Hunters Lane Sweeps North Carolina's Queen City Classic
RELEASE: April 17, 2008
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: By Robbi Meisel
At the Queen City Classic, which concluded Sunday at North Carolina’s “Why Not an American Ark” Equestrian Facility outside Charlotte, Hunters Lane, led by trainer Robert Hunt, had a veritable clean sweep.
In one of the week’s premiere event, the $5,000 Welcome Open Hunter Challenge, the Hunters Lane team captured the top six spots. Steve Heinecke, pro rider and co-trainer, won the class aboard the Alise Oken-owned Quintin. He also took second with Oken’s Alisette, fourth with the Robert Hunt-owned In Style, fifth aboard Oken’s Southern Style, and was also sixth with Robert Hunt’s Steinway. In the final lineup, third place went to CR Galileo, owned by Kim Howard and ridden by Hunters Lane client Missy Luczak.
Other Classic wins include the Regular Conformation Hunter Classic, in which Oken, of Charlotte, NC, took up the reins and piloted Quintin to first place. She was also second aboard Southern Style, while Heinecke coasted into third riding A Thousand Times Yes, owned by Lexi Piez. And in the Large Pony Hunter Classic Oken and her pony Lands End Mad Hatter took the top spot.
In Saturday’s $7,500 Hunter Classic, Luczak and CR Galileo took home the second-place ribbon while Piez and A Thousand Times Yes landed in fourth. And in the Pre-Green Hunter Classic, Heinecke was second aboard the Katherine Eudy-owned Uticus.
Heinecke also took first place in the Training Jumper Level 5 class with Grace Howard’s Casino Royal.
“We were thrilled, everyone rode so well,” commented Hunt, who also serves as the show’s chairman. “We had a great time this week and couldn’t be happier with the turnout here.”
Throughout the week the team also captured numerous division titles:
—Champion, Conformation Hunter, Stephen Heinecke and Quintin
—Champion, Pre-Green Hunter Combined, Stephen Heinecke and Steinway
—Champion, Large Junior Hunter (16-17), Alise Oken and Quintin
—Champion, Medium Pony Hunters, Lucille Oken and Promise
—Champion, Adult Amateur Hunters (36-45), Missy Luczak and CR Galileo
—Champion, Childrens Hunter (15-17), Ella Miller and Catanio
—Champion, Childrens Pony Hunter, Grace Howard and When in Rome
—Reserve Champion, Conformation Hunter, Stephen Heinecke and Southern Style
—Reserve Champion, Pre-Green Hunter Combined, Stephen Heinecke and Uticus
—Reserve Champion, Small Junior Hunters (16-17) Alise Oken and Alisette
—Reserve Champion, Large Pony Hunters, Lucille Oken and Lands End Mad Hatter