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2012 Fairfield June Show Gets A Facelift
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WESTPORT, CT - March 23, 2012 - Now in its 89th year, the Fairfield County Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show, which benefits The EQUUS Foundation and will be held on Tuesday-Saturday, June 19-23, 2012, is getting a facelift.
"We are deeply grateful to the Fairfield County Hunt Club for being selected as the beneficiary of the 2012 June Horse Show, and are thrilled with the new energy and enthusiasm being expressed by the committee and the show management team," said Jenny Belknap Kees, Chairman of the Board of The EQUUS Foundation.
William Aguirre and JP Godard will be managing the 2012 Fairfield Show. Godard manages a successful horse show circuit that takes place throughout the southeast. He is also a recognized USEF course designer and has officiated at Devon, Pennsylvania National, Washington International, Hampton Classic, Legacy Cup, and Winter Equestrian Festival to name a few. Aguirre has been involved with the Fairfield June and August Shows for over 15 years.
"I am very excited about being a part of an event with such history and tradition. We plan to make some updates and incorporate some new classes into the schedule while not losing sight of the show's great history and origin", said Godard.
Pierre Jolicouer is joining the team as Course Designer. Judges will include John Barreth, Matt Collins, Jerre Frankhouser, Streett Moore and Susie Schoellkopf. In addition to the $25,000 Grand Prix on Saturday, June 23, 2012, which offers an ideal opportunity for young riders with sights on the highest level of show jumping and experienced riders to test out young horses, the show will feature a $7,500 Welcome Jumper Stake and a $5,000 Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumper Classic on Thursday, June 21, 2012. New jumper classes include a Young Jumper Series (5, 6-year olds, and 7-8 year olds) and a Low Child/Adult Jumper Division.
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Photo Credit: © 2011 USEF/Sportfot
The qualifying class for Zone 1 Young Riders (Juniors or Amateurs aged 14-21) will be the 1.25 Meter Jumper Class on Thursday, June 21, 2012.
$2,000 in bonus prize money will be awarded to the top six Young Rider eligible finishers from Zone 1, irrespective of class placement.
USHJA Zone 1 will award a high score award to the horse/rider combination accumulating the most prize money from the five participating shows.
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Fairfield Show Selected for USHJA Zone 1 Young Riders program
The 2012 Fairfield County Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show has been selected by the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Zone 1 as one of the five shows to participate in its North American Young Riders (NAJYR) Development Class.
The goal is to promote the NAJYR program and to create incentives for the aspiring young jumper riders. The North American Junior & Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) held in July in Lexington is the premier equestrian competition in North America for junior and young riders, age 14-21.
The four other shows with NAJYR classes are the Vermont Summer Festival on July 4-8, 2012, Manchester Summer Festival on July 11-15, 2012, Northampton Hunter & Jumper on August 9-12, 2012, and Fieldstone Summer Showcase on August 21-25, 2012.
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Horse Show Committee bringing new energy to the Show!
The Horse Show Committee is also experiencing a rejuvenation with Tracy Harris joining Jen Ross as a Co-Chair. Jen Ross, now a veteran after just one year as a Show Co-Chair in 2011, said "2011 was a challenge with all the rain and made it difficult for exhibitors, spectators, and sponsors to enjoy the show. With a new show management team for 2012 focused on innovative changes to the show schedule and also ways to cope with unfortunate weather should it happen again, we are focusing on making the show the best it can be for all who attend.
"This year the June Show will be a dynamic, community event! Families across the community are welcome to come watch top-notch equestrians compete at one of the most beautiful and historic shows in the country while enjoying Family Day, Vendor Alley, and food and drink all right in on the historic grounds of the Hunt Club in Westport, Connecticut, a landmark in Fairfield County. Admission is free." said Tracy Harris.
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Joining the Show's Co Chairs are Executive Committee members, Bettina Reynertson of Darien; Krista Alecia and Kendra Guilfoile of Fairfield; Catherine Herman of Weston; Tricia Beal, Benedicte Berg, Lynn Coakley, Silvia Durno, Michelle Ippolito, and Tracy Robinson of Westport; Margie Bondy of Wilton; and Ann Coley of New York City.
Committee members from Greens Farms, Westport and Weston include Susan Barnet, Beth Berger, Maddie Blaney, Cheryl Bundy, Elaine Campbell, Wynatte Chu, Elizabeth Crossfield, Catherine DeVoe, Melisa Didio, Vida Florian, Jeannine Flower, Annette French, Beth Gralnick, Jane Henderson, Libby Kole, Cecilia Lieberman, Debbie McGoldrick, Erica Miller, Deborah Murtaugh, Jane Orlin, Susan Parsons, Kim Penwell, Jill Petterson, Ariane Mermod Schreiner, Susan Shafer, Cori Trudeau, and Coke Ann Wilcox.
Joining the committee from Fairfield and Southport are JoAnn Alexander, Peggy Belden, Arlene Cruz, Kaye Doyle, Elizabeth Fath, Sean Hogan, Dottie Lay, Kristen McDonald, Virginia Pursche, Colleen Richmond, Nancy Sargent, Berkeley Soper, Bevo Tarika, and Sarah Tierney.
Committee members also include Anne Walker of Darien; Durelle Green of Easton; Debbie Ward of Greenwich; Brenda Tananbaum and Tracy Thomson of Norwalk; Martha Rendeiro of Wilton; Mary Simses of Palm Beach, Florida; Susan Clatworthy, Marianne Guadiana and Alexis Lasser of New York City; and Patricia Keenan of Quechee, Vermont.
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Horse show class sponsorships will again benefit The EQUUS Foundation. All donors, regardless of amount, will be recognized in the Official Horse Show program if received by May 1, 2012 and on the horse show website.
Donations of $500 or more include attendance at The EQUUS Foundation Benefit Luncheon on Saturday, June 23, 2012, held in conjunction with the $25,000 Fairfield Grand Prix, the culminating event of the five-day horse show.
Donors contributing $500 or more will also be invited to attend the Patron's Party, now an annual tradition, which will be held on Saturday evening, June 9, 2012, at the home of Co-Chair Tracy Harris.
For more information about the show and The EQUUS Foundation, visit our website at equusfoundation.org/fairfield.
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About The EQUUS Foundation, Inc.
The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., established in August 2002, as a 501(c)(3) national charitable foundation, is dedicated to improving the quality of life of horses, fostering the use of horses to enrich the lives of those in need, and educating the public about the horse's unique ability to empower, teach and heal.
Thanks to the generosity of its donors, The EQUUS Foundation helps thousands of people and horses each year. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Contact The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., at 168 Long Lots Road, Westport, CT 06880, Tele: (203) 259-1550, E-Mail: mail@equusfoundation.org, Website: equusfoundation.org.
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