By virtue of his bold finish in the final round aboard the evening’s most challenging horse, Peter Pletcher, of Magnolia, Texas, laid claim to the Stillwell-Hansen WCHR Professional Finals Championship on Friday evening, Oct. 8, at the Capital Challenge.

In a contest where the top four riders in the WCHR Professional National Rankings take turns riding four unfamiliar horses over 3’6″ hunter courses, Pletcher (354 points) edged Sandy Ferrell, Bernville, Pa., the reserve champion (353), by just 1 point over the four rounds. Jenny Karazissis of Calabassas, Calif., placed third (348.2), and Heidi Austin-Fish, Hebron, Ill., was fourth (343.3). The riders are judged on a combination of their equitation, hunter presentation and horsemanship.

After the class, the riders gathered for a press conference with all five judges who presided over the class, including Russell Frey, Hap Hansen, Mike Rosser, Steve Wall and Jeff Ayers. The riders all agreed that Beaujolais, a horse loaned by Don Stewart Stables, was the determining factor. He was a strong horse who liked to take a hold after the jumps.

Pletcher took advantage of the final course, which offered the riders two long runs to the final two oxers, and he just let Beaujolais go. His strategy worked. They finished with two beautiful jumps and a 90.60 average for that round (including a 97 from Frey).

“The girls did a great job of schooling him for Peter,” joked judge Wall.

Austin-Fish added laughing, “Was it a gallop, or was he out of control?”

Pletcher smiled and replied, “It was a hand gallop!”

Overall, however, the riders and judges agreed this was the nicest group of horses collected for the class, two of which were from Montoga, one from Karen Healey and two from Stewart. Because Austin-Fish’s first ride, Nike, was spooky and stopped at the third fence, he was replaced by Beaujolais, the alternate horse.

“Everybody rode great, regardless of the placings,” said Frey. “They are all winners just by being here.”