Todd Flettrich Claims Double Grand Prix Victories at Dressage at the Park in Allentown, New Jersey
Special Report provided by PhelpsSports.com

ALLENTOWN, NEW JERSEY – July 6, 2006 – Todd Flettich of Unionville, Pennsylvania, was absolutely thrilled with his ride in the Grand Prix aboard Donner on opening day of Dressage at the Park, held at the Horse Park of New Jersey at Stone Tavern in Allentown, June 30 through July 2. Donner won the FEI Grand Prix - Open/BLM/GAIG with a score of 66.250%, topping a field of six horses. Cathy Morelli of Bedminster, New Jersey, aboard Bese was second, scoring 63.958%. The class was a qualifier for the Colonel Bengt Lundquist Memorial (BLM) Championships and the Great American Insurance Group (GAIG)/USDF Regional Dressage Championships.

Donner, a 12-year-old bay Rheinlander gelding by Donnerschlag, is owned by Cherry Knoll Farm in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, and was competing in his very first Grand Prix. "Donner is a wonderful horse but has had some insecurity issues in the past,” Flettrich explained. Last year, when Donner was competing in the Prix St. Georges, he would become attached to his trailer-mate and "talk" to him while in the show ring. But Donner was a secure superstar in his debut Grand Prix. "I was extremely pleased with his test,” Flettrich said. “He went in the class and was as good as in the warm-up. I even went in without my whip!" Flettrich was partnered with Donner this past winter and Friday's test was the first time the duo had ridden through the entire Grand Prix.

In the FEI Grand Prix - Open/BLM/GAIG on Saturday, Flettrich claimed victory again, this time aboard Amadeus, a nine-year-old Danish gelding by Argentinus, also owned by Cherry Knoll Farm. Flettrich and Amadeus scored 67.917% for the win. Cathy Morelli and Bese placed second, scoring 65.000%. Daniel Hirosh earned third with 64.375%. Flettrich aboard Donner placed fourth with 61.250%.

On Sunday, Andrea Velas riding Excelso topped the field of three new riders in the FEI Grand Prix - Open/BLM/GAIG, earning the blue ribbon with a score of 61.250%.

Competiton Highlights

Kathy Adams and Lion, her 13-year-old, bay Dutch gelding by Concorde, won both the Prix St. Georges on Friday with a score of 69.250% and the Intermediaire I on Sunday, also with 69.250%. Adams, who trained in Europe with Rudolf Zeilinger, has owned the gelding since he was two years old and has done all the training herself. Adams competed Lion successfully through Second Level, took time off from the ring, and returned five years ago. They have been competing successfully in the small tour for the past few years.

Sherri Pyka, one of Kathy Adams’ students, was also at the top of her game. She received the High Score in Training Level Test 2 on both Friday and Saturday, earning 76.538% and 75.385% respectively aboard Radiance, a seven-year -old chestnut Oldenburg gelding by Rohdiamont owned by Melissa Pribic, of Bangor, Pennsylvania. Pyka has had the ride on the talented youngster for only six weeks.

Musical Freestyles

Saturday was a showcase for Lebanon, New Jersey-based Heather Mason of Flying Change Farm and her students, who made up the entire roster of rides in the two Musical Freestyle Test of Choice competitions. Mason is an active competitor, trainer, and FEI "S" judge.

In the USDF Musical Freestyle Test of Choice - Open/BLM/GAIG class, Mason rode Dark Raffaello, an 11-year-old gelding that she has been partnered with only since this winter, to first place with a score of 71.250%. Cynthia Anderson aboard Forcement, her 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding (who is blind in one eye) placed second with 67.083%. Jill Kuc and Grande I (Grande I Am x Gold Luck), her 10-year-old Hanoverian, claimed third with 66.667%. Kuc, a former student of Mason’s, owns a training facility in nearby Pennsylvania. Amy Gimbel riding the imported Bavarian gelding Ramazotti by Ragazzo 998 was fourth with 64.167%. Mason’s Flying Change Farm owns Ramazotti, who leads a double life in the hunter/jumper ring with Helen Goddard.

In the FEI Musical Freestyle Test of Choice - Open/BLM/GAIG, another Mason student at Flying Change Farm, June Brody, was the sole competitor, riding Liberty, a 13-year-old Dutch warmblood by Topas, to the winning score of 62.50%.

A precision performance was exhibited in the USDF Pas de Deux/Quadrille - Open/BLM class by Jackie Stillwell on Ordained and Ryann Scelba aboard Joe Cool, who earned an impressive 76.00% each for their well-choreographed and ridden performance.

Freestyle competition on Sunday featured two brilliant and crowd-pleasing rides.

In the USDF Musical Freestyle Test of Choice - Open/BLM/GAIG, Heather Mason riding Dakaprio earned the win with 68.750%.

In the FEI Musical Freestyle Test of Choice - Open/BLM/GAIG, Sahar Daniel Hirosh and Disco Dernier rode a Grand Prix Freestyle to the winning score of 65.500%. Disco, a full brother to the famous stallion Donnerhall, is a 15-year-old chestnut Oldenburg stallion by Donnerwetter. Hirosh rode the freestyle with this beautiful, bold “red head” after receiving his music only the day before the competition! Disco lived up to his name as he "danced to the music” – a compilation of Walt Disney movie tunes. The dynamic performance excited the crowd, which was enthusiastic with their applause.

Officiating at Dressage at the Park were judges Betsey Berrey (S-FL), Marlene Schneider (S-MN), Pam Wooding (R-NJ) and Mary Elizabeth Blackwell (r-NJ). Technical Delegate was Camille Kopchik. The show manager was Kathy Moffitt of BFK Equestrian Enterprises.

For full results, visit http://www.bfkequestrian.com/index.html

PHOTO CAPTION: Todd Flettrich and Donner won the opening day FEI Grand Prix at Dressage at the Park in New Jersey. PHOTO CREDIT: SusanJStickle.com

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