DEVON, Pa.--JJ Torano collected all the Junior Jumper honors while Lilly Ward did the same in the Pony division at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair on Saturday, May 23.

JJ Torano on Vitus K (Photo by Phelps Media)Torano won the $20,000, 1.45m Junior Jumper Classic on Vitus K, was Junior Jumper Champion on Lyon 50, Reserve Champion on Vitus K, was Leading Junior Jumper Rider and won the Style of Riding Award.

Lilly Ward on Celebration won two Small Pony classes, the Small Pony Championship, was Pony Grand Champion and was Best Child Rider on a Pony. 

Torano, going last on Vitus K in the Classic, finished clean in 39.264 to narrowly beat Violet Taturm on Flotylla, clean in 39.538, with Alice Goodwin on Rockefeller G third in 42.564.

Torano had won the first two junior jumper classes on Lyon 50 but had two down on him in the Classic to finish eighth.

What Torano didn't know when he went on Vitus was that he had to go clean to be champion,, as, if Flotylla had won, with the bous points in the class, he would have been champion. 

"I didn't think about that," said Torano. "I just wanted to win the Classic. I've been trying to win it for three years. Two years ago I had a time fault, and last year I was leading on time but had the last fence down. This year, the goal was to win it."

"Vitus had an injury early in the year, so this was only his third show this year," said Torano. "He probably isn't completely fit, but he knows his job."

"I came home last night, but I'll go back to Devon tomorrow," said Torano from the family farm in Mohrsville, Pa. "I'm going to give it a try in the Open division. I'm old enough now to jump in FEI classes except the grand prix. I'm riding Dura du Valon and I am Inge."

 

"I HAVE never jumped a four-star. I’ve never jumped that height before, but the only way to do it is to jump and get that experience,” Torano said. “It’s not going to be easy, jumping against international riders, but it’s going to be a great experience for me. I need to get out there and learn at a new level.”"

Lilly Ward and Celebraion (Photo by Phelps Media)It was a busy weekend for the Ward family, with McLain competing in Aachen and Lilly at Devon, and McLain will also compete at Devon in open jumpers in the upcoming week.

"Lilly being Best Child rider is a tremendous accomplishment," said her mother Lauren, who trains Lilly. "It's something we've been working towards. The list of riders that have won this award is so impressive."

"Celebration was Lilly's Christmas present in 2023," said Lauren. "She had no idea it was coming. She was so surprised. We bought Celebration with no trial and no vetting. He had been champion at Devon before with a young rider from California."

"Lilly was beyond excited to win at Devon," said Lauren. "She had been champion at Capital Challenge and reserve at Harrisburg. So she set a new goal of being grand champion. This is really special."

"Lilly goes to traditional school, so she rides every day after school, but she usually only has time to ride one pony," said Lauren. "When we're in Florida, she goes to Upper Echelon Academy from nine to two." 

“I came in strong today, and I was really excited,” Lilly said.