Against a field of 34, Maggie McAlary, 17, of Amherst, NH, won the 2007 United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Hunterdon Cup Equitation Class presented by World Equestrian Brands on Tuesday, August 7, in Saugerties, NY. McAlary set the bar high in the first round, receiving a score of 93 from judges Chrystine Tauber and Brian Flynn. McAlary held on to her lead in each of the three rounds and was awarded the USHJA Hunterdon Cup Perpetual Trophy, donated by Diane Carney and Lynne Jayne, as well as a custom Amerigo Farouche saddle, which was presented with the help of last year's winner, Addison Phillips.
McAlary’s trainer, Andre Dignelli, owner and trainer at Heritage Farm in Katonah, NY, had an equally successful day as the trainer of not just McAlary, but also Victoria Birdsall, Emma Lipman, and Kitt Ritter who placed second, third, and seventh, respectively. The top ten results were:
Champion: Maggie McAlary
Reserve: Victoria Birdsall
Third: Emma Lipman
Fourth: Katherine Stewart
Fifth: Katherine Newman
Sixth: Laura King-Kaplan
Seventh: Kitt Ritter
Eighth: Kate Salzman
Ninth: Jessie Kimmelman
Tenth: Molly Cokacz
The top seven riders each received a prize from World Equestrian Brands. Prizes included: a custom Amerigo Farouche Saddle, a Vespucci bridle, E.A. Mattes sheepskin pad, ProChaps, Teque-Style shirt, Masta blanket, and Harry Hall outerwear. All riders participating in the Hunterdon Cup also received a Masta rain sheet from USHJA.
The Hunterdon Cup consisted of three rounds, with the first round requiring riders to manage a course of 10 hunter style fences set at 3’6”; the second round brought back the top 10 riders for a handy hunter course where handiness was emphasized, and the third and final round brought back the top four riders and required the riders to switch horses and perform over a shortened course. The USHJA Hunterdon Cup was open to any active USHJA junior member and who won a USEF Medal, ASPCA Maclay, USEF Show Jumping Talent Search, or WIHS Classic through July 1, 2007.
Complete details of the class will be available in the October issue of USHJA In Stride.