Tennessee rider rules amateur jumpers

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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