Hunter riders went under the lights on Friday at Wellington International for the second annual Kristen Baran $100,000 Neil S. Hirsch Boys & Girls Club Team Hunter Exhibition. The exhibition featured hunter teams of three athletes jumping a 3’3” course in the International Arena to benefit the local chapter of the Boys & Girls Club. 19 teams gave their Friday night best in hopes of taking the team title, but it was Nick Haness, Ashley Weiman, and Wyatt Rofey who bested the rest.
Teams consisted of a professional, amateur, and junior hunter rider. Held in a relay format, each rider jumped a portion of the 20-fence course. Scores were given from three judging panels for an average final score. Each team was afforded one drop score with the opportunity to erase their lowest-ranked performance akin to a jumper Nations Cup. High scores of 91 from Haness and 89 from Weiman delivered their team the victory.
Professional Haness of Temecula, CA, piloted Queen Celeste, amateur Ashley Weiman of Ramona, CA, rode More Fun, and junior Wyatt Rofey of Brooklyn, NY, rode his own mount Becoming.
It was a night of many firsts for the winning team after forming just days before the class. Haness was determined to get a team together in support of The Boys and Girls Club. “I called Ashley earlier this week who I know from California and told her we needed to get a team together,” explained Haness. “She flew here yesterday making today her first time in Wellington, first time under the lights in the International Arena and even her first time on this horse.
“We wanted to have fun with this class and have a team that reflected that,” continued Haness. “Wyatt is a young, up-and-coming rider who has a great partnership with his horse so together we came up with a plan of how to make tonight as fun as possible and tried to strategize across the course the best we could.”
Fun was the name of the game under the lights as every ride contributed towards the mission of The Boys and Girls Club; to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. In addition to arena action, The Boys and Girls Club Gala was held ringside; co-chaired by Georgina Bloomberg and Jenny Oz LeRoy.
“We have to thank Kristen Baran for carrying on Neil Hirsch’s vision, which was something very special to everyone who knew Neil and he would be very proud of this event tonight,” said LeRoy.
Neil S. Hirsch, a significant member of the Wellington community, spear-headed the now Neil S. Hirsch Boys and Girls Club in 2012, and Neil’s hope for a brighter future has been followed ever since.
“This class is a great reflection of what Neil always wanted,” said class organizer and esteemed hunter trainer Andrew Lustig. “Kristen has done a fantastic job and it’s also a great night for the hunter sport.”
Taking home second was Geoffrey Hesslink aboard Paisley Park, Caroline Signorino atop Salvatore, and Lily Sonneborn with Spoken. Closing out the podium was Elizabeth Towell Boyd and MTM Crossed My Mind, Elle Boyd and Hardrock Harmonie SIH, and Libbie Gordon with Spencer.
For complete results from the $100,000 Neil S. Hirsch Boys & Girls Club Team Hunter Exhibition, click HERE.
