2019 Aiken Fall Festival II - Wrap Up

September 21, 2019

Aiken Fall Festival II - Bruce's Field - Aiken Horse Park, Aiken, SC

It was a wonderful two weeks at the 2019 Aiken Fall Festival! Thank you to everyone who joined us, we look forward to seeing you all again at Bruce's Field in December for the December Classic I, December 5-8, and at Wills Park for the December Classic II, December 12-15. Prize list and info will be available soon on EquusEvents.com.

The second week of the Aiken Fall Festival was full of social events including two very special fundraisers. On Saturday evening a fundraiser under the VIP Tent benefited The Peeps Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping any miniature horse in need. The evening featured a beautiful "Grazing Table" by Ziggy Poplin, as well as appearances by a few of the minis themselves. The Aiken Fall Festival Junior committee headed up the fundraising efforts. Thank you to all who contributed!

The weekend also raised funds for the Babington Family through a silent auction organized by Locke Kelly held under the VIP Tent, as well as the Green Ribbons for Spinal Cord Injury Awareness fundraiser, organized by Holly Bachor, David Jennings, and Full Circle Farm. Kevin Babington sustained a serious fall while competing at the Hampton Classic resulting in a serious spinal cord injury. You can donate to Kevin's fundraisers here and here.

Our feature class of Aiken Fall Festival II, the $25,000 "R Bruce Duchossois" American Standard Grand Prix Presented by Friends of RBD and Jack Wetzel, was held Saturday evening. Daniel Geitner earned a one-two finish over the Michel Vaillancourt designed course, riding November Hill's Vesta De Lavardin to the win and Oak Ledge Farm's Fazous to the second place honors! 

The top three in the competitive field of 27 starters was rounded out by Kris Killam and Empire Show Stables' Boreale De Talma. The pair were the winners of the $5,000 The Carolinas Equestrian Magazine Welcome Jumper Classic held earlier in the week in which Grant Seger rode Grey Fox Crossing's Dr. J to the second place finish and Laura Gaither Ulrich piloted her entry Garda to the third place honors.

Daniel Geitner and November Hill's Vesta De Lavardin

Click here for full results of the $25,000 "R Bruce Duchossois" American Standard Grand Prix Presented by Friends of RBD and Jack Wetzel

Kris Killam and Empire Show Stables' Boreale De Talma

Click here for full results of the $5,000 The Carolinas Equestrian Magazine Welcome Jumper Classic

In the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby held on Friday evening, Timothy Maddrix emerged victorious aboard Katherine Dewar's Winterfell. Liza Boyd rode to the second and third places finishes with Gigi Manigault's Bastille and Grace Ann Nolan's Kumano respectively. A Low Country Boil was also held alongside the Derby under the VIP Tent. Many thanks to DFG Stables, Cedarhill Farm, and Four Seasons Farm for hosting our hospitality.

Timothy Maddrix and Katherine Dewar's Winterfell

Click here for full results of the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby

This year the Aiken Fall Festival II was host to the USHJA Zone 4 Children's and Adult Hunter Championships presented by SmartPak, with the exciting Team & Individual Championships held Saturday and Sunday mornings. A Farewell Sunday Brunch hosted by Highfields Equestrian was also held for all trainers and exhibitors under the VIP tent to wrap up the two fabulous weeks of competition. Congratulations to all of the Zone competitors! See some of the winners below.

Congratulations to the Grand Champions of the 2019 Aiken Fall Festival

Not Pictured

Junior/Amateur Jumper

Fox View Farm's FVF Sailor Man & Christina Webb

Children's/Adult Jumper

Vindicator & Lanie Nash

View more photos from the Aiken Fall Festival here