NEWS RELEASE
TOP OF THE HILL FARM
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It has been a long competitive season for the Top of the Hill Farm show team, but it was all leading up to this.
“Every horse and rider who competed in the required number of shows have qualified for the Ontario Trillium Hunter Jumper Championships,” coach Erin Amos explains. “My students practise year round. We work hard and these results make me, well, I can’t explain it; I am so happy for everyone.”
In total, nine horses will load onto Amos’ trailer this Tuesday and head to the Caledon Equestrian Park for the Provincial Finals. The riders compete on the Georgian Bay Trillium Zone in different divisions depending on their age and ability. Only the top seven horses/riders qualify for the championships.
Leading the charge for the Coldwater farm is Top of the Hill’s junior professional rider, Cameron Edwards. She has three horses to compete on at the year-end show.
Edwards finished first overall in the Hack Division riding Amos’ mare, Wanabi Famous. She will also show the young horse in the Development Hunters next weekend.
Edwards also qualified Daniella McLean’s horse, Eighth Wonder of the World, in the same division. Her final horse is McLean’s jumper, Ultimate Legend. They will compete in the Meter Jumpers.
“It is going to be a very busy championships for me,” said Edwards. “I love it! This has been an incredible year. All three of these horses are so talented.”
In the Hack Division, the farm took the top three spots in the zone. GL Sullivan with Nicole Donovan riding finished in the reserve champion spot to punch their tickets to the championships, and Eighth Wonder of the World rounded out the top three being ridden by Chelsea McGee and McLean. McLean, who is coming off an injury, will be showing him at the finals.
Jenny Bodera will be competing on Amos’ horse, Treasure Island, who finished champion overall in the Adult Modified Hunter Division. Bodera also ended up first overall in the Adult Modified Medal.
Eight-year-old Taylor MacDonald ended her incredible show season reserve champion in the Short Stirrup Division riding Amos’ pony, Gwendolyn. She also took the top spot in the My First Medal class and third overall in the “C” Equitation on the flat.
“The championships are my favourite time of the year. I can’t wait to compete,” beams MacDonald.
Also finishing the season reserve champion was Bradi Moore riding Amos’ top mare, Chicago K, in the Low Hunters. Moore will also compete in the Adult Equitation on the flat.
Ayela Wright and her horse, Limitless, qualified in the Children’s Modified Hunters and the Children’s Modified Medal.
Savannah Scott will show in the Children’s 2’6” Hunters on Heidi Mireault’s mare, Believe in a Dream. Suellen Copeland will ride her horse, Golden Fire, in the Adult Amateur 2’6” Hunters. Celeste Watson qualified in both the Adult Modified Medal and the Adult Equitation on the flat.
“It is a big show team. Luckily, we have an amazing support group to help out all our riders and horses,” says Amos. “We call it a team, but we are more like a big family.”
The Ontario Trillium Championships are being held Aug. 28 to Sept. 1.
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