Junior Avery Glynn and Amateur Rose Skloff are Victorious in the CPHA Medal Finals

August 18, 2019 – San Juan Capistrano, CA – With gorgeous ribbons and fantastic awards, the two-day, three-round 2019 California Professional Horsemen’s Association (CPHA) Junior and Amateur Hunt Seat Medal Finals, held again in the Blenheim Farms Indoor Arena adjacent to the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park, welcomed 51 juniors, 20 amateur riders and a crowd of supportive fans at this weekend’s Blenheim Summer Classic. Congratulations goes to fourteen-year-old Avery Glynn, hailing from Northern California and trained this week by Elvenstar, who championed the junior division. Savannah College of Art & Design student and competitive adult equitation rider Rose Skloff, trained by Ginny Plancke, took home the Amateur division honors.

An excellent panel of judges, Diane Carney, Stacia Madden, and Kim Dorfman, sat in different spots around the arena. In each round, the riders would receive a cumulation of the three judges scores. Designed and set by veteran medal finals course designer Scott Starnes, Friday’s first hunter-style round was inviting with bending lines and opportunities for inside turns in the indoor arena. The second round, on Saturday afternoon, had a mix of hunter and jumper style fences where riders were tested with both forward and short lines and inside turns. The final-round of top ten scoring riders utilized the same layout of jumps with a different track.

Avery Glynn and Cocon 4

Avery Glynn and Cocon 4 Edge Out the Competition

The leaders coming into the final round were Brooke Morin and Stella Buckingham in the Junior section. In a close third position, Glynn was 8.5 points behind Morin and just a half of a point behind Buckingham. Two unfortunate rails cost Morin the lead in the third round, but beautiful rounds from both Buckingham and Glynn maintained the half-of-a-point difference between the two scores, with Buckingham maintaining her slight lead.

The specifications state that any rider within three points of the first-place score calls for a work-off, which meant Buckingham and Glynn returned to the ring for a final test.

Stella Buckingham aboard Calvatos Z

The work-off consisted of a short track of inside turns, the combination, a demonstration of two simple changes down one long side of the arena and finishing with a single jump. The two competitors were asked to face the opposite direction of the arena in the line-up so they could not watch one another. Judges sat together for the work-off and scores were not announced.

A close call until the very end, Buckingham and Glynn are both quite competitive in the Big Eq arena. As Buckingham’s name was announced in the reserve spot, Glynn was named the 2019 champion of the CPHA Junior Medal Finals.

Avery Glynn on Cocon 4 with Jim Hagman, Emily Williams, Lexi Shaw, Javi Abad, Lexie Looker, Ecole Lathrop, Alex Zulia and Melissa Brandes of Blenheim EquiSports 

This is not the first win for Glynn and her partner, “Calle,” as the pair also took home the championship ribbon in last year’s Taylor Harris Insurance Services Children’s Medal at the Capital Challenge Horse Show.

“Thank you to the entire team at Elvenstar and Sonoma Valley Stables and my parents for making his possible. Calle was beyond amazing and jumped her heart out in all three rounds and the work-off. I couldn’t be happier,” Glynn continued, “And a huge congratulations to Stella Buckingham on your reserve championship – you put the pressure on me all the way into the work-off round!”

As the 2019 CPHA Junior Medal Final Champion, Glynn was awarded a medal and flowers, while Cocon 4 was donned in a championship ribbon, sash, and cooler sponsored by DaMoor’s Tack & Feed. Glynn also took home a CWD Bridle gift certificate, Antares helmet, a pair of DeNiro Salento boots from Outdoor Outfitters, and CPHA collectibles, including a jeweled belt buckle, a vest, and a plaque. Along with receiving a gorgeous pewter tray, her name will also be placed on the perpetual trophy, sponsored by Far West Farms.

Rose Skloff on Mac Miller along with Genie Plancke, Marta Kauffman, Shannon Davidson, Ecole Lathrop, Jenni Brown, Lexie Looker, Alex Zulia and Melissa Brandes of Blenheim EquiSports

Rose Skloff and Mac Miller Lead the 2019 CPHA Amateur Medal Final

Skloff and her long-time partner, Mac Miller, continued their successful ways in the equitation ring, taking top honors in the CPHA Amateur Medal Final.

Skloff rode round one consistently to end up in the sixth spot, and provided a beautiful second round to take home the second-place ribbon. Coming into the third round in the second-place spot, an effortless performance in the third-round got the pair a whopping score of 255.50 points and 734 points overall to take the win by 28.5 points.

Rose Skloff on Mac Miller

“Mac has a very big stride and he does his job very easily. He’s been my teammate for years, so we know each other very well and I think that gave us the upper hand tonight,” Skloff noted. While balancing college academics and riding, Skloff definitely has a lot on her plate, but has taken it all in stride.

The champion won a pair of DeNiro Salento boots from Outdoor Outfitters, a medal, a pewter tray, a stall plaque, and a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Mac Miller was equally decorated with his championship gear, including a ribbon, sash, and wool cooler sponsored by DaMoor’s Tack & Feed. Kloff’s name will appear on the perpetual trophy for her division, sponsored by DiAnn Langer.

Each division’s top three riders received coolers, leather halters from Valencia Sport Saddlery, medals and CPHA embroidered vests. All of the top ten finishers took home great prizes, including CPHA hats, CPHA silver and jeweled buckles, gorgeous ribbons and bouquets of flowers. 

Watch interviews and final rounds with winning riders (below)

Jaime Krupnick was the recipient of the 36 & over High Scoring Amateur Award, and took home a special cooler, ribbon, and necklace.

Friends, families, fellow competitors and trainers packed the VIP seating again this year, all profits benefiting the CPHA Foundation. The area gave onlookers a great view of the ring, as well as a catered dinner in the evening. Special thanks to The Wasserman Foundation for their support of the CPHA fundraising efforts.

CPHA would like to acknowledge and thank all CPHA Medal Finals sponsors: G-2 Insurance, Hygain, DaMoor’s Feed & Tack, CWD Sellier, Antares Sellier, Outdoor Outfitters, Valencia Saddlery, Archibald Cox III and Brookway Stables, Blenheim EquiSports, The Wasserman Foundation, Captured Moment Photography, and Tonya Johnston. And thank you to Far West Farms for sponsoring the Perpetual Trophy to the Junior Champion and DiAnn Langer for sponsoring the Perpetual Trophy to the Amateur Champion.

Photos by Captured Moments Photography

Results

CPHA Junior Hunt Seat Medal Final

Place – Entry Number – Rider – Horse – Trainer – Total [before work-off]

1. 232 — Avery Glynn – Cocon 4 – Elvenstar/Sonoma Valley Stables – 772.50
2. 221 — Stella Buckingham – Calvatos Z — Katie Gardner – 773
3. 366 — Breanna Bunevacz — Acortair — Tasha Visokay – 753
4. 209 — Brooke Morin – Durango – Bridgeport – 745
5. 129 — Emma Reichow — Breckenridge — Harley Brown – 730
6. 234 — Ella Frey — Radcliffe — Elvenstar – 726.75
7. 174 — Katalina Rickard – Lost in Blue – Kate Considine – 724
8. 177 — Isabel Coxe — Alant — Kate Considine – 722.40
9. 133 — Charlotte Murray – Univers Theod — Jenni Brown – 718
10. 140 — Alison Raich – Calvandani Z — Lesley Bulecheck – 681.25

CPHA Amateur Hunt Seat Medal Final

Place – Entry Number – Rider – Horse – Trainer – Total

1. 504 — Rose Skloff – Mac Miller – Ginny Plancke – 734
2. 586 — Alex Maida – Maximus – Robyn Stiegler – 705.50
3. 193 — Meila Gross – Washington – Emily Esau-Williams – 704
4. 546 — Jaime Krupnick – Conux – Archie Cox – 697
5. 443 — McKinna Morris — Arroway — Michael Croopnick – 693
6. 446 — Lindsey Schiefelbein – Big Picture – Michael Croopnick – 679
7. 411 — Alexis Graves — Sheeran — Joe Thorpe – 658.50
8. 144 — Catherine Westling — Chenova — Tracy Burroughs – 637
9. 104 — Maia Aerni – Magic Blue — Susan Artes – 632.50
10. 460 — Emma Guevara — Solo — Far West Farms – 438

Thank You To Our Generous Sponsors

Blenheim EquiSports, an equestrian event management company based in San Juan Capistrano, CA, produces events in three locations: San Juan Capistrano, Del Mar and Las Vegas, NV. The events include 19 USEF “Premier” rated hunter-jumper shows featuring five FEI CSI events, including a Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League event; the Markel Insurance 1.45m Jumper Series & Final, Developing Jumper Qualifiers & Championships, USHJA International & National Hunter Derbies, Pony Derby Finals, the Whitethorne Equitation Challenge, Medal Finals and more.