Downeast Medal Finals

October 2016


Thank you to all who attended the 2016 Downeast Medal Finals! This was our best year yet. Visit our website for more information and complete results. We welcome all feedback; email Ginger at galbert@maine.rr.com.
2016 Downeast Medal Finals Summary

The Downeast Medal Finals has wrapped up its eighth season!  Riders have competed throughout the year to qualify for this event held in Skowhegan, Maine.  It is one of New England’s newest shows and it is bringing a sense of fun and accessibility to the hunter jumper show circuit here. Trainers, riders, spectators and family alike have referred to this show as not just a year-end finals show, but rather a truly fun “destination event” appealing to riders at all levels.

As a result, the Downeast Medal Finals Show has been winning praise and attracting new exhibitors from all over the New England region.  Although the show team is made up of experienced equestrians with decades of showing experience, they pride themselves on the enjoyable spirit of showing, not just the points obtained by doing so.

This year’s esteemed judge and course designer was Richard Luckhardt, who came up to Maine from Connecticut with a wealth of equestrian knowledge and experience.  Whether winning their classes or just out of the ribbons, the exhibitor consensus was that Mr. Luckhardt’s  judging was very fair and forgiving; always a nice combination for riders. His feedback- “The show was impressive and your staff was great.  I enjoyed it very much!”
(C) Riitta Fortier

The show kicked off on Friday with a full day of showing followed by the evening exhibitor party, all compliments of the DMF management.  As the Harvest moon began to crest over the show grounds, riders could hear the sounds of fiddle playing in the barns combined with laughter coming from the entire backside as exhibitors relaxed with their horses which began a well deserved slumber.  Sunday, of course, was medal day, maybe the most relaxed medal day ever seen. As well, The Hemphill’s Horsemanship Challenge practicum was given by New England Equine and Surgical Center’s Dr Kathy Samley, our ever vigilant steward Katherine Desantis, and our blacksmith Liselle Batt.

Beyond the classes, points and ribbons, what brings riders back is the showing experience, the entire experience.  Hauling in from New Hampshire, parent Holly O’Rourke said, “We are spreading the word down here.  What an amazing experience.  I’m calling it a showcation.  It is not just a show but a true family event and vacation.  For most folks it’s show and go… but for the DMF, we didn’t want to leave.  One could hear laughter and fiddle playing in the barns at night, it was an amazing core memory for my daughter.” The DMF exhibitors can feel there is a sense that management truly cares about their exhibitor experience.  

A few quotes from the weekend sums it all up: “FUN,” “what a nice group of people!” “we learned so much!” “the decorations and jumps were amazing,” “a memory we won’t soon forget!”

Be sure to visit the 2016 Downeast Photographer's website to see your pictures: Spotted Vision Photography.

Thank you so much to our incredible sponsors who help make this show possible: IDEXX, Farm Family/American National, Hemphill's Horses and Feed, New England Equine and Surgical Center,  Shires Equestrian, Poulin Grain, Blue Seal Grain, Dover Saddlery, SmartPak, Shain's of Maine, SunSet Flowerland, Total Equestrian, and so many more.

For more information on the Downeast Medal Finals, please contact  Ginger at galbert@maine.rr.com.
(C) Paige Bassett
2016 Downeast Medal Final Results
Congratulations to all who competed at the 2016 Downeast Medal Finals! Here are the highlights of the results; view the complete results on our website.

Hemphill's and Downeast Medal Finals Horsemanship Class (12 & under)
Champion: Charlotte Pearsall
Reserve Champion: Lainey Rockway 
 
Hemphill's and Downeast Medal Finals Horsemanship Class (13-17)
Champion: Jillian Spencer
Reserve Champion: Casey Flanigan 
 
Farm Family American National 2’3″ Hunter Derby
Champion: Top Secret ridden by Katherine Dade
Reserve Champion: Nutty Buddy ridden by Amira Kettaneh 
 
IDEXX 2'9" Hunter Derby
Champion: KEC Carragh Lake ridden by Sydney Wicklund
Reserve Champion: My Riki ridden by Miranda Adcock
  
Shires Pro Am
Champion: Isabella Fabiano and Erin Vanna
Reserve Champion: Jordan Wicklund and Gretchen Anderson
 
Dovery Saddlery Team Challenge
Champions: "Pony's Minions:" Reece McGlew, Sami Kettaneh, Elizabeth Brown, Jillian Spencer
Reserve Champions: "DMF Daffy Ducks:" Clara Mugnai, Amira Kettaneh, Heather Lee O’Rourke, Ashley Ginter

NEHC Pleasure Class
Champion: Janna Flynn
Reserve Champion: Claire Lane
(C) Riitta Fortier
 
Walk Trot Poles Medal
Bright Bay Farm Trophy
Champion: Anna Gibbs
Reserve Champion: Addison Stewart 
 
Short Stirrup Equitation Medal
Peter N. Thompson Memorial Trophy
Champion: Sara Plaisted
Reserve Champion: Charlotte Pearsall

Long Stirrup Equitation Medal
Lucky Clover Stables MMZZ Top Memorial Trophy
Champion: Alexa Newcomb
Reserve Champion: Serena Blasius 
 
Modified Junior Equitation Medal
Rexroad Family Trophy
Champion: Jillian Spencer
Reserve Champion: Isabel Kesselhaut
  
Children’s Pony Medal
Poulin Grain Trophy
Champion: Katie McCormick
Reserve Champion: Isabella Fabiano 
 
Junior Medal
Venture Farm Trophy
Champion: Miranda Adcock
Reserve Champion: 
  
Modified Adult Medal
Maggie Mae Memorial Trophy
Champion: Amy Miller
Reserve Champion: Nicole Price
  
Amateur Adult Medal
Bernard Klingenstein/Euclide Albert Memorial Trophy
Champion: Michelle Foote
Reserve Champion: Abby Brand  
Belmont Motel Lead Line Division
Lead Line Equitation: Allison Day
Lead Line Candy Race: Allison Day

Walk Trot Division
Walk Trot Equitation: Sami Kettaneh
Walk Trot Pleasure: Heather Lee O'Rourke
Walk Trot Over Poles: Sami Kettaneh

Short Stirrup Division
Short Stirrup Hunter O/F: Charlotte Pearsall
Short Stirrup Equitation O/F: Charlotte Pearsall
Short Stirrup U/S: Summer Philley

Long Stirrup Division
Long Stirrup Hunter O/F: Dee MacGown
Long Stirrup Equitation O/F: Ashley Ginter
Long Stirrup U/S: Serena Blasius

Children's Pony Division
Children's Pony Hunter O/F: Emma Albertini
Children's Pony Equitation O/F: Isabella Fabiano
Children's Pony Hunter U/S: Jordan Wicklund

New England Equine Open Hunter Division
Open Hunter O/F: Janna Flynn
Open Hunter O/F: Michelle Foote
Open Hunter U/S: Janna Flynn

SmartPak Modified Junior Division
Modified Jr. Hunter O/F: Isabel Kesselhaut; Jillian Spencer
Modified Jr. Equitation O/F: Erin Phillips; Jillian Spencer
Modified Jr. Hunter U/S: Isabel Kesselhaut, Amira Kettaneh

Modified Adult Division
Modified Adult Hunter O/F: Sarah Seaboyer
Modified Adult Equitation O/F: Amy Miller
Modified Adult Hunter U/S: Betsy Cetron

Total Equestrian Children's Hunter Division
Children's Hunter O/F: Erin O'Calahan
Children's Hunter O/F: Miranda Adcock
Children's Hunter U/S: Kellie McCormick

Amateur Adult Hunter Division
Amateur Adult Hunter O/F: Michelle Foote
Amateur Adult Hunter O/F: Michelle Foote
Amateur Adult Equitation O/F: Michelle Foote
Amateur Adult Hunter U/S: Michelle Foote

Junior Equitation Division
Junior O/F: Miranda Adcock
Junior Equitation Flat: Casey Flanigan
Upcoming Shows with Downeast Qualifying Classes

Oct. 15     Lupine Farm, Vassalboro, ME

Oct. 16     Evenstride, Byfield, MA

Oct. 23     Lucky Clover Stables, Sanford, ME

Oct. 29     Cornerstone Farm, Haverhill, MA

Become a Downeast Medal Finals Sponsor for 2017:
All levels accepted and appreciated! 
Visit our website for more information.

For more information, to list your show with Downeast qualifying classes, to be featured as a Downeast spotlight rider, or to become a sponsor, please email Katie at katherinekirwin@gmail.com.


Thank you to Riitta Fortier for many of these photographs.