Officials Announced for 2018 Days of Champions Finals
For Immediate Release - May 28th, 2018
Brought to you by the MHC Internship Program
DOUGLAS, MA - The MHC Days of Champions Show Committee is excited to announce the 2018 judging officials for the MHC Days of Champions Equitation Finals including Michael Page, Bill Ellis, Paddy Downing-Nyegard and Mike Nielsen.
The MHC Days of Champions Show Committee is also excited to welcome three other new team members to the officials roster. The first is John Bahert of Middletown, RI. Mr. Baert will be the new show announcer for 2018. Bahret whom is most well known for announcing the New England Equitation Championships has announced at horse shows all over the east coast.
In addition to Mr. Bahert, Tom Hern of Plymouth, MA will be joining us as the official horse show manager of the 2018 MHC Days of Champions. Mr. Hern has managed the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament, Fieldstone Show Park Horse Shows, the Norfolk Hunt Horse Show and the Rhode Island Equitation Championships just to name a few.
Sam Fortier of Laconia, NH is also stepping up as our new Ring Master. Sam is the official Ring Master at the Fieldstone Show Park.
We look forward to welcoming our judges and new show officials to the Days of Champions Finals in September! Please read the bio's of our wonderful panel of Judges and Course Designer below.
JUDGE
Michael Page - North Salem, NY
The Days of Champions is excited to announce that this year 1968 Olympic Eventing Silver Medalist, Michael Page, will be judging the 2018 Equitation Finals. Mr. Page's resume is remarkable having attended 3 Olympic Games receiving 2 Silver and 1 Bronze Medal. He also attended 3 Pan American Games where he won 4 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze Medal.
In addition to his impressive riding resume Mr. Page is the director of USET and has judged the ASPCA Maclay Finals 7 times.
Mr. Page currently is the head equestrian trainer at the Kent School in Kent, CT. Welcome to the 2018 Days of Champions!
JUDGE
William "Bill" Ellis - Ocala, FL
The Days of Champions is also excited to welcome veteran equitation finals judge Bill Ellis to the judging panel in 2018. Bill has judged the WIHS Equitation Finals, New England Equitation Championships and the Devon Junior Equitation Weekend.
Bill has turned out many outstanding horses, junior and amateur riders whom have won championships at major horse shows including Devon, Florida and Indoor circuits. One of his most famous students is hunter champion rider Scott Stewart. Stewart was a working student for him and focused on the equitation as a junior qualifying for the Medal and Maclay finals in 1981 and 1982.
Bill currently owns and operates Four Winds Farm out of Ocala, FL. Welcome to the 2018 Days of Champions!
JUDGE
Paddy Downing-Nyegard - Burnsville, NC
The MHC is also honored to have esteemed USEF Judge Paddy Downing-Nyegard to the judging panel for the 2018 Days of Champions.
Paddy is a familiar face on the judge’s stand. Highly respected and in demand, she has judged at prestigious shows such as Devon, the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), Harrisburg, the West Coast Equitation and the USEF Pony Finals.
She is past Chairman of the USEF Pony Hunter Committee and the Central Florida Hunter Jumper Committee. Paddy also served as President of the Florida Hunter/Jumper Association. Welcome, Paddy to the 2018 Finals!
COURSE DESIGNER & JUDGE
Mike Nielsen - Diamond Bar, CA
Mike Nielsen once again returns for the 2018 MHC Days of Champions. Nielsen who designed the courses in 2017, is known for designing courses at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, SFVHSA Medal Finals and the Mid States Horse Shows. Welcome back, Mike!
2018 MHC Days of Champions Officials
We look forward to seeing you in September!
HORSE SHOW CHAIRMAN
Felicia Knowles
Seabrook, NH
HORSE SHOW MANAGER
Tom Hern
Plymouth, MA
HORSE SHOW SECRETARY
Charlene Brown
Newport, RI
HORSE SHOW STEWARD
Katherine DeSantis
Richmond, MA
STABLE MANAGER
Robin
Granby, MA
PADDOCK MASTER
Russell Stewart
Deansboro, NY
RING MASTER
Sam Fortier
Laconia, NH
SCHOOLING SUPERVISOR
Troy Curulla
Litchfield, CT
ANNOUNCER
John Bahert
Richmond, MA
MEDIA & PRESS
Evergreen Web & Media Service
Melody Taylor-Scott
VIDEO & STREAMING
Productions East Video
Saratoga Springs, NY
SCOREBOARD
Pyramid Sports Timing
Ludlow, VT
PHOTOGRAPHER
Jess Winhurst
West Kingston, RI
VETERINARIAN
Mark Holman, DVM
Rehoboth, MA
FARRIER
Mike Mooney
W. Brookfield, MA
HOSPITALITY & PRESENTATION AREA
Alicia Reddington
Halifax, MA
E.M.T.
Kenneth Mahoney
Bridgewater, MA