Northern Equestrian Circuit showcased northern riders

Kora van Tol, Evelynn Hoffman, Kelly Scott, Kassidy Portelance, Anyk Mainville and Cyan Lavigne all walked off with championship titles as the Northern Equestrian Circuit assembled thirty or so riders at Trevella Stables in Hanmer last Sunday.

Riders and horses represented a wide range of talent and experience, with all involved carrying differing expectations. The NEC group of shows is a relatively new addition to the local equestrian scene, with veterans tending to graduate to the Trillium events or "A" circuit.

"We created this circuit (NEC) for the advanced riders to come out and keep practising and getting better, and for the kids to come out and get a feel of what it's like to go to horse shows," said event organizer and local coach Christine Kinsella."It's a very relaxed atmosphere, not a lot of pressure."

A rider since the age of eight, Kelly Scott emerged as champion of the Intermediate Hunter Division, acknowledging that she was attending the event to work in more miles with her horse, Futurist, as the tandem target a berth at the Trillium provincials at Palgrave Stables in September.

"This horse is new to me, I've only been riding him since January," said Scott. "We didn't show some of the early season shows, so we're here to get miles. He's actually a really good contender to win the division."

"He's a beautiful horse," she added. "Really well bred, a quality horse. A good mover, good jumper, good bloodlines. It's up to me just simply not to mess up."

While Scott fell in love with the equestrian life after spending a birthday trail ride at Wagon Wheel ranch at the age of eight, 16-year-old Caleigh Fera brings an altogether different perspective.

"I grew up on a farm," said Fera. "We were raised riding, my parents rode, so it's a whole family thing." Though she had worked with ponies through virtually her entire life, Fera made the move to horses one year ago, picking up the Reserve Champion ribbon (second place) in the Open Hunter Division on Sunday, aboard Pelanca.

Like Scott, Fera is still getting a feel for her ride, working with her new mate since last November. "They said that she was very bouncy, that she's hard to sit on, but I got used to her pretty quick," said Fera.

"I'm more quiet than some riders, a little less excited in my movements." In fact, the horse and rider, in this particular case, seem to create a very good fit. Aiming to qualify for provincials in both the hunter and jumper classifications, Fera is in good shape heading into the home stretch.

For Koral van Tol, her victory in the Hack Division and reserve championship in Intermediate Hunter was more of a one-off. With her normal mount sidelined with soreness, van Tol spend Sunday with Grand Saluut, enjoying just one day of practice time before entering the rings at Trevella.

"You just try and make sure you have a good ride, that you end on a good note," stated van Tol. "It's different, but he's not a hard horse to ride. He's got a bigger stride, a little different movement."

Following are the top three finishers in all divisions that were contested on Sunday:

Beginner Division
Beginner Over Fences 1
1st - An Obvious Celebrity - Cyan Lavigne
2nd - Tonto - Kayla Lachance-Legault
3rd - Highland Fling - Hannah Fera

Beginner Over Fences 2
1st - An Obvious Celebrity - Cyan Lavigne
2nd - Highland Fling - Hannah Fera
3rd - Sierra's Sunset - Hannah Fera

Beginner Under Saddle
1st - Diversified Smoke - Tera Martin
2nd - Brown Sugar - Jeb Mason
3rd - Tonto - Kayla Lachance-Legault

CHAMPION: An Obvious Celebrity/Cyan Lavigne
RESERVE CHAMPION: Tonto/Kayla Lachance-Legault

Novice Hunter Division
Novice Hunter Over Fences 1
1st - An Obvious Celebrity - Anyk Mainville
2nd - Highland Fling - Samantha Lazure
3rd - Arcadia - Kenya Dockery

Novice Hunter Over Fences 2
1st - An Obvious Celebrity - Anyk Mainville
2nd - Mcgivor - Samantha Guerard
3rd - Arcadia - Kenya Dockery

Novice Hunter Under Saddle
1st - Mito Inspired - Katarina Scognetti
2nd - Diversified Smoke - Vanessa Vacaturo
3rd - Highland Fling - Samantha Lazure

CHAMPION: An Obvious Celebrity/Anyk Mainville
RESERVE CHAMPION: Highland Fling/Samantha Lazure

Novice Equitation
Novice Equitation Over Fences
1st - Kenya Dockery
2nd - Anyk Mainville
3rd - Samantha Guerard

Novice Equitation Under Saddle
1st - Anyk Mainville
2nd - Samantha Guerard
3rd - Katarina Scognetti

Modified Hunter Division
Modified Hunter Over Fences 1
1st - Trade To A Te - Kassidy Portelance
2nd - Rukus - Sophie Smagac
3rd - Highland Fling - Hannah Fera

Modified Hunter Over Fences 2
1st - Highland Fling - Hannah Fera
2nd - The Big Moose - Makenzie Thibault
3rd - Captain - Janessa Dennison

Modified Hunter Under Saddle
1st - Trade To A Te - Kassidy Portelance
2nd - The Big Moose - Makenzie Thibault
3rd - Dez - Kaylynn Senior

CHAMPION: Trade To A Te/Kassidy Portelance
RESERVE CHAMPION: Highland Fling/Hannah Fera

Modified Equitation
Modified Equitation Over Fences
1st - Hannah Fera
2nd - Janessa Davidson
3rd - Kassidy Portelance

Modified Equitation Flat
1st - Kassidy Portelance
2nd - Makenzie Thibault
3rd - Sophie Smagac

Intermediate Hunter Division
Intermediate Hunter Over Fences 1
1st - Futurist - Kelly Scott
2nd - Grand Saluut - Koral van Tol
3rd - Maiika - Jaimee Rodgers

Intermediate Hunter Over Fences 2
1st - Just A Splash Of Colour - Olivia Fera
2nd - Grand Saluut - Koral van Tol
3rd - Futurist - Kelly Scott

Intermediate Hunter Under Saddle
1st - Futurist - Kelly Scott
2nd - Grand Saluut - Koral van Tol
3rd - Trade To A Te - McKayla Poitras

CHAMPION: Futurist/Kelly Scott
RESERVE CHAMPION: Grand Saluut/Koral van Tol

Intermediate Equitation
Equitation Over Fences
1st - Koral van Tol
2nd - McKayla Poitras
3rd - Katelyn Fitzhenry

Equitation Flat
1st - Olivia Fera
2nd - Chantalle Fortin
3rd - Koral van Tol

Open Hunter Division
Open Hunter Over Fences 1
1st - Cohiba - Evelynn Hoffman
2nd - Harrington - Alicia Groom
3rd - Loukout II Z - Carolyn Strum

Open Hunter Over Fences 2
1st - Pelanca - Caleigh Fera
2nd - Cohiba - Evelynn Hoffman
3rd - Harrington - Alicia Groom

Open Hunter Under Saddle
1st - Harrington - Alicia Groom
2nd - Pelanca - Caleigh Fera
3rd- Lookout II Z - Carolyn Strum

CHAMPION: Cohiba/Evelynn Hoffman
RESERVE CHAMPION: Pelanca/Caleigh Fera

Open Equitation
Open Equitation Over Fences
1st - Alicia Groom
2nd - Caleigh Fera
3rd - Evelynn Hoffman

Open Equitation Flat
1st - Alicia Groom
2nd - Caleigh Fera
3rd - Evelynn Hoffman

Hack Division
Pleasure Hack
1st - Grand Saluut - Koral van Tol
2nd - Krymsum Sun - Chandra Paquette
3rd - Mito Inspired - Katarina Scognetti

Road Hack
1st - Grand Saluut - Koral van Tol
2nd - Gotcha Fooled - Chantalle Fortin
3rd - Mito Inspired - Katarina Scognetti

Show Hack
1st - Grand Saluut - Koral van Tol
2nd - Mito Inspired - Katarina Scognetti
3rd - Coal - Katelyn Fitzhenry

CHAMPION: Grand Saluut/Koral van Tol
RESERVE CHAMPION: Mito Inspired/Katarina Scognetti