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The two week Aiken Fall Festival Horse Show series saw its final show day last Sunday. The series brought in over 400 horses to the Aiken area as well as thousands of riders, spectators, sponsors, grooms, and trainers including some of the country’s best. Presenting sponsors of the event included: Aiken Saddlery, David Stinson, Cold Creek Nursery, Dietrich Equine Insurance, Fenwick Equestrian, DFG Stables, Oak Manor Saddlery, The Tack Room, The Aiken Horse Park Foundation, and Voltaire.

The $5,000 Welcome Classic on Thursday evening kicked off the feature events for the week. The November Hill entry of Vesta de Lavardin took top honors giving rider Daniel Geitner his second consecutive win in the Aiken Saddlery Welcome Classics at the Aiken Fall Festival Horse Show. FVF Sailor Man and Maryann Charles took home second place honors with Stephen Pack and SKF Just Do It owned by Ellen Frost coming home in third place. Complete results are as follows:

1. Vesta de Lavardin, November HIll & Daniel Geitner
2. FVF Sailor Man, Fox View Farm & Maryann Charles
3. SKF Just Do It, Ellen Frost & Stephen Pack
4. Belle Clara DKS, Dejan Krunic & Holly Shepherd
5. Criss Cross, Top Line Farm, LLC & Alex Granato
6. Skymiles, Loretta Paterson & Holly Shepherd
7. Diederik, Vick Russell & Thomas John Russell
8. Carlchen W, Page Tredennick & Alex Granato
9. Sky High, Loretta Paterson & Holly Shepherd
10. Kenwood, The Kenwood Syndicate & Daniel Geitner
11. Kasarr & Erin McGuire
12. Casal I, Mad Season, LLC & Alex Granato

Winners of the $5,000 Welcome Classic: Vesta de Lavardin owned by November HIll and ridden by Daniel Geitner

Liza Boyd and Finally Farm's Shamrock went unchallenged in the USHJA National Hunter Derbies at the Aiken Fall Festival. Winning the week I $10,000 Derby presented by Cold Creek Nursery as well the week II Derby presented by Oak Manor Saddlery. Diane Semur's Gable Stone and rider Christy Burns took second place honors and Liza Boyd and Maura Thatcher's Escalante took home the third place ribbon. Complete results are as follows:

1. Shamrock, Finally Farm, Inc. & Elizabeth Boyd
2. Gable Stone, Diane Semer & Christy Burns
3. Escalante, Maura Thatcher & Elizabeth Boyd
4. Lucca, Pauline Lampshire & Hunter Kay
5. Plush, Emma Nichols & Lauren Hill
6. Askaro, Missy Luczak-Smith, LLC & Missy Luczak-Smith
7. Capelina Z & Megan Martin
8. Brigadier & Mary Barben
9. Galileo, Ann Rice Ervin & Hunter Kay
10. Rockaway, Lee Cesery & Taylor Adams
11. Crossroads, Nancy R Merritt & Joy Janouskovec
12. Whiskey Tango, Lee Cesery & Taylor Adams

Winners of the Bridles and Birdies Charity Event: The First Tee of Aiken - Coaches Team and rider Nicole Lyvere

The $25,000 "R Bruce Duchossois" Grand Prix presented by Fenwick Equestrian took place on Saturday evening to cap off the week's big events. A large crowd was in attendance to enjoy the festivities including a free "Family Day" where face painting, pony rides, cotton candy, snow cones and carnival games were available free of charge. The VIP tent was packed as DFG Stables of Aiken, SC sponsored an exhibitors dinner catered by Newberry Hall. Maryann Charles of Southern Pines, NC and FVF Sailor Man found themselves in the winners circle for the second weekend in a row taking home the blue ribbon. The pair was also victorious in the $15,000 Jumper Classic week I of the Fall Festival. The (2006) Dutch Warmblood began competing at the Grand Prix level in 2014 and has since placed in every Grand Prix they have entered including a first, second, or third in eight Grand Prix in 2016. The red rosette went to Page Tredennick's Carlchen W with rider Alex Granato aboard and third place honors went home to the Ellen Frost entry of SKF Just Do it and rider Stephen Pack.Complete results are as follows:

1. FVF Sailor Man, Fox View Farm & Maryann Charles
2. Carlchen W, Page Tredennick & Alex Granato
3. SKF Just Do It, Ellen Frost & Stephen Pack
4. Sky High, Loretta Patterson & Holly Shepherd
5. Catalyst, Katie Barnette & Aide Sanchez Long
6. Kenwood, The Kenwood Syndicate & Daniel Geitner
7. Skymiles, Loretta Paterson & Holly Shepherd
8. Diederik, Vick Russell & Thomas John Russell
9. Criss Cross, Top Line Farm, LLC & Alex Granato
10. Kasarr & Erin McGuire
11. Philadelphia 54, Fox View Farm & Maryann Charles
12. VDL Crocus, Adrianne Beasley & Thomas John Russell

Grand Champion honors were awarded on Sunday in several divisions to the horse/rider combinations accumulating the most points throughout the two week show series. Congratulations to all of our circuit award winners!!

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