DEVON, Pa.--McLain Ward on First Lady won the $38,700 Power and Speed Open Jumper class Wednesday evening at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.
McLain Ward on First LadyIn Power and Speed, competitors jump a course with a time allowed and the go through timers onto the Speed phase, and the accumulated faults are counted for the whole course but the time in the Speed phase separates all those without fault.
Ward finished clean in 30.69, but Jessica Mendoza of Great Britain on Changing Tatum, going third from last, almost caught him, finishing in 30.73.
Laura Chapot on Chandon Blue, who went very early in the class, finished third in 31.09, with Roberto Teran of Colombia on Wakita fourth in 323.09.
"First Lady is a mare belonging to Robin Parsky that we bought as a 7-year-old," said Ward. "We've been producing her, and last year she started putting it all together."
"She's very rideable," said Ward. "She's a handy horse, so I can make quick turns. She's quick naturally."
EARLIER in the day, hunters finished their competitions with Can Can, ridden by Christopher Payne, winning the Conformation Hunter Championship and Worthy, ridden by Marie Rasmussen, the Reserve Champion.
Cannon Creek, ridden by Hunt Tosh, was High Performance Hunter Champion with Nottingham, ridden by Scott Stewart, Reserve Champion.
The Grand Hunter Championship went to McQueen, ridden by Nick Haness, who had been Green Hunter, 3'6" Reserve Champion and Green Conformation Hunter Champion on Wednesday.
Haness of Temecula, Calif., was Leading Hunter Rider, edging out Scott Stewart, who has won that title 17 times.
"I just come east for Devon, the Hunter Derby and the indoor circuit," said Haness. "I've shown at Devon about 10 times."
"McQueen is a very nice horse," said Hanes. "I thought his way of going would do well at Devon. He has a big stride, and he's a good jumper."
"I broke my wrist 10 weeks before Devon, so for McQueen to be able to perform the way he did is remarkable. He only showed twice in the 10 weeks after I broke my wrist. His owner Brooke Maris showed him twice in first-year green before Devon. The last time I showed him was a Thermal in California 11 weeks ago."
Haness said he hoped to return to Devon again next year to defend his title.
Always Elegant, ridden by Dillya Millnick was Lady's Side Saddle Champion, with Tortuga, ridden by Devon Zebrovious, Reserve Champion.
