Devon, Pa. – May 30, 2022- Memorial Day at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair concluded with the naming of the Single/Pair Pony Driving championship winner and the recipient of The Joseph M Pierce Challenge Trophy, donated by Holly Ventures. After accumulating 21 points throughout the division it was Rebekah Robinson with Saltwood Kite, owned by Mr & Mrs. Collin F. McNeil, who walked away with championship honors.
Robinson, who was the reigning champion of the division from 2019’s competition, claimed first place in the Single/Pair Pony – Pleasure Turnout and took home the blue in the Single/Pair Pony – Scurry Driving competition on Monday evening in a blazing fast time of 55.195 seconds, outpacing the runner-up finisher by nearly twenty seconds.
Contributing to her championship title, Robinson also won Sunday’s Pony Single Harness – Four Wheeled Vehicles class, part of the Carriage Pleasure Drive. The reserve championship went to Leslie Bottaro and Cricket with 11 points.
Earlier in the day, Richard O’Donnell was named champion of the Horse Pairs division, also sponsored by Patriot Dealerships. O’Donnell took first place and the Orleton Farm Challenge Trophy in the Horse Double Harness-Pairs-Tandems class with his Spider Phaeton on Sunday, and returned on Monday to claim another blue ribbon in the Horse Pairs Pleasure Turnout and earn second in the Horse Pairs Scurry Driving for a total of 17 points. PJ Crowley III driving Bonterra Farm’s Brewster Peters Phaeton were awarded reserve honors with 14 points.
Competition at the Devon Horse Show will resume Tuesday, May 31, featuring the Single Horse Pleasure Driving Turnout, the Coaching Pleasure, and Single Horse Scurry starting at 9:00 p.m.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Rebekah Robinson- Winner of the Single/Pair Pony Driving championship
On Saltwood Kite:
“This pony is Saltwood Kite and we call him Chief. He is owned by Collin and Virginia McNeil who I work for, and we are right down in Chester Springs. Chief is 27 years old this year, he’s a Welsh pony and he absolutely loves this. The cones are his absolute favorite, he knows what he’s doing and he loves to win and go fast. He’s a wonderful pony. I think I’ve been driving him for close to 17 years now. He is awesome.”
On earning champion:
“It feels awesome. I thought maybe we should rest on our laurels, but I really wanted to come back and do it again and [Saltwood Kite] felt amazing.”
On the Devon Horse Show:
“I grew up not too far from here. I showed here in leadline and I showed here with my mom in the parent/child class, so this is my hometown favorite horse show. To do so well and be here is awesome.”
On what’s next:
“[Saltwood Kite] might be done now and resting on his laurels. He’s done everything that we’ve ever asked him to do and so I think he’s just going to chill out. We wanted to end on a high and I’m so proud of him.”
RESULTS
Single/Pair Pony – Pleasure Turnout
Place / Cart / Whip / Owner
1. Saltwood Kite / Rebekah Robinson / Mr & Mrs. Collin F. McNeil
2. Clarwood Tia / Alexandra Meyer Barchi / Alexandra Meyer Barchi
3. Cricket / Leslie Bottaro / Leslie Bottaro
Single/Pair Pony – Scurry Driving
Place / Cart / Whip / Owner / Time
1. Saltwood Kite / Rebekah Robinson / Mr & Mrs. Collin F. McNeil / 55.195
2. Cricket / Leslie Bottaro / Leslie Bottaro / 73.616
3. Clarwood Tia / Alexandra Meyer Barchi / Alexandra Meyer Barchi / 77.695
4. Chapplelow’s Reserve Porter / Michael Pontz / Michael Pontz / 84.744
Single/Pair Pony Championship
Place / Cart / Rider / Owner
1. Saltwood Kite / Rebekah Robinson / Mr & Mrs. Collin F. McNeil
2. Cricket / Leslie Bottaro / Leslie Bottaro
