Brubaker Takes Second WCHR Adult Finals, Cash Wins Ariat Adult Medal Finals, Hooker Retains Lead in NA Junior/A-O Challenge Cup 

The highlight event of the Capital Challenge Horse Show was held this evening to a solid crowd of fans in the stands. In the WCHR Professional Finals, the top six qualified hunter riders in the nation went head-to-head in a four-round class to determine the 2009 Professional World Champion Hunter Rider. Hunt Tosh of Milton, GA, led the class from the beginning to win in his debut in the prestigious event. 

Tosh started out the night with a bang when he scored a 93 in the first round on the horse he brought to the competition, Lone Star, who is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Wheeler. In the second round, he rode Camira, owned by Melanie Barnes, brought to the competition by Peter Pletcher. They scored a 90.16 to raise Tosh’s total to 183.16.  

In the third round, Tosh and Lindsay Wolf’s Lazy Sunday had a score of 89.33 for a total of 272.49. Tosh qualified as one of the top three riders to return for the final handy round. He piloted Fine Kiss, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest M. Oare. They scored the highest round of the night with a 94.33 to give Tosh a total of 366.82 points for the win. 

Tosh was thrilled to win his first WCHR Professional Finals. “When you win in a class like this, it’s an especially big victory, and it is fun to do. I’ve watched it in the past, and it’s something that you always want to win and hope you can come back. I hope to do it again like these guys.” 

Tosh was speaking of his fellow competitors, like three-time winners Peter Pletcher and Scott Stewart, two-time winner John French, newcomer Ken Berkley, and Kelley Farmer. 

“I was lucky to have a high score on my horse to begin with,” Tosh pointed out. “So once you start thinking about the third and fourth horse, you’re basically hoping you don’t mess up. Everything happens so fast down there, and you just get caught up in it. It was nice that way for me because you don’t have time to slow down and think about where you are and where everyone else is.” 

The class was praised for the group of quality horses that were brought in this year. “There were some really good jumpers. They were probably the best hunter type horses that we’ve had in the history of the class, which is nice. I think it was a great evening,” said second-place finisher Scott Stewart. 

Amy Brubaker had a repeat performance in this year’s World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Adult Amateur Finals. She won the Finals aboard Caitlin Zeigler’s Relentless. The pair also won the National WCHR Adult Championship this year. The top twelve horses from the first round were invited back to compete in the second round. Brubaker and Relentless were in fifth place after round one with a score of 83.66.  

Coming back for round two, they put in a very consistent and composed round earning a high score of 87.00. The duo finished with a combined score of 170.66 to secure the win.

Relentless was a catch ride for Brubaker, who doesn’t have her own horse. Through her trainers, Archie Cox and Tracy Behr, she is able to find rides throughout the season and compete at the WCHR shows. 

“Archie and Tracy sit down with me at the beginning of each year, and we write down goals. I keep that on my mirror on home,” Brubaker explained. “After last year, our goal this year was to win the WCHR National Championship. Anything else that came along was great.” 

The ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals was won by Jeanine Cash riding Calinka. The two achieved a first round high score of 87.20. The top ten horses from the first round returned to the ring for another go. Once again, Cash and Calinka took the high score of the round with an 86.60 for a final score of 173.80. Calinka is owned by Laura Gamino.  

The $10,000 North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Challenge Cup wrapped up the Friday afternoon session. Only eight managed to go clear over the speed course designed by Conrad Homfeld. Last to go was Thursday night’s winner Tim Hooker and his own Sirius 127. Hooker rode the course impeccably with quick turns and shaved time off the clock by leaving out a stride in the first line. Hooker tried to leave out a stride again in the last line but got into a tight spot to the last oxer.  The ever-athletic Sirius 127 made a great effort to easily clear the jump. They finished with a time of 54.574 seconds, 0.552 seconds faster than Lauren Crooks and Endeavor, who finished second with a time of 54.997. 

The final round of the Junior/Amateur-Owner Challenge Cup will take place on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.  The class is a timed first jump-off format with $25,000 in prize money.  The overall winner will take home the Ariat Congressional Cup. Competition continues tomorrow with the conclusion of the Pony Hunters. The Junior Hunters will award championships on Sunday. 

For more information about the show including photos, news, and results, visit the official web site at www.capitalchallenge.org. To watch live footage of this year’s horse show, please visit www.equestriansport.tv. This year’s Capital Challenge Horse Show will run from September 26 through October 4 at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD.  The horse show is conveniently located off of Route 4, just seven miles east of the Capital Beltway. 

WCHR Professional Finals

1. Hunt Tosh 93+90.16+89.33+94.33= 366.82

Lone Start owned by Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Wheeler 

2. Scott Stewart 87.66+85.66+91.66+89.66= 354.64

Lazy Sunday owned by Lindsay Wolf 

3. Kelley Farmer 88.33+88.00+87.66+88.00= 351.99

Fine Kiss owned by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oare 

4. Ken Berkley 85.33+82.00+79.00= 279.33

Rio Fino W owned by Wendy Hofmeister 

5. Peter Pletcher 84.33+87.33+91.00= 262.66

Camira owned by Melanie Barnes 

6. John French 82.33+85.66+89.66= 257.65

Illusion owned by Paige Dotson 

WCHR Adult Amateur Finals

1. Amy Brubaker, Relentless 83.66+87.00=170.66

2. Lindsey Evans- Thomas, Promise 84.25+83.66=167.91

3. Jeanine Cash, Washington 84.00+83.00=167.00

4. Laura Beckworth, Holiday 84.33+81.83=166.16

5. Darby Mazzarisi, Mickey Mouse 81.33+83.33=164.66

6. Missy Luczak, Ledger 79.33+80.33=159.66

7. Mimi Tashjian, Collin 82.33+77.33=159.66

8. Lisa Arena, Endo Fino 87.00+71.33=158.33

9. Gail Horrigan, By Design 76.16+73.33=149.49

10. Ainsley Sadlo, Vermilion 73.33+76.00=149.33 

ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals

1. Jeanine Cash, Calinka 87.20+86.60=173.80

2. Brian Feigus, Winston 85.00+82.95=167.95

3. Amy Brubaker, War Eagle 83.70+84.20=167.90

4. Emma Mann-Meginniss, Temptation 82.05+81.10=163.15

5. Kristina Lyons, Cocoa 78.05+84.00= 162.05

6. Melissa Feller Commander Tom 79.00+82.00=161.00

7. Amy Cooper, Spy Glass 78.05+79.00=157.05

8. Elise Cook, Lion King 80.50+76.00=156.50

9. Elysse Ruschmeyer, Arkits 79.20+77.00=156.20

10. Caroline Hughes, Prince Ferdinand 78.50+75.60=154.10 

North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Challenge Cup

1. Tim Hooker, Sirius 127 0/54.475

2. Lauren Crooks, Endeavor 0/54.997

3. Tracey Weinberg, Linda Z 0/55.192

4. Tracey Weinberg, Cromwell 0/55.854

5. Erin Stewart, Devito 0/57.194

6. Benjamin Simpkins, Astro Z 0/ 59.543

7. Heather Hooker, Perle 0/59.764

8. Hayley Barnhill, Toucan Tango 0/60.803

9. Rachel Cline, The Real Deal 4/55.500