Whitney Weeks Wins Year-End Championship for 2008 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series
RELEASE: December 3, 2008
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: By Michelle Riggs
Whitney Weeks and Subliem emerged as the winners of the 2008 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series Year-End Championship at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament featuring the 125th National Horse Show in Syracuse, NY.
Weeks' win followed the completion of the 2008 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series, which included classes at 109 horse shows across the nation. The Show Jumping Hall of Fame conducts the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series, held under grand prix rules and specifications, to give amateur-owner and junior riders an opportunity to compete at higher levels and serve as a proving ground for many riders who aspire to someday represent the United States in international competition.
Weeks bested a field of over 30 of the nation's top horses and riders who were invited to compete in the championships based on their performances throughout the year. For the first time ever, the year-end championship was decided based on an overall score, which was compiled after four rounds of intense jumper competition. Riders qualified for Sunday's final two rounds based on their performance in Thursday and Friday's preliminary rounds. Scores were carried forward throughout the competition and were included in determining the final standings. Rounding out the top three at the year-end championships were Clementine Goutal with Rastella in second place and Saer Coulter in third place with Paddington.
Weeks also won the 2008 East Conference Amateur/Owner Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series with Subliem, topping the season-long standings with 810 points.
The 2008 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series was sponsored by the Lake Placid Horse Show Association,
Practical Horseman, Langer Equestrian Group, Inc., RV Sales of Broward, and Taylor Harris Insurance Services.
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame was organized to promote the sport of show jumping and to immortalize the legends of the men, women and horses who have made great contributions to the sport. The Show Jumping Hall of Fame and Museum has moved out of its long-time home at Busch Gardens in Tampa, FL. An announcement of its new home will be made in 2009.
Any horse show offering a class that meets all the criteria set forth in the 2009 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series specifications and has prize money of at least $1,000 is eligible to be part of next year's series.
For more information about the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series as well a schedule of events, please visit the Show Jumping Hall of Fame website at
www.showjumpinghalloffame.net.