Sept. 2, 2018
Brynn Topolski of Charlton, N.Y., and Mercy Paine of New York City, N.Y., claimed the Individual Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championship victories, respectively, on Sunday, September 2, to conclude the two-day USHJA Zones 1 & 2 Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships, presented by SmartPak, at HITS Saugerties in Saugerties, N.Y.
Seventeen total riders from USHJA Zones 1 and 2 contested the team and individual championships, with riders competing on combined Children's and Adult Amateur teams on Saturday and in separate Children's and Adult Amateur sections during Sunday's individual championships.
From among the five competing teams, the victory in the Team Championship went to the Red Team, the sole Zone 1 team, which included adult amateur Nancy Ballou riding Hey Hot Shot, and Children's riders Campbell Hudkins on Humor Me, Zoe Santilli on Dundee, and Caroline Saunders on Skip Day.
The Zone 2 Blue Team of Kaili Gore riding Bridgton, Morgan Munz on Louis, Allison Palmisciano riding Quibajo, and Brynn Topolski on Chunky Monkey earned the silver, and the Zone 2 Purple Team, including Mia Poppinga on Guitar Hero, Maya Schneider on Aurelius, and Emily Weis riding Celebration, took the bronze.
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USHJA Zone 1 Team topped the podium flanked by Zone 2 Teams in silver and bronze. James Benedetto led all the teams as chef d'equipe. Credit: ESI Photography
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"The adult riders always seem to have great camaraderie everywhere, and they did here, but the kids were all really into the teams too," said James Benedetto, who served as the Chef d'Equipe for all of the competing teams. "I think Tom Struzzieri and the HITS team did a great job, and the actual event and program itself is wonderful. I've done the jumper side a lot; this is my first time doing the hunters, and I think the USHJA does a great job. I think everybody really enjoyed themselves."
No matter their standing on Saturday in the team competition, all riders returned on Sunday with a clean slate for the Individual Championships, which included an under-saddle class and two rounds of jumping.
In the Children's under-saddle class, the win went to Caroline Saunders riding Skip Day, while the two over-fences wins went to Madelyn Sano on Mahogany and Allison Palmisciano riding Quibajo.
At the end of the day however, it was Brynn Topolski of Charlton, N.Y., who emerged as the champion after finishing second and third over fences and eighth under saddle riding Chunky Monkey.
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Brynn Topolski and Chunky Monkey earned gold in the Children's Individual Championship. Credit: ESI Photography
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"It was really fun. Monkey's actually really young and doesn't have much experience, so it was really nice to get him in the big ring," said Topolski, 14, referencing the opportunity to compete in HITS Saugerties' spacious grand prix ring on team day and in the main hunter stadium on Sunday. "I've been riding him for just about a year. He's really quiet, so it's really about getting a nice pace to all the jumps.
"It was really fun to compete with other riders because I'd never done that before," continued Topolski, who trains with Elissa Topolski and was part of Saturday's silver medal-winning team.
Also part of Saturday's silver medal-winning team was individual silver medalist, Morgan Munz of Califon, N.J. Munz, 17, rode her own Louis to a third and a fifth over fences and third under saddle.
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I was really excited for [the championships], especially to get my horse in the big ring and even in the hunter stadium," said Munz, who imported Louis as a three-year-old and has been riding the six-year-old ever since. "This was a lot for him, and it was really exciting that he did well!
"I was also really excited to do something with a team, and I'm looking forward to eventually doing the [Intercollegiate Horse Show Association], so that gives me a little taste of teamwork."
Rounding out the top three for the bronze medal was Zoe Santilli of West Hartford, Conn., riding Dundee. Santilli, 12, and the six-year-old bay warmblood gelding took fourth- and fifth-place finishes over fences and second under saddle before claiming their spot on the podium.
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Morgan Munz earned silver; Brynn Topolski earned gold; and Zoe Santilli earned bronze. Credit: Jump Media/USHJA
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Immediately following the Children's Individual Championship, it was the Adult Amateur riders' turn to vie for their individual medals, and it was Mercy Paine of New York City, N.Y., who earned the gold riding Encore B.
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Mercy Paine and Encore B earned gold. Credit: ESI Photography
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"He felt great all weekend and was just really with me," said Paine, 23, of the 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding who took first and third over fences and second under saddle. "It's amazing because generally adults aren't the big amateur division, so it's really nice to feel like the adults get to be in the big ring this weekend, and the adults are center stage. It's a great program."
Taking the silver was Nancy Ballou of Harrisville, R.I., riding her own Hey Hot Shot, a 14-year-old Quarter Horse she has owned since he was seven. The pair finished third and fourth over fences and won the under saddle.
"This was so fun; it's really special, and the prizes were awesome!" said Ballou, 53, who keeps Hey Hot Shot at home and who previously competed him to great success on the Quarter Horse circuit. "It was fun doing the team thing as well; that was really cool. I met a lot of new people, and even this morning when we were hacking, everyone was saying hey and talking and very friendly."
Rounding out the podium positions in the Adult Amateur Individual Championship was 19-year-old Hayley Fedele of Rochester, N.Y., riding Kirkwood.
"Our lease on 'Kirk' actually came up this past Friday, so this is my last time with him," said Fedele, who finished second and fifth over fences and third on the flat. "So it's awesome to be here. He was perfect all weekend; it's a great way to end things. He's given me the world the past two years, so I'm just very happy with him."
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Nancy Ballou earned silver; Mercy Paine earned gold; and Hayley Fedele earned bronze. Credit: Jump Media LLC/USHJA
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"I think it's really great that all the companies came together to sponsor this for us," said Topolski. "It's really nice gratification for all of the work that you put in."
The USHJA extends thanks to Tom Struzzieri and the entire team at HITS Saugerties for hosting the USHJA Zones 1 & 2 Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships, presented by SmartPak. USHJA also thanks presenting sponsor SmartPak, as well as awards sponsors Charles Owen, CWD, Parlanti, Professional's Choice, Essex Classics, and FITS Riding.
