California Riding Magazine • March, 2010

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Members of the Northern California Hunter Jumper Association (NorCal) gathered together to celebrate their riding achievements at the 2009 NorCal Awards Celebration. The event was held January 17 at the InterContinental Hotel in San Francisco.

Denize Borges, president of the NorCal board of directors for 2009, opened the ceremony by introducing Hope Glynn, who awarded the Wendy Nissen Memorial Trophy. This year’s award, which goes to an individual that has exhibited a “random act of kindness and senseless act of beauty,” went to Janet Fall. Fall has been a horse show fixture for more than 30 years; she mans the back gate with expertise and supports each and every rider as they enter the show ring. Glynn, now a successful trainer, remarked that Fall helped her through the back gate the first time she went into a leadline class. This Wendy Nissen Memorial trophy was bestowed on Janet for her unwavering support of a fellow horse show staff member who suffered a devastating automobile accident. Fall set up recycling bins at the Thermal horse shows, took the bottles and cans to a recycling facility and sent the money to help her fellow professional offset his medical costs. Janet accepted the award “on behalf of anyone who ever gave me a bottle, can or piece of tin foil” and emphasized that “no one could do this on their own; it takes a horse show.” She summed up the spirit of the award and further showed how deserving she is of this honor by quoting a well-known rodeo saying, “We take care of our own.”

Janet Fall accepting the Wendy Nissen Memorial Trophy.

Kathy Hobstetter was on hand from Southern California to present a second special award, the USHJA Rider Recognition Award, to Grand Prix rider Jill Humphrey. This program “tracks the lifetime money earnings for professional hunter and jumper riders in USEF-recognized classes in order to mark and recognize each rider’s achievements.” This year, USHJA honored Humphrey as the highest money winner in the $250,000 to $500,000 category. Humphrey’s many accomplishments include two qualifications for the World Cup Finals, the PCHA Rookie Grand Prix Rider of the Year award in 2005 and an alternate spot on the Pan American Team in 2007. Jill is also a two-time winner of the Northern California Triple Crown of Show Jumping. She gracefully accepted the award, crediting everyone from her parents to her clients for making her success possible. She also reminded the audience that our horses are what make our sport great, closing her acceptance saying “dream big and love your horses.”

Jill Humphrey receiving the USHJA Rider Recognition Award from Kathy Hobstetter.

Master of ceremonies, Benjamin Watson, continued the awards presentations by announcing the Leading Jumper Rider winners for 2009. Rachel Fields captured the top spot, and the $500 check, Macella O’Neill received the $300 second place prize and Lindsay Ramar took home $200 for her third place finish. Hunter Bonus program winners, including First Year Green Working Hunter winner Kingsford, owned by Kat Taylor, trained by Beverly Jovais; Second Year Green/Regular Working Hunter winner Campari, owned by Helen McEvoy, trained by Ned and Hope Glynn; and Junior Hunter 17 and under winner Luciano, owned by Haley Webster, trained by Patty Ball; were also announced. Hunter Bonus checks went to the owners and trainers of winning horses in each of eight divisions.

Year-end awards were given out for 28 divisions, from Pre-Green Working Hunters to A/O Jumpers to Pony Equitation. The Lionheart Memorial Trophy, donated by Konny Murray, was awarded to the A/A Hunters 18-40 division: Black Pearl, owned by Katie Patterson and trained by Leslie Nelson. The Bitsy Shields Memorial Trophy, which goes to the winner of the Pony Equitation Division was won by Tylor Nowel, trained by Beverly Jovais. The Talia Klien Memorial Trophy went to Taia Greco, the champion of the Equitation 11 and under division, trained by Patty Ball and Anne Greco.

Tom Rattigan, Jeanette Gilbert and Sarah Haggberg were the primary banquet organizers and worked tirelessly to put on a memorable event in a new venue. Special thanks go to the many donors of the silent auction items. This year’s silent auction was a great success and top bidders took home stall certificates to Pickwick horse shows (donated by Adrian Ward), a sports psychology session with Tonya Johnston, a stall certificate and two complete money divisions at Let’s Show (donated by Peggy Fackrell), a half-page ad in California Riding magazine, a one-week Game Ready rental (donated by Kylee Roe) and Antares, CWD and Devoucoux tack, among other great auction items. The 2009 banquet was a great way to share last year’s successes with fellow Northern California equestrians and to get ready for a horse-filled 2010.

NorCal congratulates every member on their achievements in 2009 and wishes everyone continued success in 2010.

For more information about NorCal and the programs available to NorCal members, including the Leading Jumper Rider and Hunter Bonus Programs, Spruce Meadows Prix De Nations Teams, annual NorCal-sponsored clinic, as well as the online 2010 membership application, please visit www.norcalhunterjumpers.com.