Chris Richards of Arlington, Tenn., rode Foxtrot Echo to the Adult Amateur Jumper Division title Monday night at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.
Richards and Foxtrot Echo finished third in the $5,000 Adult Amateur Jumper Classic, earning enough points to take the overall title.
"She's been great," Richards said of Foxtrot Echo. "Last night with the lights and the crowd, she loved it. I love the crowd because it gets her up."
Richards is the general counsel at Federal Express, headquartered in Memphis, and she named her mare after the call name that FedEx jets use when they contact control towers.
"My boss is OK with my showing," said Richards, who drives her own trailer to shows and keeps her horses at her 12-acre farm. "My boss knows he gets a better general counsel back after I've been at a show."
"I ride early in the morning at home," Richards said. "When I ride, I have to pay attention to my horse and forget all about work.
"I'm just shocked to be champion here. I read about this show and the famous riders who won here when I was a kid."
Scott Stewart of Flemington, N.J., opened defense of his 2010 Devon Leading Hunter Rider title by winning four of the 10 classes and placing second in two others.
Stewart's wins came on Dedication in First Year Green Hunter, Empire in Green Conformation, and two wins in Regular Conformation on Touchdown.
Stewart and Dedication also placed second in another class. He rode Carlos Boy to second in the High Performance Hunters class.
When: Through June 5
Where: Lancaster Pike and Dorset Road, Devon.
Scheduled exhibitions:
Thursday: carriage racing, singles and pairs racing through hazards and cones. 6 p.m.;
Wells Fargo stagecoach appearing during afternoon and evening performances.
Tickets: advance sales, 610-688-2554; country fair office: 610-525-2533. General admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under and seniors 65 and over. Reserved grandstand tickets are available ranging from $12 to $50 depending on the performance.
Web site: www.thedevonhorse
show.net.
Tuesday's schedule:
Dixon Oval
Starting at 8 a.m.
First Year Green Hunter-Handy
Green Conformation Hunter
Green Conformation Hunter-Handy
Second Year Green Hunter
Second Year Green Hunter-Handy
Regular Conformation Hunter-Handy
Regular Working Hunter
Regular Working Hunter-Handy
Regular Conformation Hunter U/S
First Year Green U/S
Open Unicorns
Seven Year Old Young Jumper-II, 2(b)
Eight Year Old Old Young Jumper-II, 2(b)
Gold Ring
Starting at 9 a.m.
Five Year Old Young Jumper - II, 2(b)
Six Year Old Young Jumper - II, 2(b)
Dixon Oval
Starting at 7 p.m.
Open Jumper-II, 2(a)
Single Horse Pleasure Driving
Coaching
Coach Horn Competition
Single Horse Scurry
Single Horse Championship
Open Jumper-II, 1
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