Adrienne Iverson navigated Maximus, owned by Redfield Farm, to three back to back blue ribbons in today's Conformation Hunter division at the Tampa Bay Classic. (Emily Riden/PMG)
Iverson navigated Maximus, owned by Redfield Farm, seamlessly over the in-and-out, lines and oxers of the Keith Bollotte designed courses to sweep both of Thursday's over fences classes. With a fluid, lengthy stride Maximus also captured the blue ribbon in the under saddle class. The three blues on top of two first place finishes and a second place yesterday solidly secured the championship in the division for the pair.
"I've been riding him for about a year now, and he's been improving every horse show that we've been to," Iverson said. "It's so nice to see him progress. I've ridden him from the Pre-Greens to the First Years so it's nice him continue to improve."
Iverson will continue to compete the stallion in the Conformation Hunter division throughout the Tampa Equestrian Series with hopes of qualifying for the Devon Horse Show in May.
Finishing in reserve in the Conformation Hunters were Winn Alden and Cakebread, owned by Jamie Stryker.
Unlike the duo of Iverson and Maximus, the partnership that topped the Second Year Greens is a new one. Hunt Tosh claimed the championship tricolor aboard Imagine in their inaugural horse show together. Tosh took over the ride on Imagine just two weeks ago, but Tosh and the 17.2 hand hunter have clearly acclimated quickly.
"We're excited to be champion the first time out. He's a beautiful jumper, and he won the hack so it's great," Tosh shared. "We're just getting to know him a little bit so we weren't sure how he was going to be since it's a little breezy and cool, but he was great."
The reserve championship in the division went to Megan Young aboard Swagger, owned by Lee Cesery.
Tosh's success continued throughout the day as he earned two more championships in the First Year Green Hunter and High Performance Hunter divisions.
In the First Year Green Hunters, it was the grey horses that swept the field, with Tosh's mount Whiskey Blue, owned by Douglas Wheeler, claiming the championship and Greg Crolick finishing in reserve with Grey Street.
Whiskey Blue delivered the winning rounds in both of Thursday's First Year classes, while Crolick and Grey Street jumped to the red ribbon in the first division class of the morning.
It was again Tosh and Crolick with the one-two finish in the High Performance Hunters, rounding out day two of the Tampa Bay Classic. The championship honor being bestowed upon Dr. Betsee Parker's Lone Star, and the reserve award being presented to Top Call Farm's Carson.