Pat Boyle Named USHJA Volunteer of the Year

Pat Boyle at the AON/USHJA National Championships in Las Vegas. Photo Alden Corrigan

Tampa, Fla.----- Dec. 12, 2018-----The USHJA Annual Meeting in Tampa, Florida, featured the 2018 USHJA Evening of Equestrians Awards as USHJA recognized members for their contributions to the sport and outstanding achievements. Show manager Pat Boyle, of Hampshire, Illinois, was awarded the prestigious USHJA Volunteer of the Year Award. This award recognizes an individual who has been instrumental in the pursuit of the mission of the USHJA and the betterment of the sport. Boyle received the evening's surprise honor for his contributions to the planning and success of the inaugural AON/USHJA National Championships in Las Vegas.

Pay Boyle receives the Volunteer of the Year Award from USHJA President Mary Babick. Photo credit: Tricia Booker/USHJA

Boyle is a successful and respected show manager and President of Showplace Productions, managing horse shows and special events for decades at various locations including Lamplight Equestrian Center, Balmoral Park, Colorado, Minnesota and the historic Ledges Sporting Horses in Roscoe, Illinois. His staff runs like a well oiled machine and his horse shows are top notch with over the top VIP, gorgeous jumps and special events both on and off a horse. His

shows have hosted a full schedule of medal finals including the NCEA Midwest Finals, the Illinois Hunter Jumper Association (IHJA) finals and the Marshall & Sterling League Medal Finals-Midwest. In addition, shows included the USHJA Zone 5 Horse of the Year Championships, the Marshall & Sterling Midwest Hunter and Jumper Championships and numerous 1.30m Jumper Championship Series Finals and a $500,000 Grand Prix to top it off.

Pat Boyle's Showplace Productions and HITS Chicago hosted the Zone 5&6 USHJA Jumper Championships. Photo M4E

Boyle got behind the USHJA International Hunter Derby program early on, hosting one of the first derbies in the Chicago area in 2008. That same year, Boyle's derby was honored by the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame for Derby of the Year.His latest gem was the AON/USHJA National Championships held in Las Vegas at the South Point Hotel in conjunction with Blenheim EquiSports Show Management and the Las Vegas National CSI4*-W. Everything is under one roof including the area and stabling, casino, spa, bowling alley, movie theater and restaurants. The championship presentations included a victory gallop and memorable photo opportunities. Boyle doesn't miss a detail and literally runs off of a production schedule detailing every minute of the show day. The show received rave reviews from those who attended.

Pat Boyle has hosted many EAP events at his horse show properties. Photo M4E

In addition, Boyle has been a Zone 5 Chairperson for over 10 years, encouraging and assisting in programs such as EAP, Zone Championships, judges clinics and specialty clinics such as Candice King, at his horse show properties. Through Boyle's leadership and contributions, his zone also created the USHJA Zone 5 Scholarship Fund, which has awarded over $100,000 to date.

Boyle has been a board member of the Illinois Hunter Jumper Association for over 25 years, organizing the local medal finals for both the A and B circuit and the lavish IHJA Awards Gala. Boyle is a USEF “R” judge, course designer, and trainer in addition to being a show manager.

Pat Boyle double checks the ride-off list for the NCEA Midwest Finals. Photo M4E

If that weren't enough, Boyle is also on the National Advisory Board, which supports the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) with sponsorships along with development and expansion of the program. His daughter, Caitlin Boyle, attends Auburn University and competes on the team as a major player. After an

outstanding career as a junior competitor, including major equitation wins at Devon, WEF and the Hunterdon Cup, Caitlin Boyle is continuing to win at the college level. Her resume is stellar and impressive and includes the 2018 NCEA Championship's Most Outstanding Player and she is the Auburn Single Season Wins Holder, just to name a few accomplishments. See her full resume here.

Boyle's horse show fans will say his events are memorable and fun with plenty of heart and enthusiasm for the sport and total respect for his spectators. Boyle can be found early in the morning with his walkie talkie in hand, checking to be sure the courses are beautiful and the footing is perfect. In the afternoon you can find him driving around in the golf cart with his wife, Nicole, a key player on his team, handing out Jersey Boy subs to the trainers and riders. Later in the day, he is making sure the feature class presentations are perfect and the hospitality is outstanding. After hours he might be organizing a Ride and Drive or a friendly exhibitor baseball game to round out an amazing show day.

Riders and professionals across the country congratulate and thank Pat Boyle for his years of dedication to exhibitors and for his outstanding accomplishments in support of the industry. Congratulations Pat Boyle, USHJA Volunteer of the Year!

For more information on Pat Boyle and Showplace Productions, visit their website at www.showplaceproductions.com and contact Pat at showsno1@aol.com.

This release compliments of Marketing4Equestrians and the Chicago Equestrian Hunter Derbies - thank you Pat (and Nicole)!

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