This past July 29th and 30th (Saturday and Sunday), the Fitch’s Corner Horse Trials celebrated their 12th year. In that time, the USEA Sanctioned Horse Trials has become one of Millbrook’s premiere equestrian events. They attract more than 200 competitors from the tri-state region. And of course, the very rural area with its sweeping and picturesque countryside is ideal. Millbrook is horse country and in many ways it’s a world onto itself; a kind of paradise of sorts: the participants and spectators have a great time.
There was prize money and special awards. There was an antique car parade. The 2006 Fitch’s Corner Award was presented to Nancy Estes fro her volunteer role at Fitch’s Corner as well as for the Millbrook Hunt, Millbook Hunt Pony Club and other horse events. I told you: this is horse country.
That Saturday night they held the Blue Jean Ball with a 7 o’clock buffet dinner catered by the Farmer’s Wife, followed by a Live Concert by HiddenDrive with Eric Hill, and then dancing to DJ Joe Cool. Then on Sunday ther was the Spectator’s Benefit Luncheon benefiting the Millbrook Rescue Squad which provides emergency medical service to the horse trials and to the community of Millbrook as well. Luncheon was also catered by The Farmer’s Wife.
The whole thing almost sounds like something out of a movie – Lubitsch or Sturges naturally. With a Cole Porter score. There were guests who felt that way too because it was a little bit of heaven for quite a few amongst the equestrian set.
Mollie Schaeffer
Fernanda Kellogg and Kirk Henckels
Doug Luke with daughter Lindsey
Ruthie Lyman, Tom and Connie Newbury, Chris Spitzmiller, and Nicole and Keith Cunningham
Tony Gebauer and Denise Herman
Nancy Estes and Fernanda Kellogg
Margaret Korda
Robyn Kennedy, Donna Verrilli, and Fernanda Kellogg
Micki Gilbert
L. to r.: Susie Clark, Paula Redmond, and Mollie Schaeffer; Morti and Penelope Hall.
Cindy Tripp, Diane Gilmour, Terry Regan, and Debbie Montgomery
Mary Vance and Peter Duggan
Marina Wambold, Monica Wambold, Tracy Bjelland, and Dominica Wambold
Mrs. and Mr. J. McLaughlin and Lisa Fresne
Amy Bonanno, Fernanda Kellogg, and Gail George
Gail George and Amy Bonanno
Nina Reeves, Mollie Schaeffer, and Kevin Smith with dog Cooper
Dailey Pattee, Peter Elebash, and Lorna and Larry Graev
Carlo Rossell, Tarajia Morrell, Elisa Lipsky-Karasz, and Sebastian Varney
Jessie Smith, Cora Katz-Samuels, and Natasha Blodgett
Barbara and Donald Tober
Gwen Hubbell and friend
David and Judy Sloan
Anne Grauso
Robert Rufino, Joseph, and Mish
Lily Whitall, Sandy White, and Maggie May
Cynthia Cannon Cogswell
David and Judy Sloan
Robyn Kennedy and Byron Anderson
It was the kickoff reception honoring the benefit committees for the Historical Society of Palm Beach’s upcoming season of events which includes the salute to Slim Aarons dinner dance in December, and the great big fancy Palm Beach Design Fair in January.
But it was the location of the party that was just so otherworldly- Duane Hampton’s spectacular home and garden, where the genius of her late husband Mark is still so apparent everywhere you turn. There’s the famous chocolate brown living room sparked with white trim, the accents of chartreuse and all those neo-classical bits and pieces that defy description. For anyone in the world of design and decoration- it’s hallowed ground. US Trust and the chic design firm/retailer Healing Barsanti/HB Home co-sponsored the event, which made perfect sense since Palm Beach is the definitive combination of money and beauty. Or so I’m told.
Duane pitched a tent off of her canopied terrace, and had the fabulous Gloria’s Fine Foods from Westhampton Beach in to cater. She hung candlelit lanterns from the apple trees and put on one of her terrific floor-length hostess outfits to greet a delightfully multi-generational crowd that included glamorous actress (and daughter) Kate Hampton, Ross Meltzer and Tom Samet, Gillian and Sylvester Miniter, Bettina Zilkha, Bob Felner, Sandy and Robert Krakoff with their son Reed Krakoff of Coach fame, Alyne Massey, Town & Country’s Pamela Fiori and her husband Colt Givner, antique show impresario Meg Wendy, Frances Hayward, Heather Cohane, Don Burns and Greg Connors, Palm Beach Daily News editors Robert Janjigian and Shannon Donnelly, Vanity Fair writer Michael Shnayerson, Andrea Stark, Catherine Cahill and Bill Bernhard, Gillis McGill, Melanie Wambold, Jamee and Peter Gregory, Susan and Dom Telesco, Cricket Burns, Mario Nievera, Bernice Lieberman and her daughter Zabrina, Mai Harrison, Sheila O’Malley and Joe Fuchs with Sheila’s daughter Maura Weissman, Walter Sullivan, Liz Quinn, Maribeth and Ellen Welsh, Jack Young with his mom Vicki from Denver, Brian Farrell, Ryan Meehan, Jackie and Beau Breckenridge, Pat Wood, Hilary and Wilbur Ross, Pat Patterson, Steven Gambrel and Chris Connor, Isolde O’Hanlon and a bazillion others who either love Palm Beach or a good party or were stuck in traffic.
Bonnie and Zabrina Lieberman
Debbie Bancroft and Bettina Zilkha
Don Burns, Duane Hampton, and Greg Connors
Pat Patterson
Gillian Miniter and Ross Meltzer
Mai Harrison
Melanie Wambold
Pat Cooke, Bill Bernhard, Wilber Ross, and Hilary Geary
Catlyn Taschen, Ross Meltzer, Susie Dwynell, and Mario Nievera
