WOODSIDE — Helen McNaught and Ocean Cat, owned by Doug and Julie White, sailed to the front of the $10,000 Woodside Jumper Classic held during the Woodside Circuit Opener from June 17-21. Seven horses posted clear rounds over designer Danny Foster’s course, and McNaught blazed around the jump-off in a time of 42.556 seconds, more than two seconds ahead of second-place finisher Macella O’Neill and Incandescent, owned by Melanie Rapp, owner.

“She is careful and wants to jump clean,” McNaught said of Ocean Cat, a dark-brown 10-year-old mare. Julie White brought the mare up through the jumper ranks, and McNaught recently took over the reins. “She wants to go and jump,” added McNaught. “She always has the fastest first round, and then in the jump-off I just turn tighter.”

McNaught is new to Northern California, and the British native really likes her new home. “This area reminds me of home and the weather is great. Woodside is quiet and filled with horse people, and I love the area shops. I’ve wanted to come up here for years and there is more competition than I expected. The Horse Park at Woodside is lovely and the big fields give you lots of riding area. What is there not to like?”

Over in the hunter rings, Katharina Coleman piloted Olympic, owned by Grace McLaughlin, owner to the championship in the First Year Green Hunters. McLaughlin took over the ride in the Junior Hunters and finished third in the Junior/Amateur Owner Hunter Classic, and she trains under Beverly Jovais. Amateur rider Andrea R. Oneto made a clean sweep of the Amateur Owner Hunter section aboard Craig 2, and then they also clinched the Junior/Amateur Owner Hunter Classic under trainers Hope and Ned Glynn. Sarah Ryan and Deal Me In won the $500 Pony Hunter Classic, under trainer Jamie Thatcher.

Haley Webster showed her riding strengths with wins in the both the hunter and equitation divisions, and she trains under Patty Ball. Webster rode Luciano to the championship in the Junior Hunters by winning three of the over fences classes, and she was also second in the Junior/Amateur Owner Hunter Classic. In the 12-14 Equitation, Webster won both the over fence classes. She also finished second in the USEF Medal behind Elizabeth Guyer, who trains under Kelly Van Vleck.

Alicia Jovais, who has had a break from the show ring while attending college, made a successful appearance in the show ring. As the daughter of trainer Beverly Jovais, Alicia started in the pony hunters and worked her way up the junior ranks. At the Woodside Circuit Opener, Patrick Seaton had a jumper that he felt would make a nice equitation horse. Jovais just graduated from college a few weeks ago and her mother called and asked if she wanted to show. Aboard Caruso 329, owned by Lisa Ghilotti, she won both the Foxfield and the USEF Adult classes. The chestnut gelding seemed to like his new job.

Helen McEvoy, who trains under Ned and Hope Glynn, continued her winning ways by earning the blue in both the WCE and the Pickwick, and then finished second in the USEF Talent Search on the heels of Alison Fithian, who trains under Dick Widger. Fithian also won the jumper phase of the Washington International. Fithian’s younger sister, Madeline won the CPHA Child/Adult Medal. She, too, trains under Dick Widger’s watchful eye.

For complete show results, visit: http://www.leghorseshows.com/woodside.php