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Matthew Sereni Wins
Potcreek Farm Junior Sportsman Award At Indio Desert Circuit Horse
Show |
INDIO, CA (March 9, 2001)--Horse Shows In The Sun
(HITS) announced today that Matthew Sereni, 16, of Los Altos Hills, California,
has been selected by the judges as this year's winner of the Potcreek Farm
Junior Sportsman Award at the Indio Desert Circuit--a six-week hunter/jumper
horse show in Indio, California. The award will be presented to Matthew in the
Grand Prix field at HITS Desert Horse Park on Sunday, March 11, during
half-time ceremonies. The Indio Desert Circuit is one of the largest horse
shows in the United States and is host to more than 2,000 horses competing in
over 300 hunter, jumper, and equitation classes each week.
Matthew has been riding since he was three years old. He trains with his
mother, Debbi Sereni, and Michael Henaghan at Traditional Show
Jumping--Henaghan's stable in Calabasas, California. At the Indio Desert
Circuit, Matthew competed in Small Junior Hunter classes with Fare Niente, and
in High Junior Jumpers with Keepsake. Pinnacle Equine Group of Los Altos,
California, owns both horses. Matthew also rode Centerstage in Large Junior
Hunters for Carleton Brooks, a well-known professional trainer who operates
Uphill Farm based in Atherton, California. In competition, Matthew was required
to jump courses with fences set at a minimum of 3' 6" for the hunters and
up to 4' 6" for the jumpers.
With Centerstage, Matthew has qualified to compete in the $50,000 East Meets
West Hunter Challenge that will be held from 8am-9am PST on March 11. The
Challenge is a bi-coastal simulcast competition that pits the top 10 hunter
riders from Indio against the top 10 hunter riders at the HITS Ocala Winter
Circuit in Florida. Judges in both locations view the competition live on TV
monitors linked by satellite.
A sophomore at Pinewood High in Los Altos, Matthew plays soccer and baseball in
his school's athletics program. He says that his school is very supportive of
his passion for horse sports and has permitted him to work out a schedule for
his studies that allows him to train and compete. Matthew is also involved in
community services and volunteers to work with autistic children. "One of
the most important things about Matthew ever since his pony days is his love
for horses," says Mrs. Sereni. "He becomes very attached to each
horse and takes responsibility for all aspects of their care."
The winner of the Junior Sportsman Award is selected each year based on the
judge's observations of a junior rider's conduct and attitude, and especially
courtesy, appropriate to a competitor in horse sports. Matthew will receive an
Antares Circuit Grand Champion jacket with the title of his award embroidered
on it.
HITS, based in Rhinebeck, New York, is the producer of six world-class
hunter/jumper horse show circuits in the U.S.
Indio Desert Circuit 2001 Show Jumping Action continues ........... FINAL WEEK
Circuit VI March 7-11Featured Events: $50,000 East Meets West Hunter Challenge
Presented by The Chronicle of the Horse Sunday, March 11 8am
$150,000 Ford Grand Prix of the Desert Sunday, March 11 2pm
Special Day Event: Fiesta Day
Presented by Avis, Boys & Girls Club of Coachella
Valley, El Informador del Valle, KUNA TV, and
Valley Meat Markets Sunday, March 11 11am-1pm
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