Oct. 26, 2010 – After a year-long effort to earn a place in tonight’s finals, the payoff was big for Movado and Bailey Boyland of Potomac, MD, who won the $10,000 Children's Hunter Championship and Phoebe Weseley, Bedminster, NJ, aboard Just Ask Me, who cantered home with the blue ribbon in the $10,000 Adult Hunter Championship.

The 52nd annual Washington International Horse Show began today with hunter competition for top national professional and amateur riders. First classes of their divisions were held today and will finish for championships Wednesday. The evening session was devoted to the WIHS Children's and Adult Hunter Finals.

WIHS Childrens’ Hunter Championship

Boyland, 14, and Movado, a nine-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by Katie Stewart, was 29th of 35 to go in the first round, and received a score of 84 from the three judges – Ralph Caristo, Linda Hough, and Jimmy Torano. Going second to last in round two, which is limited to the top 12 finishers from round one, Boyland received another 84, the highest score in the round. The cumulative score of 168 put her on top, just ahead of For the Fun and Kaylen Schwartz, Midlothian, VA, who placed second with a total of 166, while Scott Petrie's One Hundred and One and Jenna Petrie-Moran, Medina, OH, were third with a score of 162.5.

For their win tonight, Movado and Boyland were awarded the H. Fenwick Kollock Memorial Perpetual Trophy donated by Friends of Fen.

Boyland trains with Alan Lohman and she started leasing Movado in December 2009. “He's my first horse. I went from a medium pony to him, and he's the best,” she said.

“I was so nervous (before the second round). I just didn't let the nerves get to me. He (Alan) said, 'Just go out and ride.' That's what he always says, and that's what I did!” she said with a smile. “My rounds were good and I had a lot of fun. I just tried my best, and I guess this is where it got me, so I'm really happy.”

Boylan first competed at WIHS in 2005, but the outcome was different. “I had a small pony in the Children's (class) and we didn't get around. This was a big change,” she laughed. “This is my biggest win. It means everything to win here (at Washington). It's what I've been working for all year. I can't believe it. I'm just so excited.”

WIHS Adult Hunter Championship

After four years of competing in the $10,000 Adult Hunter Championship, Phoebe Weseley and Just Ask Me finally got their victory. The pair had a first round score of 75 and came back with a vengeance in the second round. They scored 86 for a total of 161 and the win. First round leader Wise Counsel and Jessica Lohman, who rode for Alan Lohman, finished second with a score of 158.5, and Laurie Barna on Laguna placed third with a total of 155.

Weseley has owned Just Ask Me, a 10-year-old Mecklenberg gelding by DeNiro, for more than four years. They placed fourth in the 2009 championship. “It feels great,” said Weseley. “It’s been a lot of hard work. (In Harrisburg) he got a ribbon, but not what I expected so this was really great redemption for him. My first round was good. The five (strides) rode a little tighter than I thought and I had a little rub because I over released in the four to the two. But I fixed it all in the second round,” she said.

Weseley credits her horse and her team. “My horse tries; he gives you 110%. His name is Just Ask Me and when you ask him, he does it. He really has a big heart. Eric Salvadore is great, and Patty Foster, Mary Lisa Leffler and my whole team. They make it easy for me.”

The Washington International Horse Show continues Wednesday with championships for the professional and amateur-owner hunter divisions and the $10,000 Children's Jumper Championship. The evening session, which begins at 6:30 p.m., with opening ceremonies, features the $10,000 Adult Jumper Championship and a military polo exhibition.

For full results and more information, please visit www.wihs.org.

Final Results: $10,000 Children's Hunter Championship

Bailey Boyland MOVADO - 84.000 / 84.000 / 168.000
Kaylen Schwartz FOR THE FUN - 83.000 / 83.000 / 166.000
Jenna Petrie-Moran ONE HUNDRED AND ONE - 83.500 / 79.000 / 162.500
Ashley Reed RED CARPET - 78.000 / 80.000 / 158.000
Callie Alderman ACCOMAC - 80.000 / 67.000 / 147.000
Stephen Foran CANADIAN SUNSET - 72.000 / 74.000 / 146.000
Jocelyn Terry PFEFFERESSENCE - 79.000 / 62.500 / 141.500
Abigail Brodsky SUNDAY DRIVER - 75.000 / 66.000 / 141.000
Allison Karlovec ADENA - 71.000 / 68.000 / 139.000
Sandra Crabtree FOLLOW ME - 73.000 / 65. 000 / 138.000
Lene Bruheim NLF CASABELLA - 76.000 / 56.000 / 132.000
Charlotte Scharfenberg LEMIEUX - 85.000 / 45.000 / 130.000
Final Results: $10,000 Adult Hunter Championship

Phoebe Weseley JUST ASK ME - 75.000 / 86.000 / 161.000
Jessica Lohman WISE COUNSEL - 84.000 / 74.500 / 158.500
Laurie Barna LAGUNA - 78.000 / 77.000 / 155.000
Chiara Parlagreco PARIS NORTH - 69.000 / 84.000 / 153.000
Dr. Suzanne Smith FLEET WEEK - 80.000 / 70.500 / 150.500
Victoria Watters EYE REMEMBER RIO - 68.000 / 82.000 / 150.000
Kathryn Clapp DONNERKIND - 65.000 / 75.500 / 140.500
Heather Geller POMMEGRANATE - 64.000 / 76.000 / 140.000
Lara Mcpherson DELORIAN - 70.000 / 68.750 / 138.750
Heather Hawkins-Shaffer CHAUNCEY - 64.500 / 74.000 / 138.500
Laurie Barna TRIBUNE - 72.000 / 66.000 / 138.000
Kiersten Litzsinger GIBSON - 63.000 / 73.000 / 136.000