Barbara Kearney's G.G. Valentine and two-time World Championship Hunter Rider Jennifer Alfano of Buffalo, NY, finished their show season as winners at the 2004 Syracuse Invitational Horse Show. Held at the OnStar Center in Syracuse, NY. for the second time, the best riders came to compete from throughout North America. Alfano and G.G. Valentine took home the Working Hunter Championship to cap off their extraordinary 2004 season.

"G.G. was just super for me," stated Alfano, 36. "She is one of the most consistent horses I have ever ridden. I am very, very fortunate to have a hunter like this to partner with." G.G. Valentine is a 16.1-hand, nine-year-old, bay Mecklenberg mare. Alfano also rode Once and Again to three second place ribbons in the Working Hunter Division, narrowly missing the reserve championship by just one point. Once and Again is owned by Meredith Lipke of Buffalo.

Fresh off her Leading Hunter Rider victory at the 62nd Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA, at the end of October, Alfano now plans to rest her mounts until the stable heads south to show in Ocala, FL, on the HITS Circuit in January.

Alfano achieved a remarkable record during the 2004 show season. She was Leading Hunter Rider four times at the HITS show circuit in Saugerties, NY, and four times at the HITS series in Ocala, FL. At the end of September, Alfano was also awarded the Leading Hunter Rider title for her accomplishments at the Marshall & Sterling League National Indoor Finals in Worcester, MA. Earlier in September at the 58th Buffalo International Horse Show in Buffalo, NY, Alfano and G.G. Valentine took Grand Championship Hunter honors.