Beezie Madden Tops Class Of Nations Cup Veterans
To Win $25,000 Equus Medal
WELLINGTON,
FL March 11, 2004 Beezie Madden, 40, of Cazenovia,
New York, topped a class of 24 veterans of Nations Cup competitions
to win the 2nd Annual $25,000 Wellington Equus Medal on Monday,
March 8, 2004, at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington,
Florida. The two-round night class was held under the lights in
the Internationale Arena as a benefit for the Wellington Equestrian
Alliance. Only riders who had represented their country in a Nations
Cup were eligible to compete. Its judged on the style
of the rider and the performance that night, explained Madden.
It was fun. I had a great horse both rounds. Maddens
mounts were borrowed from Frank and Stacia Maddens Beacon
Hill, and their young staff attired in the stables
navy blue T-shirts were Beezies ground crew. All the
kids helped. We held a practice session in the afternoon and they
helped us get ready for tonight, said Madden. We all
just had fun with it. It was a great night.
Demonstrating
their equitation skills over a First Round course designed by Philip
De Vita, riders jumped a course of 13 fences, the tallest being
3 6, and were required to hand gallop to the final fence.
Officiating were Norman Dello Joio, Ellen Lordi and Leo Conroy who
individually scored the riders performance over each fence
and then averaged the marks for a total score. Madden received the
highest score, 92.00, for her trip. The hardest part was the
middle line fences 6, 7, 8, said Madden, who rode Whimsey
owned by Maria Schaub. It was quite a forward four (stride)
distance between the two oxers and then you had a very steady five
to the next fence, so you had to switch gears pretty good down that
line. Madden also noted that the liverpools caused problems
for some of the horses. Its particularly difficult at
night because the lights reflect off of them. Horses that arent
spooky about liverpools can surprise you at night under the lights
because the light glares up into their eyes off the water.
The
judges selected their top six riders from the First Round to return
for a Second Round. Going in reverse order were Shane Carey of Ireland
(85.50); Kim Frey of Hume, VA (86.50); Molly Ashe of Wellington,
FL (88.75); Eric Navet of France (89.75); Hap Hansen of Encinitas,
CA (90.50); and Madden (92.00). The riders were asked to bring a
groom with them, as they switched horses and changed tack (places
one and two, three and four, and five and six switched). The Second
Round challenged the riders skills with nine fences, plus
a trot jump followed by a counter canter to the last fence.
Numerical
scores were not given for the Second Round, but the judges
commentary and assessments produced the final placements. Beezie
Madden, aboard Cino (whose regular rider is Sloane Cole) maintained
her first place slot for the victory earning $7,500. Molly Ashe
moved up from fourth to second place, taking home $5,500. Shane
Carey shot up from sixth to finish third, pocketing $3,500. Hap
Hansen dropped from second to fourth, which paid $2,000. Kim Frey
remained in fifth place, also receiving $2,000. Eric Navet dropped
from third to sixth, giving him $1,500. The class paid to eighth
place, and Schuyler Riley of Hobe Sound, FL, along with Patty Stovel
of Wellington, FL, each earned $1,500.
Madden
pointed out the difficulties of the work-off. Mostly the trot
jump and the counter canter because it was different. Most of our
equitation horses practice it a lot, but again you have the added
atmosphere of the lights and the crowd, so when theyre a little
excited its harder to trot the jump. Madden rode in
equitation finals the last two of her junior years but noted that
her best placing was eighth in the Medal Maclay, though she won
many USET classes during that era. And while Madden had practiced
for the class on Whimsey, shed never been on Cino before tonight.
Its a difficulty for sure, but Ive ridden a lot
of different horses in my career, so it helps.
While
Hap Hansen dropped from second to fourth in the work-off, he was
still pleased with the nights outcome. He flew in from California
just for the class and was headed for the airport in the morning.
I came last year and the horse I got to ride was a little
spooky. I only got as far as fence three, explained Hansen.
He had a pre-paid ticket to Florida, and decided to use it to come
back and try again. Was he looking to redeem himself? Yes!
he grinned, acknowledging that he did well in the class this time.
Yes, it was great fun.
Molly
Ashe, who benefited from the work-off, jumping from fourth to a
second place finish, said she practiced for the class on her first
horse, Renzo, loaned to her by the Fairfield County Hunt Club, but
had never ridden her second mount, Super Cruise, from Beacon Hill.
He felt a little bit disconnected for me, just getting on,
cantering straight to the jumps, and not getting a chance to know
him at all. But he was such a good guy. Hes got a huge stride
and huge jump, said Ashe. The fact that he was so slick
about the counter canter to the last jump was probably what helped
me out.
Ashe
noted that she had an extensive background as a junior in the equitation
division. My last four junior years I was pretty serious about
it. The last two years as a junior Ashe moved from her home
in Tennessee to Beacon Hill in New Jersey. She trained with Bill
Cooney. Her highest placing in the USET Finals was second in 1988,
a year when she also earned fifth in the Maclay and fourth in the
Medal Finals. Its dusting off the cobwebs, Ashe
noted about tonights Equus Medal. Believe it or not,
its very different from what we do day in and day out
to go in there and jump a course like that and think about your
position. Its something from way back in our past. Most
inspiring about tonights class for Ashe was the fun she had
in a role-reversal situation with her client, Jane Clarke, who helped
her prepare for two weeks. We had some really good laughs.
Its good fun, said Ashe. And how did she feel about
her second place finish? Great. Thrilled! I was hoping to
do well.
The
$25,000 Wellington Equus Medal class was created by Mason Phelps,
Jr. as a fundraiser for the Wellington Equestrian Alliance, an organization
established by principals within the equestrian community to protect
the equestrian preserve in Wellington. An effective lobbying group,
the Wellington Equestrian Alliance tracks the political climate
and decisions of town leaders as they relate to development.
2004
WINTER EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL TICKET INFORMATION
Show
days for the 2004 Winter Equestrian Festival are Wednesday through
Sunday. Gates open at 8:00 am. Ticket Prices: Wednesdays are free
to everyone; Children 12 and under are admitted free every day;
Young Adults 13 to 18 and Seniors are $5 on Thursday through Sunday;
Adults are $5 on Thursday and Friday, $10 on Saturday, and $15 on
Sunday. The Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club is located on Pierson
Road off South Shore Boulevard. For additional information, visit
www.stadiumjumping.com or call 561-793-5867.
2004
WEF SCHEDULE OF COMPETITIONS
March
10 - 14 CSIO United States Cosequin Finale CSIO***
March
18 - 21 Zada Enterprises WEF Dressage Classic CDI***/Y
(Qualifier for Olympic Selection Trials)
March
24 - 28 Tampa Bay Classic CSI-W (Bob Thomas Equestrian Center)
March
30 - April 3 Tournament of Champions CSI-W (Bob Thomas Equestrian
Center)
April
3 Budweiser American Invitational (Raymond James Stadium)
WEF
2004 MILLION DOLLAR GRAND PRIX SERIES
March
12 $50,000 Samsung Nations Cup, presented by CN, CSIO****
March
14 $100,000 Cosequin U.S. Open Jumper Championship, CSIO****
March
28 $75,000 Grand Prix of Tampa, presented by Kilkenny/ICH, CSI-W
April
3 $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational, Presented by Publix
and The Tampa Tribune
CHARLOTTE
JUMPER CLASSIC CSI****, Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, NC
April
9 -11 Charlotte Jumper Classic CSI****
April
11 $150,000 Grand Prix of Charlotte For the Charlotte Bobcat Cup
.
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