional or Developing Professional earning the most points in the High Performance Working Hunter, First Year Green, Second Year Green, Green Conformation, Regular Conformation or Performance Working Hunter 3’6” using the horse’s top four WCHR Member Events plus the Capital Challenge Horse Show - John & Stephanie Ingram LLC, owners of Only Always, ridden by Nick Haness
• Jeffrey Katz Trophy donated by Lisa Cudahy in memory of Jeffrey Katz and presented to the Professional or Developing Professional horse-and-rider combination earning the most points in First Year Green, Second Year Green or Green Conformation using their top four WCHR Member Events plus Capital Challenge Horse Show - Nick Haness and Only Always
• Alabama Clay Conformation Hunter Perpetual Trophy donated by the Weisman Family and presented to the owner of the horse earning the most points in Green or Regular Conformation using their top four WCHR Member Events plus Capital Challenge Horse Show - John & Stephanie Ingram LLC, owners of Only Always, ridden by Nick Haness
• Derbydown Trophy donated by Louise Serio of Derbydown and awarded to the highest scoring Hunter round by a Professional in the Pro Sections at the Capital Challenge Horse Show - Geoffrey Hesslink and Trademark
• Winter’s Run Sportsmanship Award donated by Patricia Bosley in memory of her mother and presented by WCHR membership vote to a person who best exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship - Cassandra Kahle
• Daniel P. Lenehan Perpetual Trophy in memory of Daniel P. Lenehan and presented by the WCHR Committee to a person who exemplifies dedication and lifetime commitment to judging show hunters - Frank Willard
• David Peterson Perpetual Trophy donated by Kavar Kerr and Jim Anderson and presented by the WCHR Committee to a person who exemplifies dedication and commitment to the care and well-being of horses - Juan Montano
• Old Springhouse Perpetual Trophy donated by the Old Springhouse Corporation and presented by WCHR membership vote to the winner of the WCHR Lifetime Achievement Award - Daniel Robertshaw and Jack Towell
• USHJA/WCHR Course Designer Perpetual Trophy presented by USHJA to the Course Designer of the Year - Paul Jewell

The year's National Champions were also honored:

• Professional - Nick Haness
• Professional Owner - Dr. Betsee Parker
• Developing Professional - Vivian Yowan
• Developing Professional Owner - Saddle Ridge, LLC
• Amateur-Owner 3'6" and Spiff ‘N Polish Perpetual Trophy donated by Elizabeth Busch Burke and Lysa Burke - Martha Ingram
• Amateur - Owner 3'3" - Brad Wolf
• Adult Amateur - Carolyn Anderson and Playbook

The World Championship Hunter Rider Program was founded in 1992 to recognize and celebrate the Hunter rider. Since the inaugural WCHR Professional Finals in 1992, the program has expanded to include coveted year-end awards for Professionals, Developing Professionals, Amateur Owners, Adult Amateurs, Juniors, Children's and Pony riders. WCHR Program Participants qualify for National and Regional Awards by earning points at WCHR Events held across the country throughout the qualifying year. Points from a rider's top four WCHR Events will be used to determine the National and Regional standings. Each year the top ten nationally ranked riders and top six regionally ranked riders in each category come together to compete in the WCHR Finals at the Capital Challenge Horse Show.

One more WCHR member event will be held in 2022. The WCHR West Coast Hunter Spectacular will be held on Friday, November 4 at Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, California.

The USHJA extends special thanks to the Capital Challenge Horse Show team for hosting the Finals; Official Sponsors Exhibitor's, CWD, Nutrena, Parlanti and Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital; and Awards Sponsor Essex Classics.

For more information about the USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider Program, visit ushja.org/WCHR

USHJA WCHR Professional Finals Results

Rider | Challenge Score | Playoff | Playoff Total
Final 1 | Final 2 | Final 3 | Final 4 | Final Total

1. Nick Haness | 85 | 90.16 | 175.16
90.66 | 92.66 | 90.16 | 94.33 | 366.65

2. Scott Stewart | 87.16 | 86.66 | 173.82
88.33 | 88.66 | 90.66 | 91.33 | 358.98

3. John French | 92.33 | 89 | 181.33
89.16 | 91.66 | 82.33 | 82.33 | 345.48

4. Michael Britt-Leon | 84.50 | 89 | 173.50
89 | 88 | 55 | 89 | 321

5. Elizabeth Boyd | 80.41 | 91.66 | 172.07

6. Amanda Steege | 85.71 | 83.66 | 169.37

7. Geoffrey Hesslink | 79.66 | 83.16 | 162.82

Release: Jump Media for USHJA
Photos: Shawn McMillen Photography and Tricia Booker/USHJA