Five Blues for Molly Sewell and Marquis at the Tampa Equestrian Festival

Tampa, FL-April 7, 2010-It was a beautiful day as the professional hunter divisions wrapped up their second day of competition in the Main Hunter Ring at the Tournament of Champions in Tampa, FL.  Once again the Stadium Jumping team hosted a wonderful horse show at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center at the Florida State Fairgrounds.  Dominating the Green Conformation Hunter division was Molly Sewell and Marquis, who took home five blue ribbons.  Landing the reserve championship ribbon for the Green Conformation Hunters was Mary Lisa Leffler and Just Dessert, owned by Stephanie Wallace. Earning the championship rosette in the Regular Working Hunter division was Amanda Steege and Endo Fino, while Mary Eufemia and Paula Pell's horse Unbelievable attained the reserve championship prize.  
 
Molly Sewell and Marquis added today's blue ribbons in the Green Conformation Hunter over fences class and the Green Conformation hunter stake class, to yesterday's wins including the Green Conformation model, the Green Conformation Hunter over fences class, and the Green Conformation handy hunter class.  Sewell rode the eight-year-old gelding Marquis for owner Lee Cesery of Jacksonville, FL.
 
Sewell enjoyed today's courses with Marquis and remarked, "My courses were very consistent with Marquis.  He did not have any issues and was quite smooth."
 
The duo has been working together in the Green Conformation hunters throughout this year. Their list of accomplishments includes the 2010 Green Conformation Hunter Circuit Championship at the Jacksonville horse show in February.  Sewell explained, "Marquis is a horse that is a little forward, has plenty of scope, and plenty of stride.  He also has a beautiful jump so if you place him within range of the jump he always fires and jumps really well."
 
Besides Sewell, Marquis' owner Lee Cesery has been competing with the talented gelding in the Amateur-Owner 3'3" division.  Cesery has been riding Marquis for almost a year now and has been stepping into the 3'6" division.
 
Tampa is a horse show that Sewell has always enjoyed attending.  She commented, "I really like Tampa.  The weather is usually cooperative and it is a relaxing show compared to other circuits." After the Tournament of Champions, Sewell will be taking a week off before traveling to Ocala in April and then preparing for the Devon horse show.
 
Winning the championship ribbon in the Regular Working Hunter division was top trainer Amanda Steege and Endo Fino, owned by Lisa Arena.  The pair insured the championship prize with two first place ribbons in yesterday's over fences class and handy hunter class, as well as a blue in today's over fences class, and a second place in the hunter stake class
 
Steege appreciated today's course design, which was done by Robert McCune.  She expressed, "I thought the courses rode very nicely. They were smooth and the jumps were nicely decorated, which I love to see in the hunter rings."