Coach: David Thurman
Email:dlthurman@mac.com
Phone: 310-373-6091

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The Palos Verdes High School Sea King Equestrian Team has just finished up their eight-show 2009-2010 season in the Orange County Interscholastic Equestrian League (OCIEL).  The team rode into the last two shows in the lead for champion school of the season but won't hear their final placing until the awards banquet to be held at Medieval Times in late April. 

At show seven, held on January 16, the Sea Kings took 12th place ribbons in Novice Pleasure on the Flat (Clare Burke), JV Working Hunter 2'9" (Amanda Stefan); 11th place ribbons in Western Limit Trail (Sarah Powley), Novice Hunt Seat Equitation Flat (Kerry Spain); a 10th place ribbon in Western Limit OCIEL Medal (Sarah Powley); 9th place ribbons in Novice Hunter Under Saddle (Michelle Yamashita), Western Limit Showmanship (Sarah Powley), Western Limit Pleasure (Sarah Powley), Western Limit Horsemanship (Sarah Powley); 8th place ribbons in Novice Hunt Seat Equitation Flat (Clare Burke), JV OCIEL Medal 3' (Amanda Stefan), Western Limit Pleasure (Kaitlin Huben); 7th place ribbons in  Novice Equitation Over Fences 2' (Michelle Yamashita),  Novice Pleasure on the Flat (Michelle Yamashita), Varsity Working Hunter 3'3" (Rachel Thurman); 6th place ribbons in Novice Working Hunter 2' (Clare Burke), Western Limit Pleasure (Shelby Tsuji), Western Limit Horsemanship (Kaitlin Huben), Varsity Hunt Seat Equitation Flat (Rachel Thurman); 5th place ribbons in Varsity English Pleasure (Rachel Thurman), JV OCIEL Medal 3' (Kristen Yule); 4th place ribbons in Novice Equitation Over Fences 2' (Clare Burke), Limit Western Horsemanship (Shelby Tsuji), Novice Working Hunter 2' (Michelle Yamashita), JV Working Hunter 2'9" (Kristin Yule); 3rd place ribbons in Western Limit Showmanship (Shelby Tsuji), JV Equitation Over Fences 2'9" (Amanda Stefan), Western Limit OCIEL Medal (Kaitlin Huben); 2nd place ribbons in Western Limit Trail (Shelby Tsuji), Varsity OCIEL Medal 3'6" (Rachel Thurman), Dressage Training Level Test 3 (Lauren Pell), Dressage Training Level Test 4 (Lauren Pell); 1ist place ribbons in Western Limit OCIEL Medal (Shelby Tsuji), Western Limit Showmanship (Kaitlin Huben), Western Limit Trail (Kaitlin Huben), and Varsity Equitation Over Fences 3'3" (Rachel Thurman).  They also rode away with High Point Western Limit Rider (Kaitlin Huben) and Reserve High Point Western Limit Rider (Shelby Tsuji) as well as High Point School in the Western Limit division.

Results of the final show are always withheld to maintain the excitement of announcements at the awards banquet.  All shows this season have been held at the lovely Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano. 

Press Release: 12/09/2009

The Palos Verdes High School Sea King Equestrian Team has just completed shows five and six of their eight-show season.  The strong Sea King Team placed second overall on December 5 and third overall on December 6th.  Individual honors went to Western Limit Riders Kaitlin Huben with an overall Champion placing on Saturday and Shelby Tsuji with a Reserve Champion placing on Sunday.

Over the course of the two shows, top ten class placings were earned by Rachel Thurman in Varsity English classes, Lauren Heimer in JV Jumper classes, Kaitlin Huben in Western Limit classes, McKenna Sheriff in Varsity Jumper classes, Eliana Sheriff in Novice English classes, Alstyn Bennett in Varsity Jumper classes, Kristen Yule in JV English classes, Maggie McCarthy in Freshman English classes, Jessica Nichols in Freshman English classes, Shelby Tsuji in Western Limit classes, Hayley Thomas in Western Limit classes, Nicole Vidjak Simeral in JV English classes, Clare Burke in Novice English classes and Sarah Powley in Western Limit classes, Lauren Cromer in JV Jumper classes. 

The Palos Verdes High School Sea King Equestrian Team, last year’s Orange County Equestrian League (OCIEL) champion school, has ridden to victory yet again.  Shows 3 and 4 of the eight-show 2009-2010 OCIEL season were held on November 7 & 8.  The 28-rider strong Sea King team took the high point school placing in show three and reserve high point for show four.

Outstanding performances turned in by Michelle Yamashita, Saturday’s Novice Hunter Champion; Nicole Simeral, Saturday’s JV Hunter Reserve Champion; Rachel Thurman, Saturday’s Varsity Hunter Reserve Champion; Kaitlin Huben, Saturday’s Western Limit Reserve Champion and Shelby Tsuji, Western Limit Champion on both Saturday and Sunday.  

To see the Sea King team in action, please come out to our next shows on December 5 & 6.  All shows are held at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano. 

This story comes from the news section of the website for the All American Quarter Horse Congress currently taking place in Columbus, Ohio. The All American Quarter Horse Congress is the World's Largest Single-Breed Horse Show. The show receives more than 17,000 horse show entries and will house more than 8,500 registered American Quarter Horses during its three-week schedule. The Congress attracts more than 650,000 people to the Columbus area, bringing more than $110 million to the central Ohio economy.

Zippos Good Stuff Brings Some "Good Stuff" to the Congress

Shelby Tsuji and Zippos Good Stuff started off their 2009 Congress with a bang. They were named the Congress Champions in their first class of the show - Novice Youth Trail 14-18. Later, the team also placed fourth in Novice Youth Showmanship 14-18.

Shelby has been involved in the horse industry for five years, and has enjoyed showing for the past three years. She and her 11 year old gelding (whom she calls ‘Steve’) make sure to have a lot of fun at the shows, as well as doing their fair share of winning. “Steve is so sweet,” Shelby said. “He gives a lot of kisses, and he always gives me 100 percent. I love him.”

Shelby and Steve traveled to the Congress this year from Rancho Palos Verdes, California with their trainer Michael Hoyt. This was not Shelby’s first trip to the Congress, however. She showed here in 2007 in the Novice Youth Trail 13 and Under and placed 9th with Zippo Graphic.

Although it was exciting for Shelby to place in the Top Ten in 2007, this year’s Congress topped her wildest dreams. “I didn’t expect to win,” Shelby said. “I was so thrilled! I love it at the Congress, and winning my first class just made my whole show.

“Riding is one of my passions and my only sport,” Shelby explained. “I hope to go to the AQHYA Youth World Show next year with Steve, and then we will have to sell him before I go to college.”

Shelby also showed this year in Performance Halter Geldings, Novice Youth Western Pleasure 14-18 and Novice Youth Horsemanship 14-18. Congratulations on all your excellent classes this year Shelby, and good luck next year!

The Palos Verdes High School Sea King Equestrian Team rode to a strong start in the Orange County Interscholastic Equestrian League (OCIEL) 2009-2010 opening shows, held October 3 and 4 at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano.  The Sea King team, under the guidance of Coach David Thurman, hopes to retain their title of High Point Champion School, earned during the 2008-2009 OCIEL Season. 

On both show days the Palos Verdes High School took High Point honors in the Western Limit Division, the highest of the 3 western divisions offered at the shows.  Sea King equestriennes Shelby Tsuji and Kaitlin Huben took Western Limit High Point Rider titles on Saturday and Sunday respectively.  On October 3, Sophie Rehrig was Champion in the Novice Dressage Division and Amanda Stefan was Reserve Champion High Point JV Hunter rider.  On Sunday, October 4, Michelle Yamashita took the Reserve Champion spot in Novice Hunters and Lauren Cromer earned Reserve High Point honors in JV Jumpers. 

All team members contributed to the success of the Sea King team, among the highest placings for the team were:  Shelby Tsuji, Lauren Heimer, Hayley Thomas, Kristin Yule, Alstyn Bennett, Sophie Rehrig, Kaitlin Huben, Michelle Yamashita, Lauren Pell who took at least one first place ribbon each.  2nd places went to Amanda Stefan, Nicole Vidjak Simeral, Clare Burke, Niki Macleod and Lauren Cromer.  4th to Jessica Nichols.  5th to Brooke Erickson and Sarah Powley.  7th to Jessica Nichols and Cori Glazer.  8th to Christine Whittemore and Caroline Cromer.  9th to McKenna Sheriff.  10th to Eliana Sherriff.  And 12th to Rachel Thurman.