 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Awards Galore text by Kim F. Miller • photos by Tish Quirk |
The Pacific Coast Horse Shows Assn., California Professional Horsemen’s Assn. and USHJA’s Zone 10 celebrated their 2007 honorees during two days of meetings and awards banquets in Las Vegas, Jan. 4-5.
Lorimer’s Legacy: The new PCHA award, dedicated to the late Lorraine Lorimer, was presented to Northern California trainer John Bragg. Lorimer left quite a legacy before passing away, at 83, last June. She was 2000 Olympian Lauren Hough’s grandmother and the mother of four active horsewomen: Laura’s mom and famous hunter rider Linda Hough, Celia Gamble, Maggie Hopkins and Irene Randall. The award in Lorimer’s honor will be given to the trainer earning the most points in all the hunter divisions. Pictured from left are Irene, Celia, John, Linda and Maggie.
Ladies Night: Maggi McHugh, left, and Anne Blecker, have been synonymous with the PCHA for many years. Their efforts in running the office, tracking points and rule changes and organizing the convention were acknowledged with the Mark Mullen Memorial trophy. The night before, Anne was honored as Zone 10’s Lifetime Achievement Award winner, highlighted by slides of Anne riding just about every discipline during her youth. The PCHA’s newly elected president Archie Cox made the presentation, a nice break for the top trainer who made countless treks to the awards podium himself over the weekend.
Milestone Year: Gabbi Langston gets ready to receive one of the most beautiful of PCHA’s truly spectacular trophy sculptures: the Suegene Kim and Chelsey Weaver Memorial Perpetual Trophy. The much-admired Orange County rider earned it by being the “A” 14 & Under Hunter Seat Equitation Champion. Gabbi also won a lifetime PCHA membership in the evening’s raffle.
Star Power: Karl Cook, right, dominated the junior and amateur jumping ranks throughout 2007, and the Northern California teen stayed on center stage through much of the weekend’s awards ceremonies. He is pictured here with his trainer Butch Thomas, to whom Karl dedicated the PCHA’s Friendship Cup. Karl’s home-made video highlights included an on-course spill and one of his acceptance speeches relayed how, after his first lesson with Butch, the trainer told Karl’s mother to bring her son back when he was ready to “show a little respect.” Although we hear Karl had to be heavily persuaded to make any speeches, his self-depreciating, sincere and often funny comments turned out to be highlights of the weekend. Karl’s honors included CPHA’s Junior Achievement Award, PCHA’s Friendship Cup, Zone 10 Equestrian of the Year and a slew of trophies from his jumper accomplishments with his horses Notories Utopia, Uno DeLaubRy and NZ Madison. He was team and individual gold medalist at the North American Young Riders Championships and team gold and individual silver medalist at the Prix des States Championships.
Hall of Famers: The distinct voice of famed horse show announcer Malcolm Rossol brought back memories for the older adult competitors in the audience when he accepted his induction into the CPHA Hall Of Fame. His fellow inductees were Allen Ross, Arthur Hawkins and Art Gotfried.
Super Achiever: Karen Healey accepts the CPHA’s Special Achievement Award for a most remarkable year. “Of the 25 years I’ve been in California, and the 36 years that I’ve been a professional, this last year was the top,” Karen said. The most gratifying aspect of her entire career, she added, was not the individual wins of her students but to see so many of them become true horsemen. She gave a big nod to her assistant of 21 years, Melissa Jones, and her trainers Kasey Ament and Amanda Bellew.
Going Strong: Long time show secretary Harriet Landrum received CPHA’s Lifetime Achievement Award with a lively acceptance speech. She and Santa Barbara show manager Allen Ross worked together for 42 years, during which Harriet earned a reputation as someone cheerfully willing to go the extra mile for exhibitors. Harriet also accepted the CPHA’s Hall of Fame induction on behalf of Ross, who, she reported, is doing well but was unable to make the trip to Las Vegas.
Jumping For Joy: Marnye Langer celebrates a great year in the amateur jumper ranks with her receipt of the CPHA Foundation’s WCE High Point Award. Pictured with her trainer Philip Klipa, Marnye is also an author, president of the Los Angeles Hunter Jumper Assn. and very active in the USHJA.
Wild Ride: Amateur jumper rider Katherine Bardis accepts prizes for her horse, Lady Like, and herself as the PCHA’s Leading Amateur/Owner Jumper Horse and Rider. She shared now-funny stories about competing in Europe with a broken leg as photos of her sailing over Grand Prix obstacles, broken leg and all, flashed on the room’s four big screens. After juggling a season of college and competition, Katherine sustained the injury while showing in Canada, just before heading to Europe with her coach Richard Spooner. “I didn’t want to give up the chance to compete there and Richard talked me into going anyway.” Richard, of course, is famous for winning Grand Prix ribbons at Indio with a broken foot not so long ago. “He said, if I would just stop moaning and groaning and get in the ring, I’d be OK,” Katherine recalled in a tone of amusement and appreciation.
Cunning Achievements: Orange County trainer Mary Slouka accepts one of many Conformation and Working Hunter championships for her Green Hunter, Cunningham. CPHA president and Northern California trainer Paul Bennett makes the presentation after zillions of hours preparing prizes for the awards banquets.
Fast Paced: Jill Humphrey’s career ascent has been as speedy as her typical jump-off pace. In 2006, Jill won PCHA’s Grand Prix Rookie Rider of the Year Award and in 2007 she earned the same honor without the “rookie” part. The famously nice rider thanked her trainer Rudy Leone, her family and a long list of supporters. She is pictured here with veteran announcer and sport advocate Mike Moran of the EMO Agency, Inc.
Star Qualities: Hannah Selleck’s trainer Karen Healey said it best: “She’s beautiful, she’s a beautiful rider and she has a famous father. You might think not all the girls would like her, yet I’ve never heard anybody say anything negative about Hannah.” As she accepted the CPHA Foundation’s Dan Abbey Sportsmanship Award, Hannah made a warm and moving speech. She began by noting that her parents, Tom Selleck and Jillie Mack, taught her early on to thank everybody that ever helped her and she attempted to do just that.
Double Duty: Photographer Tish Quirk had to let someone else snap the shot because she’s also a big-time breeder who this year took her turn at the winner’s podium on behalf of Zabest. Her Just The Best son was PCHA’s Hunter Breeding Champion.
Getting His Exercise: John Varble received more than a reining pattern’s work of exercise trekking to the podium for numerous awards he and his horse, Peaches Dillon, earned. In this photo, he’s hoisting the Cue Stick Memorial Award for the high scoring Open, Amateur/Youth/Non-Pro and Youth Reiner.
Power Couple: For the first time in 12 years, Richard Spooner did not receive the Grand Prix Rider of the Year. Now pointed more at international successes, Richard won plenty. Nationally, he was the sixth-highest money earner, with $332,000, and the CPHA named him its Horseman of the Year. Competing abroad, at venues including Rome’s famous Plaza de Sienna, greatly enriched his sense of the sport’s history, he commented. Representing America, Richard said he was especially proud to represent California at these far-flung tournaments. “Everybody in this room has helped me in some way,” he said during the CPHA banquet. “I am lucky to represent you all.” Richard’s wife Kaylen had her own news to celebrate as her horse, Pako, won the PCHA/Jimmy Williams Classic High Scoring Horse honor.
|
