Harrisburg, PA – Hunt Tosh and Cannon Creek, owned by the Wheeler Family, earned the 2021 Pennsylvania National Horse Show Grand Hunter Championship on Tuesday, October 19, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA.
With a clean sweep of the High Performance Hunter over fences classes and a second-place finish in the under saddle aboard Cannon Creek, Tosh was also named the 2021 Leading Hunter Rider as the competitor with the most points in one division. For his classic riding style, Tosh was additionally recognized by the judges as the 2021 recipient of the Kenneth Wheeler Style of Riding Award.
“When you look at the trophies at the names of the horses, the number of great horses that they’ve had come here [to the PNHS] is incredible,” said Tosh, of Alpharetta, GA. “I’m so lucky to ride for the Wheelers on some of those great horses. Then obviously to win the Kenny Wheeler Style of Riding Award today with him passing this year, it was very special.”
Tosh and Cannon Creek’s success at the PNHS comes as part of an already banner year that included victory in the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) International Hunter Derby Championship in August. For Tosh, Cannon Creek’s accomplishments bear a striking resemblance to another PNHS grand champion.
“[Cannon Creek] has always reminded us of Lone Star so much, first with winning Derby Finals, and Lone Star also did this here,” said Tosh, referencing the horse he rode to wins at both the International Hunter Derby Championship and the PNHS in 2010. “To have [Cannon Creek] follow in Lone Star’s footsteps again is special.
“Cannon Creek’s been phenomenal all year,” continued Tosh in speaking of the 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding. “He’s got such a good brain to begin with. He’s very simple to prepare and simple to show. He really makes my job easy. He tries not to make mistakes in the ring, so he’s just a great show horse.”
While Tosh is now no stranger to success at the PNHS, it was not always that way.
“It’s the history of being here [that’s special],” said Tosh. “I came here as a little kid on a horse that probably shouldn’t have been here and gave it a shot. I did Medal Finals on a paint horse that was a super sweet horse, but I think it was a disaster. It was definitely not good. I had no business being here.”
Now, Tosh has every reason to be here – and the trophies and awards to prove it.
For the Grand Hunter Championship, Cannon Creek’s name will be added to the Beaufort Hunt Perpetual Trophy, donated by the late Col. and Mrs. J.B. Hollis, Jr. in memory of their daughter, Shari Hollis. For the Leading Hunter Rider Award, Tosh’s name will be added to the Elizabeth M. Solter Memorial Perpetual Trophy, and as the trainer of the grand champion hunter, Tosh’s name will also be added to the Jack Stedding Memorial Perpetual Trophy.
Tosh also earned the Green Hunter 3’9” division championship, sponsored by Copper Fox LLC/Kendall Meijer, with Autograph, owned by Ceil Wheeler. For the win, Autograph’s name will be added to the John R. Sterling Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by the Pennsylvania National Horse Show.
“The show this year is great,” Tosh concluded. “Pat [Boyle] did a great job revamping Harrisburg. The footing was great. The schooling areas are so much nicer and give us more room. The jumps are beautiful – just everything had a true facelift since we were here two years ago. The whole horse show was run beautifully, and it was great being here.”
Finishing as the reserve champions in the High Performance Hunters behind Tosh and Cannon Creek were Greg Crolick and Handwritten, owned by Jon Cotton.
In the High Performance Conformation Hunters, the championship went to Scott Stewart and For Always, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker. The reserve championship was awarded to Gabriel, ridden by Victoria Colvin and owned by J T Farm.
In the Green Hunter 3’6”, sponsored by Lannie Lipson, it was again For Always who rose to the top of the 24-horse division to earn the tricolor.
“Ken [Berkley] and I bought him when he was 4, and he did the pre-green just a few times before Betsee [Parker] bought him at the beginning of last year,” said Stewart of the 7-year-old Oldenburg gelding. “He won quite a bit before we stopped for COVID. We reinstated him, and he was really good in Florida; he won a lot. He’s really fun to ride. He’s really a trier over the jumps as you can see. He’s like a big pony to ride.”
With two wins over fences, Stewart and For Always also earned the Grand Green Hunter Championship, for which they were awarded the Kimberton Hills Challenge Trophy, donated by Mrs. H.A.W. Myrin.
The reserve championship in the Green Hunter 3’6” went to Jimmy Torano and Laskano, owned by Isalou Inc.
Stewart earned a third championship of the day in the Green Conformation with Charlemagne, also owned by Parker. For the championship in the division, sponsored by Goshen Hill/Caroline Moran, Charlemagne’s name will be added to the Wild Air Farms Challenge Trophy, donated by Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Johnson, Jr.
The reserve championship in the Green Conformation went to Gratitude, ridden by Christopher Payne and owned by Still Water Farm LLC.
With 32 entries in the Green Hunter 3’3”, the division was divided into Section A and Section B. The Section A championship and the PNHS Green Hunter 3’3” Perpetual Trophy went to Corragio, ridden by Cassandra Kahle and owned by Redfield Farm. In Section B, it was Blue Moon, ridden by Heather Williams and owned by Joey Roman, that claimed the championship. The reserve championships in Section A and Section B, went to Alistaire, ridden by Jennifer Bauersachs and owned by Lannie Lipson, and Bettina, ridden by Eleanor Kunsman and owned by Glen Eden LLC, respectively.
In the Green Hunter 3’, the championship went to Jef Lauwers and She’s All That, owned by Linda Yarborough, and the reserve championship went to Arosa B, ridden by Amanda Steege and owned by Samantha Kramig.
From October 14-23, the 75th-annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show hosts more than 1,200 of the best hunter, jumper, and equitation horses and riders from across the nation. The 10 days of competition will culminate in the $100,000 Grand Prix de Penn National on Saturday, October 23. To learn more, visit www.PAnational.org.
