Devon, PA – The 2014 Devon Horse Show & Country Fair featured its final night of Open Jumper competition under the bright lights of the Dixon Oval on Saturday with a win for Todd Minikus of Lake Worth, FL, and Quality Girl in the $50,000 Idle Dice Open Jumper Stake sponsored by Land Rover/Jaguar of the Main Line. Minikus earned The John Wanamaker Perpetual Trophy for his win and went on to take home the tricolor for reserve champion in the Open Jumper division. Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, NJ, guided Mary Chapot's Zealous to the division championship. Chapot was then honored as the Leading Open Jumper Rider and Leading Lady Rider of the week.

For the Open Jumper Championship sponsored by The Capital Grille King of Prussia, Chapot was presented with The Little Big Man Challenge Trophy, an award which she previously retired and re-donated to the show. As the Leading Open Jumper Rider, an award sponsored by Thos. Moser, she was presented with The Orchard Lodge Perpetual Trophy in memory of Hope Montgomery Scott, donated by the Devon Horse Show Committee and Elizabeth Busch Burke. Chapot also earned the award for Leading Lady Rider in the Open Jumper division and was presented with the Carol Hoffman Thompson Leading Lady Rider Challenge Trophy.


Laura Chapot in her winning presentation.
Photo © The Book LLC.

“It’s great,” Chapot remarked of the Leading Rider title. “I have probably won it six times. I think it’s nice because to do that you have to be pretty consistent all week. To be consistent here at Devon and come out on top that many times is not so easy. There are a lot of good people here, and everyone is going to try to win. No one’s practicing in the ring.”

“I think that Devon is special because of the crowd, the excitement, and the atmosphere,” Chapot added. “It entices the horses to perform, and it is just exciting to be here.”

The Leading Lady Rider Award was especially meaningful for Chapot as the award was donated this year by the family and friends of Carol Hoffman Thompson, with whom the rider was very close.

“It is super meaningful. She was a great lady,” Chapot acknowledged. “She was an inspiration to me and helped me out a lot. It is a great honor to be the first name on that trophy. We were great friends, and she and my parents were on the team together. She was always there to lend a hand to anyone. She was a person you could call in the middle of the night and she would be there. She lent me a horse when I needed one for equitation finals one year and gave me advice if I had a question. It is a great honor; it’s great she has a trophy here at Devon, and to be the first name on that is super.”

Fine furniture maker Thos. Moser is pleased to announce its partnership with the 118th Devon Horse Show and Country Fair. This partnership connects the Thos. Moser Philadelphia Main Line showroom with a number of events benefiting the Bryn Mawr Hospital. The Maine-based furniture makers will also debut a commemorative rocking chair and table featuring the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair carved crest. These items will be available for purchase at the Show and through the Thos. Moser Philadelphia showroom, located at 625 Lancaster Avenue in Wayne. Visitwww.thosmoser.com to learn more.


Todd Minikus and Quality Girl. Photo © The Book LLC.

Final Results: $50,000 Idle Dice Open Jumper Stake
1. TODD MINIKUS QUALITY GIRL QUALITY GROUP: 0/0/36.866
2. LILLIE KEENAN PUMPED UP KICKS CHANSONETTE FARM LLC: 0/0/37.684
3. MCLAIN WARD HH ASHLEY DOUBLE H FARM: 0/0/38.642
4. ALEX GRANATO MULLAGHDRIN RADO PAGE TREDENNICK: 0/0/39.083
5. CANDICE KING BALOUS DAY DATE LOUISBURG FARM: 0/0/39.220
6. CALLAN SOLEM VDL WIZARD HORSESHOE TRAIL FARM LLC: 0/0/39.678
7. CHARLIE JAYNE VALESKA PONY LANE FARM: 0/0/40.010
8. GEORGINA BLOOMBERG JUVINA GOTHAM ENTERPRIZES LLC: 0/0/44.845
9. LILLIE KEENAN LONDINIUM CHANSONETTE FARM LLC: 0/4/37.502
10. LAURA CHAPOT QUOINTREAU UN PRINCE LAURA CHAPOT & MCLAIN WARD: 0/4/38.624
11. KEVIN BABINGTON SHORAPUR SHORAPUR LLC: 0/4/39.518
12. MARGIE ENGLE ROYCE ELMROCK LLC: 1/82.709
 

PHOTO GALLERY AND RESULTS

Catherine Wheeler won the Three-Gaited Saddle Horse Stake Junior Exhibitor class, sponsored by Carol Hillenbrand in memory of Isabel Robson, with CH Swing An Singin, owned by Ceil and Kenny Wheeler. This is the second season Wheeler, of Charlottesville, VA, has competed with CH Swing An Singin. Wheeler noted, "She was really smooth. When she gets in the ring, she really just lights up. When she gets in there, she's all business and tries hard. You can tell she really likes the show." This was Wheeler's second time winning at the Devon Horse Show. "I love Devon. It's my favorite show. I love the atmosphere and seeing all the different breeds," she said.


Catherine Wheeler and CH Swing An Singin. Photo © Doug Shiflet Photography.
 

Devon Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Champion – David Gochman's Empire and Becky Gochman
Awarded The Bond Street Perpetual Trophy donated by Mr. & Mrs. Edgar Scott

Amateur-Owner Hunter Over 35 Champion – David Gochman's Empire and Becky Gochman
Awarded The Morris H. Dixon Memorial Challenge Trophy
Reserve Champion – KJ Robinson LLC's Amarillo and Katie Robinson


Becky Gochman and Empire. Photo © The Book LLC.

Devon Leading Amateur-Owner Hunter Rider – Becky Gochman

Awarded The Thorndike Duncan Perpetual Memorial Trophy

The Sambalino Award – David Gochman's Empire
Awarded The Sambalino Perpetual Trophy presented by The Gochman Family

Devon Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter 3'3” Champion – Russian Gold and Kimberly Maloomian
Awarded The Jenepher McLean Kelly Challenge Trophy


Kimberly Maloomian and Russian Gold. Photo © The Book LLC.

Amateur-Owner Hunter 3'3” 18-35 Champion – Russian Gold and Kimberly Maloomian
Awarded The Kelly Lynn Parker Perpetual Trophy
Reserve Champion – Taylor Willever and Whisper

$20,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic Winner - Adrienne Marciano and Laspari
Awarded The Good Enough Challenge Trophy donated by Wendy Chapot

Adrienne Marciano and Laspari. Photo © The Book LLC.

Amateur-Owner Jumper Champion – Adrienne Marciano and Laspari
Awarded The Goblin Challenge Trophy donated by Mrs. Sieta van Eesteren and daughter
Reserve Champion – Leah de Martini and Elm Rock LLC's True Love

Leading Amateur-Owner Jumper Rider – Adrienne Marciano
Awarded The Marshall-Hale Perpetual Trophy

Three-Gaited Saddle Horse Stake Winner - Amateur – Ceil Wheeler with Ceil & Kenny Wheeler's Kentucky Proud
Sponsored by Carol Hillenbrand in memory of Isabel Robson – Awarded The Champion Winter Day Challenge Trophy donated by Walter and Jackie Stred


Ceil Wheeler and Kentucky Proud. Photo © Doug Shiflet Photography.

Three-Gaited Park Horse Stake Winner - Open – Annika Bruggeworth and Revel
Sponsored by Elisabeth Goth

Annika Bruggeworth and Revel.
Photo © Doug Shiflet Photography.

Single Hackney Horse Champion – Mark H. Schofield and Glenn A. Werry, Jr.'s Gosford Soloist
Sponsored by Glenn A. Werry, Jr. - Awarded The Henry G. Vaughan Memorial Perpetual Trophy

Mark H. Schofield and Gosford Soloist. Photo © Doug Shiflet Photography.

Five-Gaited Saddle Horse Stake Winner - Amateur – Allyson Ehle and Nancy Ehle's Ava Gardner
Sponsored by Willisbrook Farm


Allyson Ehle and Ava Gardner. Photo © Doug Shiflet Photography.

Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 Champion – Pony Lane Farm's Fredrick and Kelsey Thatcher
Sponsored by Courtyard by Marriott – Awarded The James J. Fallon Memorial Trophy
Reserve Champion – Tenerife and Noel Fauntleroy

Amateur-Owner Hunter 3'3” Over 35 Champion – Isalou, Inc.'s Winner and Daryl Portela
Reserve Champion – Academy Award and Jane Fraze

Local Hunter Section A Champion – Wizard of Oz and Madelyn Wojdak
Reserve Champion – Have a Little Faith and Abigail Davenport

Local Hunter Section B Champion – Gerald Camera's Biarritz and Jeffrey Ayers
Reserve Champion – Quinn and Catharine Cox

Devon, PA – The 2014 Devon Horse Show & Country Fair completed its final day of competition on Sunday with breeding classes featured in the famous Dixon Oval in Devon, PA. Showcasing the best horses and riders in the country, the Devon Horse Show hosted 11 days of top-tier competition across multiple breeds and disciplines from May 22-June 1.


In-hand breeding classes showcased the young horses Sunday morning, starting with the Pennsylvania bred horses. The horses showed for top honors in their individual divisions by age and gender and then awarded the Best Pennsylvania Bred Horse overall. The champion was Nygel, a three-year-old colt (Art in Motion – Amy's Runaway), owned by Cheryll Francella and handled by William Howland. Nygel was awarded The Ralph D. Miller, Jr. Memorial Perpetual Trophy. He also earned The Best Thoroughbred Award and was presented The Foxwick Farm Thoroughbred Challenge Trophy.

Nygel's handler, William Howland, went on to earn the Leading Handler Award for 2014. He was presented The Michael E. Grady Perpetual Memorial Trophy. In 2013, Howland was Leading Pennsylvania Bred Handler, and he was thrilled to be the overall Leading Handler this year.
 

William Howland Best Handler. The Book LLC
 

“It is quite an honor; this is a humbling experience,” Howland acknowledged. “It means a lot to win here, and it really takes your heart away. I don't care what color ribbon you get, it is very special, because Devon is the to-do. There is a lot of history here.”

“I have been coming to Devon for 30-plus years, and you never get tired of it,” Howland stated. “When February hits you go, 'Oh, it's around the corner!' I have fun coming here; we all have fun. As long as it's fun, you gotta keep coming.”

Howland, who now lives in Culpeper, VA, grew up with horses on his family's farm and has always been in the business in one way or another. “We did boarding, breaking, show horses, hunters, race horses. We had stallions, broodmares, a little bit of everything, so I was just born into it,” he explained.

Howland handled six horses in Sunday's competition, all but one he had handled before. The Best Pennsylvania Bred Horse, Nygel, earned his third championship with Howland after also taking the title in 2013 as well as winning at the Warrenton Horse Show.

“He is a good guy,” Howland described. “He is broken, and he jumps. He has good conformation. He is a handsome horse and he is athletic; I like seeing an athlete. 'Pretty is as pretty does,' they say. There are a lot of horses out there that do this that just can't perform. It happens to a lot of show horses, but I treat them all like they are mine, and you want to do the best you can. You always keep working, that's my attitude. Sometimes you'll have a horse that maybe shouldn't be in there and it happens to everyone, but you still do the best you can no matter what. You have to treat them all like they are blue ribbon winners. You do the best you can and come out with a smile no matter what happens.”
 

Devon Horse Show Honors Volunteers
 

Last night Devon Horse Show honored Bobbi Cowley and Fran Jacobs, two volunteers who have worked tirelessly over the last year to help “Rediscover Devon” and its special 118 years of history.

Bobbi Cowley. Photo © Alix Coleman.

Bobbi and Fran were instrumental in organizing an event last fall in partnership with the Tredyffrin Easttown and the Chester Country Historical Societies. They also helped to integrate multiple vintage photos and articles about Devon’s many breeds and horse disciplines into the official 2014 souvenir program book.

Their goal of establishing a museum to display the collection of horse show and fair memorabilia has been embraced by the Devon community, and many items have been on display throughout the show in the Hospitality Room.
 

Fran Jacobs. Photo © Brenda Carpenter.

We would like to congratulate Fran and Bobbi for bringing Devon’s history to life for us and for future generations. We are honored to present them with our Devon Championship of the Year Award.

PHOTO GALLERY AND RESULTS

The day's competition also featured awards for Best Yearling and Best Young Horse. The Best Yearling was Arbor Hill (Regazzoni -Felicita), owned by Richard Taylor and Heidi Sampson, with Handler Richard Taylor. They earned The Kenneth Winchell Memorial Challenge Trophy.
 

Best Yearling Arbor Hill. The Book LLC
 

The Best Young Horse was awarded to three-year-old gelding Rainier (Eloquence – Countess Sabrina), owned by Kenneth Wheeler, Jr./Meridian Partners/Cismont Manor, and handled by Kenneth Wheeler. Rainier earned The Kenneth Wheeler Perpetual Trophy donated by B.J. Meeks. Rainier's breeder, Amanda Taylor, was given a special $500 Breeder's Award donated by Alix Coleman.

Best Young Horse Rainier. The Book LLC
 

The award for the Leading Pennsylvania Bred Handler was presented to Emily Anne Belin for The Wissie Brede Memorial Perpetual Trophy.


An Amateur Handlers class was also held with a win for Joanne Nuscher and Meghan McWilliams' yearling colt Sirtified VM (Sir Wanabi – Rocca Rio). They earned The Sallie J. Sexton Perpetual Trophy.

The final class of the day was the Young Hunters Under Saddle with two sections for The Women's Board of the Bryn Mawr Hospital Challenge Trophy. The Section A winner was Foxwick Farm's Sinsational Fox (Sinatra Song- Feiner Dance) ridden by Kim Buzby. Section B winner was Aizlynn Radwanski's Picture This (Quaterback – Sally) ridden by Phoebe Demott.

Best Young Horse Rainier with Kenny Wheeler. The Book LLC
 

The Devon Horse Show would like to thank everyone for a fantastic 2014 competition. For full results, please visit www.devonhorseshow.org.