DressageDaily: Palm Beach Dressage Derby Series Kickoff Highlights Exciting New Duos: Kickoff Crowd Pleaser

Tuesday January 20, 2004

Palm Beach Dressage Derby Series Kickoff Highlights

Kickoff Crowd Pleaser

The Markel Amateur Winter Dressage Championship Series presented by Adashi, and supported bya growing list of generous sponsors, kicked off the Derby Kickoff with an awards ceremony honoring some of the 2003 award recipients. Present were most of the winners, as well as some of the contributing sponsors.

Sponsors Mary Phelps of Markel, Shirley Johnson of Adashi, Elizabeth Lowery of Caracol Jewelry Designs, Ruth Hogan Poulson, Dressage Test Tutors, and Lu Spinks from the Video Guys pose with 2003 award winners. "This is such an exciting opportunity for us." said Dr. Kristi Truebenbach Lund, a small animal vet who has a busy practice in Boca Raton. "As amateurs we are not allowed to solicit sponsorship, so the gift certificates and prizes we collected were an amazing morale booster!" Markel Equine Insurance added its support this year, lifting the series to a new level. The awards ceremonies increased awareness of this exciting new sponsorship amateur riders can qualify for.

With a 30% increase in exhibitors this year over last, the 2004 Derby Series Kickoff added a fourth ring, accommodating approximately 170 horses. Judging were Carol Lavell, Gary Rockwell, Betsy Berrey, and Jeanne McDonald. The Kickoff featured qualifying classes for both the GAIG/USDF Regional Championships and the Colonel Bengt Ljungquist Memorial Championships, a new addition this year.

“The show went very well and we had good reports from exhibitors and spectators,” said Mary Anne McPhail. “They want us to continue the shows here.”

Next in the 2004 series in Loxahatchee is the Palm Beach Dressage Derby, CDI***/Y, March 5-7, followed by Dressage at Equestrian Estates, April 2-4.