Kursinski tops the field at Garden State horse Show

Kursinski's winning horse was Eros, not a surprise considering their long and successful history together. Eros was Kursinski's mount in her team silver-medal finish in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

The only other rider to finish clean over the first course was James Benedetto Northport, NY, riding the nine-year-old Holsteiner Cacique.

Kursinski then returned aboard Eros. The pair proved to be unstoppable as they crossed the timers without fault in a blistering 42.925 seconds.

Benedetto came back third with Cacique and was thrilled to be in the jumpoff with the young jumper. "He just moved up to the grand prix," said Benedetto. "I was excited just to ride against Anne."

Cacique started with a steady pace but pulled the fourth fence, a 4'9" oxer. Once the pair had the first rail down Benedetto eased up and finished fourth with eight faults in 47.255 seconds.

The final horse to attempt the shortened course was Escapade, a nine-year-old Hanoverian. Although the big German-bred finished with a clean round he couldn't beat Eros. Escapade finished third in 44.508.

In addition to winning the grand prix, Kursinski collected the championship in the high preliminary division this week riding Sincere, as well as the reserve championship with Faldo. Faldo tied for the reserve with Clea Newman's Katrinka and Stacia Madden aboard Marga. There was also a three-way tie for the modified jumper championship. Riding Indeed, Kursinski tied Laura Chapot on Warren II and Cruise Missile with Kevin Babbington in the irons.

For the third consecutive year Katie Conover, 17, of Pipersville, Pa., topped the $1500 Garden State Pony Hunter Classic at the Garden State Horse Show. This year Conover took home the blue ribbon riding Atlanta, a large pony owned by Lillian Lee Grant.

Not only did the pair top the classic, but they swept the first three classes of the large pony division, well on their way to the championship. Conover trains with Patty Miller, also of Pipersville, Pa.

On the last day of the Garden State Horse Show the best hunters at the show could be found in the ring vying for the title in the $1500 Garden State Hunter Classic, sponsored by First Hope Bank. The winner of the prestigious Hunter Classic was Conover as well. Riding Tallyover, the pair posted an 87 and an 88 to lead the victory gallop.

Another repeat of last year is Allison Fernandez's top finish in the $250 Marshall & Sterling Adult Hunter. This year Fernandez piloted Magnum to the blue ribbon. Riding the bay gelding, Fernandez also took home the championship ribbon in the adult amateur hunter under 35 division. Fernandez, 30, of Summit, NJ, trains with Robert Beck of Hunters Crossing in Long Valley, NJ.

In the amateur-owner hunters Lee Kellogg, 30, of New York, NY, rode her seven-year-old Oldenburg Gifted to her second consecutive championship in the younger amateur-owner division. This year, however, Kellogg and Gifted also collected the grand amateur-owner championship.

A huge division at the show was the children's hunters. Split into small/medium, large, horse under 15 and horse 15-17, it was an extremely competitive division. Nell Rainey, 16, of New York, NY, rode Winter Garden to the grand championship, taking home a Millers Crosby saddle compliments of The Tack Box and Millers Harness Co. Rainey and the seasoned 13-year-old chestnut Thoroughbred train with Robert Beck of Hunters Crossing.

In the main ring New Jersey trainers Frank and Stacia Madden of Beacon Hill Farm saw three of their students collect the blue. The first went to Allison Cerwonka who rode Ideal to top honors in the $2500 Marshall & Sterling Adult Jumper class sponsored by The Ridge Farm. Forty-four horses attempted the course and 14 advanced to the jump-off. Eight riders were able to navigate the shortened course without fault, but Cerwonka's time of 30.553 could not be beat.

Following Cerwonka's win, Maria Schaub piloted Concorde to the top of the class in the $1500 Marshall & Sterling Children's Jumper class sponsored by Stillwell-Hansen. Out of the field of 42 horses 15 went clean. Schaub was the final rider to navigate the shortened course. The pair managed to keep the rails in the cups and cut a second off the fastest time. They posted a 30.448-second finish.

Beacon Hill's third student to collect a blue was Krista Freundlich riding Laurin in the $5000 Garden State High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix, sponsored by Agway. The National Horse Sport Foundation Show Jumping Hall of Fame Class drew 17 entries. Freundlich was one of only three riders to go clean in the first round and was the final rider to face the shortened course. Laurin and Freundlich made an aggressive attempt at the blue and were successful with a clean finish in 33.619. The pair not only led the victory gallop but also collected the high junior/amateur-owner championship. Laurin, a big grey mare owned by Healy and Gleneayre Farms, won the class last year with owner Alexis Healy in the irons.