Wellington, FL - Glen Senk did more than steal the show this morning as fifty-three entries came out for a chance to win the title in the Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Hunter Classic. Senk had a total of four entries in the class, all of which placed in the top twelve. Senk's newest mount, Another Place, took top honors in the class with an average score of 83.5 in the first round, and 85.5 in the second round.

Senk, and his own Fashion Farm, recently purchased Another Place, an eight-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Carano, through his trainer Scott Stewart. This week marks only the fifth time that Another Place has shown in competition. "He's the sweetest, gentlest, kindest animal," beamed Senk about his new horse.

Senk went on to place third on his own mount Declaration, a nine-year-old Westphalian gelding by Collin-L. He was awarded sixth on another of his mounts, Blessed. Blessed is a seven-year-old Holsteiner mare by Limotas. Senk's fourth ride, Highland Park, also owned by Senk's Fashion Farm, was awarded the eleventh place award. Highland Park is a twelve-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Welt Hit II.

There were no complaints this morning as exhibitors learned that their class had been moved into the International Arena. When asked about the change and the course, winner Glen Senk said, " The course was beautiful, and I don't know whose decision it was to move it out there, but thank you. It's so nice to ride out there, and the horses love it."

Due to the two round format of the class today, Senk was definitely the busiest of the twelve riders that were called back to compete in the second round. When asked about his feelings before entering the ring on all four of his entries in the second round, Senk said, "All I focus on is having fun. I have the best horses, and I just try to give them a nice ride."

Carol Cone holds the Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Hunter Classic in honor of her sister, the late Peggy Cone. The talented Peggy Cone not only showcased her talent in the show ring, but also through her amazing voice. Cone's album was played in the background throughout the running of the hunter classic. "We've always wanted it in the International ring," explained Cone. "To have it in that ring, and to let everybody flow was really a thrill."

Traveling all the way from Los Angeles, CA, to ride in the WCHR competition, 17-year-old Olivia Esse made her trip worthwhile with a big win in the WCHR Junior/Amateur-Owner Palm Beach Hunter Classic Spectacular aboard Small Affair, owned by Iwasaki and Reilly.

Twenty-six competitors qualified throughout two weeks of competition to compete in today's class. The top eight scoring competitors then returned for a second round. The cut off to return for round two was an 84.62, with the highest returning score of 91.5 held by Olivia Esse and Small Affair. The top eight riders returned in reverse order according to their scores and last to go, Esse and Small Affair earned an 88.50 in their second round to win the class with a two round total of 180. The junior riders ruled the class, taking home seven of the top eight awards.

Victoria Colvin rode Scott Stewart's horse Inclusive to the highest second round score of 89, which combined with their first round score of 87, placed the pair in second place overall with a 176 point total. Hayley Barnhill and Heartfelt, owned by Susan E. Gordon, earned a 175 to finish in third place. Lillie Keenan and Chansonette Farm LLC's C Coast Z earned a 170 for fourth place. Amateur rider Alise Oken finished with a 169.12 aboard her horse Take Away to finish in fifth place.

Class winner Small Affair is an eight-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Elf D'Or out of Eva De Fontenay. Esse leases Small Affair to show in the Junior Hunters, and he also competes with professional rider John French in the new Performance Working Hunter 3'6"-3'9" division. French and Small Affair were champion during both weeks five and six in their division and Esse rode the gelding to a championship during week six and a reserve championship during week five. Today's win was an exciting way to top off her two weeks in Florida as Esse will be flying back to California this evening.

"I was a little frustrated warming up for the first round, but then when I got into the huge field it was relaxing; you just gallop and it was a lot of fun," Esse stated after her win. "He felt really good even though he has been showing all weekend. He is probably a little tired, but he was great. He is really fun out in the big field; he has a big stride so sometimes he is harder to ride in the smaller rings. Out here he can really stretch out and give his all."

"He has a personality; he can be kind of sassy sometimes but every time he gets in the ring he is a total show horse and he just really performs," Esse noted.

French added, "You can't force him to do anything, especially as a young horse. We went slow with him and he has just gotten better and better. He is still a little cranky some days, but you just know what buttons to push and not to push them too hard."

Commenting on the trip from the west coast, French noted, "When you come all the way here for just two weeks it is not very long, so a win like this definitely makes it worth coming."

Esse agreed, saying, "It was a lot of fun. I really love it out here at this show. It is so competitive; I just want to do well and it is always fun out in the big international ring."

Other awards presented today were the week's high scores. Victoria Colvin and Olivia Esse were each presented with awards for their high scores during the week's competition in the junior divisions and Esse also earned the Leading Lady Rider award for her high score in the first round of today's competition. Katie Robinson earned the high score in the Amateur-Owner Hunters, and Scott Stewart and John French received the high scores in the professional divisions. Meredith Darst and Tobasco earned the award for Grand Champion Junior Hunter.

The USHJA would like to thank its generous sponsors for the 2011 WCHR Hunter Classic Spectacular, including: Ogilvy-The Official Therapeutic Saddle Pad of the USHJA, who will be supplying therapeutic saddle pads to the top six riders in both the Professional and Junior/Amateur-Owner Hunter Spectaculars; Essex Classics, who will be providing riding shirts to the high score Professional and Emerging Professional riders and to the high score Junior and Amateur riders on Sunday morning; and Arc De Triomphe (ADT), the Official Saddlery of the WCHR, who will be supplying bridles and bridle bags to the winners of each WHCR Classic.

The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival will continue with its seventh week of competition on Wednesday, February 23, 2011, again sponsored by Fidelity Investments®. The week will feature the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 on Thursday afternoon, the $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Riders Grand Prix on Friday evening, the $75,000 Fidelity Investments® FEI CSI 2* Grand Prix on Saturday evening, and the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday afternoon.

For full results please visit www.showgroundslive.com or for more information, visit www.equestriansport.com.

Final Results: Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Hunter Classic

1 ANOTHER PLACE GLEN SENK FASHION FARM: 83.5/85.50 169.00

2 RHYTHMICAL RACHEL BOGGUS RACHEL BOGGUS: 86/77.00 163.00

3 DECLARATION GLEN SENK FASHION FARM: 80/82.50 162.50

4 BE COOL KRISTA WEISMAN KRISTA WEISMAN: 84.5/77.75 162.25

5 PARAMOUR ELIZABETH FARACI ELIZABETH FARACI: 89.5/72.75 162.25

6 BLESSED GLEN SENK FASHION FARM: 76.75/84.50 161.25

7 TIVOLI CHIARA PARLAGRECO LYN PEDERSEN: 76.87/82.50 159.37

8 EQUANIMITY ANSLEY GRAINGER ELM ROCK: 75.5/82.00 157.50

9 AUSTIN TAMMY WILLIAMS TAMMY WILLIAMS: 77.5/74.50 152.00

10 NORTHERN LIGHTS TINA FUREY TINA FUREY: 76.5/73.50 150.00

11 HIGHLAND PARK GLEN SENK /FASHION FARM: 77.5/70.50 148.00

12 MILLTOWN MANDA KALIMIAN SERAPHIM FARM: 81.5/63.50 145.00

Final Results: WCHR Junior/Amateur-Owner Palm Beach Hunter Classic Spectacular

1 SMALL AFFAIR OLIVIA ESSE REILLY AND IWASAKI 91.5/88.5 180

2 INCLUSIVE VICTORIA COLVIN SCOTT STEWART 87/89 176

3 HEARTFELT HAYLEY BARNHILL SUSAN E. GORDON 87/88 175

4 C COAST Z LILLIE KEENAN CHANSONETTE FARM LLC 86/84 170

5 TAKE AWAY ALISE OKEN ALISE OKEN 84.62/84.5 169.12

6 SANZIBAR VICTORIA COLVIN KAREN LONG DWIGHT 86/81.5 167.5

7 MADISON LILLIE KEENAN CHANSONETTE FARM LLC 89.25/70 159.25

8 TAKEN HANNAH GOODSON-CUTT NANCY AMLING 85.25/71 156.25

ENDS