USHJA Green Hunter Incentive South Championships prove to be a Winn-Wynne at NCHJA Annual Horse Show

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Raleigh, N.C.– June 29, 2018 – Yesterday, the North Carolina Hunter Jumper Association Annual Horse Show in Raleigh, N.C., played host to the inaugural USHJA Green Hunter Incentive South Championships, which offered two sections of competition-one for 3'/3'3" Green Hunters and one for 3'6"/3'9" Green Hunters. Winn Alden rode EMO Stables' Star Jewel to the top spot in the 3'/3'3" championship, while Chris Wynne and Valerie Strotmeyer's Silver Lining took the win in the 3'6"/3'9" championship.

"I love [the regional championship]! There are so many nice horses and riders here, and this is a really nice opportunity. You get to practice a little, and you get rewarded when your horse does really well," said Alden who plans to take Star Jewel to the Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships in Lexington, Kentucky, in August.

"This is our third show together, and she's just my type... I really like her. She tries really hard," said Alden who took the ride for Ernie and Betty Oare. "The courses were really nice today, and the indoor ring is really nice. We had a really good first round, and there were a lot of high scores in the first round. She played a little after the first jump, but other than that she was perfect. We were second going into the second round, and I got a bit lucky in the second round..."

The competition was close throughout the day. Hunter Kay and Emily Durlach's Fearless were just a .5 point behind Alden earning the second spot and $2,200.

Patrick Rodes' Southbound Management team brought in new jumps and course designer Paul Jewell set spectacular courses for the two-round championships.

"Patrick did a really nice job. The presentation was really nicely done, and the ribbons are beautiful," continued Alden, whose winning ride also earned a check for $3,000.

The 3'/3'3" section saw 15 contenders with a total of $10,000 in prize money and ribbons awarded to the top 12. Three horses competed in the 3'6"/3'9" section, which offered $5,000 in prize money.

Chris Wynne of Virginia Beach, Virginia, came out on top with Silver Lining, earning the top check of $1,500. Wynne will be judging this year's Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship and was pleased to have the opportunity to compete in the regional championship since he won't compete in Kentucky.

"They really made it special," said Wynne. "They dressed up the jumps nicely and even brought in new jumps. They did a wonderful job.

The horse I rode is a very dependable, good horse for things like this. He's pretty much the same every day. When they brought in the new jumps, he brightened up a bit," continued Wynne who found the courses to really showcase the horses well. "The courses were challenging, but the horses wanted to jump them well. That's what judges love to see, and that's what we had today."

In the 3'/3'3" section, Wynne also had the third place finish with Nicole Guthrie's Bon Voyage, the sixth place finish with Maryellen Kroll's Correlation, and the 12th place finish with Grace Owen's Superlative.

The South Championships were judged by R. Scot Evans and Tony Sgarlata.

This was the first of five regional championships available to USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Program participants for the first time this year. The USHJA rolled out the new opportunity for 2018 as another benefit to enrolling in the Green Hunter Incentive Program, in addition to the stake classes and the Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships.

"I am so proud to say that the first Green Incentive Regional Championships were a total success," said Ron Danta, chair of the International Hunter Derby and Incentive Task Force. "The number of exhibitors thanking the program for implementing the regional championships was overwhelming. The horses went well, and it was so well received by everyone there."

Remaining regional championships include the East Championship at Brandywine Valley Summer Series II, July 3-8, 2018, in Devon, Pennsylvania.; the Central Championship at the Harvest Horse Show, Oct. 31-Nov. 6, 2018, in Katy, Texas; Southwest Championship at the International Jumping Festival, September 19-23, 2018, in San Juan Capistrano, California; and the Northwest Championship at the Oregon High Desert Classic 2, July 25-29, 2018, in Bend, Oregon.                

Danta continued, "I am so anxious for all of the regional championships along with the overall Championship in Kentucky where I feel we will have record numbers along with the most prize money ever!"

USHJA extends a special thank you to the NCHJA Annual Horse Show, Southbound Show Management, and Patrick Rodes and his team for hosting the Championships. 

USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Program participants can choose from one of five regional championships held across the country. Exhibitors may choose whichever regional championship they want but horses may only compete in one regional championship per year. Each regional championship is two rounds, and the combined total score for both rounds will determine the winner. Prize money is awarded through 12th place, and each championship will offer a minimum of $10,000 in prize money spread across all the sections offered. Horses must be enrolled in the program to be eligible to participate.

Learn more about the USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Program at www.ushja.org/GreenIncentive . 

USHJA Green Hunter Incentive South Championships Results

3'/3'3" Section

3'6/3'9" Section

Media Contact:
Megan Lacy
mlacy@ushja.org
(859) 225-6723