Nikko Ritter Wins Maclay Regional

Beacon Hill Show Stables’ Students Shine at Southeast Maclay Regionals Nikko Ritter Wins Regional and Qualifies for ASPCA Maclay National Championships Wellington, FL – September 18, 2006 – Beacon Hill Show Stables triumphed again this past weekend at the Southeast Maclay Regionals in Braselton, Georgia. Four of the talents who ride under the tutelage of Frank and Stacia Madden competed to qualify for the ASPCA Maclay National Championships. Nikko Ritter of Geneva, FL, rose to the occasion and rode for top honors. His blue ribbon win qualified him for the Championships at the Syracuse International Sporthorse Tournament in Syracuse, NY. “All in all, the Regionals did their job down there,” stated Frank Madden. “The top riders got through the competition well. The judges worked three groups on the flat and then had ten exhibitors test. The test included a trot jump, counter cantering another fence, and then performing a hand gallop. I think the test really sorted the group out and helped move Nikko into first.” This win marks Ritter’s fourth qualification in 2006 for the four major equitation finals held in the United States. He also secured spots in the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals, the USEF Pessoa/Hunt Seat Medal Finals, and the Tad Coffin Washington International Horse Show Equitation Finals. In addition, Ritter has skyrocketed up the Bates USA Equitation Computer Ranking List, which ranks riders according to results from all of the major equitation classes. He is currently ranked in second. On November 3, the top three riders on the list are awarded Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals. Also in the running at Regionals were Sloane Coles, Catherine Pasmore, and Whitney Goulart. Coles came away with fourth place and is also qualified for the ASPCA Maclay National Championships. She is currently leading the Bates USA Equitation List. Pasmore finished in 18th after an unanticipated change of events. “Catherine got on to warm up for the Regionals, and her horse wasn’t quite right,” reported Madden. “Wendy Ritter, Nikko’s mom, was nice enough to let her ride one of his horses. Catherine had never ridden it before, but she got on and ended up having a beautiful trip. It was a really nice finish for her considering she rode an unfamiliar horse.” Whitney Goulart won a warm up class and will continue to work on qualifying for the finals. Stacia Madden revealed, “We have confidence that she has the ability to place in the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals or the USEF Pessoa/Hunt Seat Medal Finals and can also earn a spot to ride in the ASPCA Maclay Finals.” Frank Madden added, “If you finish in the top four in the USEF Talent Search or in the top ten in the Medal Finals, you can qualify for the ASPCA Maclay Finals.” Beacon Hill Show Stables is located in Colts Neck, NJ, and is owned and managed by head trainers Frank and Stacia Madden. They have trained several of the most promising junior equestrian and jumper riders in the United States. 2005, Brianne Goutal became the only rider to ever win all four major equation finals. Ritter and Coles have also received high ribbons in these prestigious equitation finals and have an excellent shot at winning these events in 2006. Additional Beacon Hill students who have qualified for the ASPCA Maclay National Championships include: Maria Schaub, Elizabeth Lubrano, Jessica Springsteen, Carolyn Curcio, Lindsay Mohr, and Jacqueline Lubrano. Beacon Hill Show Stables will compete next at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in Upper Marlboro, MD. To learn more about Beacon Hill Show Stables, please visit their official website at www.beaconhillstables.com.