Victoria Colvin and Way Cool Are Best In The WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Classic Spectacular

Wellington, Florida, February 20 – It all came down to the final rider—Victoria Colvin. And in a nail-biting finish, the youngest rider competing in the $50,000 WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Classic Spectacular claimed an impressive victory over all challengers under the lights of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center’s International Arena on February 18.

With nerves of steel, Colvin, 14, guided Betsee Parker’s Way Cool to a beautiful second-round performance that pushed her total to 180.06 points to defeat defending champion Louise Serio, 57, aboard Castle Rock who earned 178.37. As icing on the cake, Colvin also claimed third aboard Scott Stewart’s Inclusive with 177.25.

Three-time victor Liza Towell Boyd, 32, placed fourth aboard Brunello (177.12) and sixth with Casallo (175.74), while Come Monday and Christa Endicott, the inaugural winners of the Peter Wetherill Cup, placed fifth with 176.75.

The 16th annual $50,000 WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular was a featured event of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival circuit Week 6 and drew 32 entries that qualified to compete after showing in the week’s junior, amateur and professional hunter sections.

Course designer Skip Bailey set the tracks for the two-round classic, and judges Jim Clapperton, Scott Fitton, Karen Healey, Mary Lisa Leffler, Scott Williamson, Bill Moroney, Patrick Rodes and Dee Thomas presided...read more.

"Come Monday" Wins The Inaugural WCHR Peter Wetherill Cup

USHJA and the USHJA Foundation honored the life and legacy of equestrian Peter Wetherill on February 18, 2012, when the Peter Wetherill Cup was presented for the first time, during the World Championship Hunter Rider Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular, in Wellington, FL.

The award was presented to Tammy and Jon Williams of Davlyn Farms, Rancho Santa Fe, CA; owners of the 9 year-old Holsteiner mare Come Monday, who finished 2011 with a stellar show record and received several nominations for the Peter Wetherill Cup. Rider Christa Endicott, trainer Michael Endicott and caretaker Hector Garcia were on hand to celebrate as well. Come Monday was a true stand out in the hunter world in 2011, earning a total of 14 Championships in the First Year Green and Green Conformation Hunters, including the First Year Green Championship at the Capital Challenge Horse Show and Reserve Championship at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. In addition to these accomplishments, the versatility Come Monday has shown competing successfully in USHJA International Hunter Derby classes, proves she is truly deserving of the title, "WCHR Hunter of the Year".

Each year the top 10 nationally ranked riders in each WCHR category, as well as the top 6 riders from each region are invited to compete in their respective WCHR Challenge at the Capital Challenge Horse Show. Challenge classes are run in either a one or two round hunter classic format. The points earned from the Challenge classes are then added to points previously earned at WCHR Member Events and the Capital Challenge Horse Show, to crown a WCHR National Champion in each category. The 2012 Capital Challenge Horse show will be held October 1-7, 2012. For more information visit www.CapitalChallenge.org.