After one of the tightest races in the 13-year history of the Stillwell-Hansen WCHR Professional Finals, Peter Pletcher rose to the top of a talented field on Friday night for his third victory in the featured hunter class of the Capital Challenge Horse Show.

By virtue of his solid handy hunter round, Pletcher edged John French and Scott Stewart by 1.67 points for the victory with a four-round total of 360.99 points. Liza Towell Boyd finished fourth (266.32), John Bragg was fifth (263.99) and Kirsten Coe rounded out the field in sixth (261.49).

The competition was so close that Stewart and French tied for second place (after receiving 12 scores from six judges) with 359.32 points. The tie was broken by the judges sitting in position No. 1, so French was awarded the reserve championship.

This year’s class featured a new and different format. In order to allow more riders to participate, American Hunter Jumper Foundation officials increased the invitations from the top four to the top six riders on the WCHR National Professional rankings.

And instead of riding unfamiliar horses, each rider was required to bring a horse for the class. Then, instead of each rider competing each horse, this year the riders drew four horses. After all of the riders completed three rounds, the top three riders went on to compete in the final handy to decide the champion.

The format changes created ample discussion even before the class, and afterward there were mixed reactions. Some people loved having fresh faces in the class, while others believed the format change didn’t allow for the riders to be fairly compared since they didn’t compete the same horses.

In general, the riders approved of the changes. “I think it worked out. I was skeptical of the change,” said Pletcher. “I liked having our own horses,” he added. “Even though they may not have been our best horses, we went into the first round on horses we knew. And I think that breaks the ice.”

After the first two rounds, Boyd, in her first Professional Finals appearance, had established a commanding 5-point lead aboard her own Sienna (92.66) and Bragg’s Cunningham (93).

Going into the crucial third round, however, Boyd drew Pletcher’s petite bay mare Surella. A bending six-stride line through the middle of the course was their downfall, however.

“The six looked really far away, so I did seven,” quipped Boyd.

Her 80.66 average dropped her to fourth and out of the top three.

Going into the handy, the veteran professionals Stewart, French and Pletcher returned in that order, scores low to high, to vie for the title while Boyd, Bragg and Coe watched from the sidelines.

Aboard Boyd’s Sienna, Stewart went for broke in the handy. Sienna had a late lead change early on course, but Stewart’s tight, aggressive turns impressed the judges and earned a 90.66 average.

French entered next aboard Bragg’s elegant gray Cunningham. French’s turns were tight as well, but the opinionated stallion stalled a touch in one turn. Their average scores of 90 were good enough to tie Stewart for the lead, however.

So, it was all up to Pletcher. He had Coe’s Aston for the final round, an established equitation horse and junior hunter, and he was thrilled. “I drew great horses,” he said. “I loved the final horse that I got to ride. He’d done a lot of equitation, which was nice. I knew it was going to be easier making the turns.”

Their smooth and consistent round, with tight turns and bold jumping efforts, garnered an average of 90 for the victory.

Pletcher, Magnolia, Texas, said even though he’s contested the Professional Finals eight times the class still means a lot to him.

“I say every year I’m not going to do it again, but then I strive for it,” said Pletcher laughing. “It’s a wonderful class, and it’s another added rush to the sport.”

Raise The Roof, owned by Cloe Baumrim and selected by French, was awarded the best horse title by virtue of scoring the most points with the four riders.

The other horses donated included: Mary Jane Stone’s Surella (Pletcher); Mary Slouka’s Cunningham (Bragg); Annie Gardner’s Sienna (Boyd); Heritage Farm’s Aston (Coe); and Glen Senk’s True (Stewart).

More Blues For Mohr

Besting a field of 31 riders, Lindsey Mohr, 18, rode Lion King to an 88.5 and an 89.4, dominating the the Ariat National Adult Medal Finals on Friday afternoon.

The opening line, a long five-stride that some riders opted to ride in a quiet six, was the tough question of the course. Devon Poeta and Amy Brubaker both chose the six, and the judges didn’t penalize them. Poeta finished second while Brubaker finished third.

Mohr’s decision to go for the five strides wasn’t made haphazardly or executed in a rush. Lion King simply opened his stride and made it look simple.

“My horse has a huge stride, so I thought I’d make the most of it,” said Mohr. “My trainer, Robert Beck, said before I went in the ring I don’t want to mess you up or anything but if you get the five you won the class.”

Mohr enjoyed the courses and the multitude of bending lines allowed her to ride a “huntery” course.

The second course used a number of rollbacks after the forward first line. Mohr said, “I love the rollbacks. It really made it an equitation course. It really helped you to figure out who could really do the turns and collect.”

Mohr knows Lion King very well. She has owned him for four years and has won a multitude of titles on him. One such title was the Show Circuit Medal Finals title she earned at the Capital Challenge back in 2004 riding the same horse.

Mohr currently attends Centenary College in Hackettstown, N.J., and rides her horses at her home. She competes about once or twice a month and also rides on the equestrian team at Centenary.

Ringel Reigns

Jamie Ringel, of Wilton, Conn., stood at the in-gate of the Show Place Arena as the last to go in the second round of the WCHR Adult Amateur Challenge. Aboad Private Ryan, Ringel’s first-round score of 87.34 put her at the top, and fighting the nerves of going last she nailed the second course. The three-judge panel posted an average score of 88.66 to secure Ringel the title.

“I’ve messed up a lot going into second rounds…I’ve gone in a lot of times and been overanxious, so I didn’t want to mess up,” said Ringel.

For Ringel, 24, it was her first time showing in the WCHR Adult Amateur Challenge class. She described her 10-year-old Wurttenburg as an easy, straightforward mount, but she was still nervous.

Ringel is a sophomore at Fairfield University (Conn.) and trains with Michelle West and Leslie Kogos.