FLASHPOINT MEDIA SERVICES: THE WEEK IN REVIEW
AIKEN, S.C.—APRIL 30, 2007— Flashpoint Media Services clients continued with exciting Hunter/Jumper action during the Aiken Spring Classic, April 25-29, which was highlighted by the $25,000 William D Haggard Memorial Hunter Challenge and a $25,000 Grand Prix.
This week, the riders of the Monroe, N.C.-based HUNTERS LANE FARM were in the limelight, beginning with budding junior rider Alise Oken, who bested a seasoned group of professionals—including Scott Hofstetter and Daniel Geitner—to captured the $25,000 Hunter Classic aboard the Oken-Don Stewart-owned mare Alisette.
Oken also earned the Tri colors in three divisions: Large Pony Hunters with her mount Land’s End Mad Hatter, Large Junior Hunters (15 & Under) with Kiara Barnett’s Southern Style, and Large Green Pony Hunters with Robert Hunt’s Lexington. Oken and Alisette were also Reserve Champs in the Small Junior Hunters.
Sister Lucille Oken also scored big, earning the Tri Colors in the Small Pony Hunters aboard her mount Hi Lite and again in the Medium Pony Hunters with the Alise Oken-owned Mea Gold Card. Hunters Lane pro rider Stephen Heinecke also had a ribbon sweep, earning a Championship victory in the Green Conformation Hunters with the Alise Oken-owned Ashton and Reserve champ honors in the Green Working Hunters-Second Year with Southern Style. Congrats also to Lexie Piez, for a 1st place win in the Small Junior Handy Hunter class with her horse Bella Cavalla.
Elizabeth Towell-Boyd and Jack Hardin Towell Jr of the Camden-based FINALLY FARM continued to have stellar results in week two of Aiken. Towell-Boyd earned Triple Tri Colors: Green Working Hunter-First Year aboard Ursula and Regular Working Hunter aboard Brunello, both owned by Caroline Morrison, and Pre-Green Hunter 3-Foot with Helen Scot Milner’s Enticer. Boyd was also Reserve champ in the Pre Green with Tyson, owned by Jack Towell. Over in the jumper ring, Boyd had a well-earned 3rd place in the Welcome Stakes with her horse Rockefeller.
Hardin Towell, meanwhile, was the winner of the Young Jumper 6-Year-Old Division with Baldato Van’t Merelsnest, owned by Janet Peterson & Millstream, and was 7th in Sunday’s Grand Prix aboard Andrea King’s Sea Cloud 2.
New Aiken resident Michael Tokaruk, who runs TOKARUK SHOW STABLES with his brother Luke, had dual Reserve Championships this week, one in the Green Conformation Hunters with Honored, owned by Karen Long Dwight, and a second in the Level 5 Jumper division aboard Kinsale, owned by Burmonds & Wetmore. Brother Luke meanwhile, swept the Level 1 Jumpers and earned the Championship for the second consecutive week with the talented Windfall, owned by Thornbrook Farm.
In the final Grand Prix, Michael and his Holsteiner gelding Lord Byron held their own in a very competitive field, which included winner Sharn Wordly and 2nd place finisher Roberto Teran, to claim 12th place.
Rounding out the week’s action, Daniel Geitner, of the Aiken-based DFG Stables, earned the Tri Colors in both the Level 5 Jumpers (with Palermo, owned by M/M Rex Marquette) and in the Future Hunters (aboard Kate Whalen’s Waldgeist). He was also Reserve Champion in both the Level 3 and Level 4 Jumpers aboard Acorino (owned by Jessica Kane) and Fargo (Rex Marquette), respectively. Getiner also placed 3rd in the William D Haggard Memorial Hunter Challenge with Kyle Registers’ Vision Quest and 5th in the Grand Prix aboard the Sherry Cook-owned Miraj. And DFG client Tara Gail Bostwick was Reserve Champion in the Large Junior Hunters with her horse Libertas.
Congratulations to all!
Flashpoint Media Services, based in Harrodsburg, KY, is a comprehensive public relations firm specializing in the equestrian sports. For additional information about any Flashpoint clients or for exclusive photographs, contact Robbi Meisel, 859-734 3713, [email protected] or Cynthia Grisolia, 347-423 7322, [email protected].
Photo credit: Alise Oken and Alisette ©Flashpoint Photography
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