2024 Marshall+Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships Conclude with Hunter, Jumper, and Affiliate Tricolors
Las Vegas, Nev.—Nov. 18, 2024—The 2024 Marshall+Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships concluded an unforgettable week of competition during The Las Vegas National, held November 11-17, at the South Point Hotel, Casino, & Spa in Las Vegas, Nevada. The final day of competition crowned champions across a variety of divisions, bringing a close to a week filled with outstanding performances in the Hunter, Jumper, and Equitation rings.
USHJA Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Championship
Lexi Looker, hailing from San Dimas, California, piloted her own Dot Com to victory in the USHJA Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Championship. Looker delivered consistent performances, edging out the competition in the Welcome and Handy, which secured her the championship title. The pair also earned the High Score Adult Amateur Hunter Rider honor after posting an 86 in the Welcome class, as well as the Grand Champion Adult Amateur Hunter and Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Riesling Perpetual Trophy donated by Cheryl and Michael Rubenstein.
“I've owned ‘Spickle’ since he was 4 years old,” said Looker of her mount. “He's got the biggest personality. He loves to talk and always tells you what's on his mind. But he's very competitive. He knows exactly what his job is and makes sure to let you know if you get in the way.”
Paris Theodosakis of Rancho Santa Fe, California, earned the reserve championship with Holland, owned by Begonia Farms, by claiming a victory in the Stake. The pair capped off the week by topping the $2,500 Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Classic.
USHJA Adult Amateur Hunter 36-50 Championship
After earning a blue ribbon in the Handy, and red ribbons in the Welcome, Stake, and Under Saddle classes, Azucar, owned and ridden by Erin Boatwright of Newport Beach, California, took home the USHJA Adult Amateur Hunter 36-50 Championship title.
Boatwright also claimed reserve honors aboard Teton Farms LLC’s Favorite after winning the Stake and Under Saddle classes. The pair also won the $2,500 Adult Amateur Hunter 36-50 Classic.
USHJA Adult Amateur Hunter 51 & Over Championship
Owner and rider Nicole Lean, of Bend, Oregon, with Pence WTF, placed first in the Welcome and Handy classes, and then third Under Saddle, which crowned them the USHJA Adult Amateur Hunter 51 and Older Championship title.
Cynthia Hyde of Toluca Lake, California, and her own Hey Handsome! earned reserve honors after taking first in the Welcome and Handy class. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Tisher of Parker, Colorado, and her own Caviare topped the $2,500 Adult Amateur Hunter 51 & Over Classic.
USHJA Children's Hunter 14 & Under Championship
Topping the Stake classes, Einstein, owned by Sara Simpson and ridden by Isabel Dyckerhoff of Woodside, California, were crowned the USHJA Children's Hunter 14 and Under Championship title and were named the High Score Children’s Hunter with a score 87 in the Stake class. The pair also won the $2,500 Children’s Hunter 14 & Under Classic.
The reserve champion title went to En Plus du Givre, owned by Ta Wilson Family Farm LLC and ridden by Tyler Wilson of Rolling Hills Estates, California, after a blue ribbon finish in the Handy.
USHJA Children's Hunter 15-17 Championship
Micaela Winthrop of Tiburon, California, rode her own Lighthouse to a blue ribbon in the Handy and the Stake, a red ribbon in the Welcome and Under Saddle classes. This earned the pair the USHJA Children's Hunter 15-17 Championship and Grand Children's Hunter title. They also claimed the $2,500 Children’s Hunter 15-17 Classic together.
“I was really happy with how well we showed yesterday. We had an 86 and an 83. So he's been really great all week. I've never been to this show before and I think we both got used to it pretty quickly. He's just a really sweet horse. He's really reliable, so I'm happy,” said Winthrop.
Caradam, owned and ridden by Caitlyn Fairbanks of Rancho Santa Fe, California took home reserve champion honors after grabbing first Under Saddle and second in the Stake.
USHJA Small Pony Hunter Championship
Ella Heineking, of Aledo, Texas, swept the USHJA Small Pony Hunter Championship and reserve on her two mounts, Alvestra Sakari and Black Eyed Pea. Aboard Alvestra Sakari, she topped the Welcome, Stake, and Under Saddle, as well as the $2,500 Small Pony Hunter Classic. For their efforts, the pair were awarded the Grand Pony Hunter title and the Grand Champion Pony Unforgettable Perpetual Trophy sponsored by The Oaks.
USHJA Medium Pony Hunter Championship
With consistent performances, Zoie Sherard, of Encinitas, California, guided Lexie Looker’s Red Velvet to victory in the USHJA Medium Pony Hunter Championship. A win in the Under Saddle helped earn them the tricolor title and the The Oaks Medium Pony Champion Perpetual Trophy sponsored by the Meadows/Smith Family.
The reserve champion, Saber Jones, of Scottsdale, Arizona, showcased her own Orchard Hills Skywalker to take reserve as well as the High Score Pony honor with an 83 Welcome. Candice Ho, of Alameda, California, topped the $2,500 Medium Pony Hunter Classic with her own Twitter WH.
USHJA Large Pony Hunter Championship
The Among the Stars Perpetual Trophy donated by Knightsbridge Farm was awarded to the USHJA Large Pony Hunter Champions, Payson Maxwell and Meant To Be. The Scottsdale, Arizona, rider and the pony, owned by Kristen Hillenbrand, took first in the Handy and Under Saddle on their way to the win.
Trinity Hall, of Alberta, Canada, rode Tamara Hall’s The Keys Limited Edition, to reserve and the High Point Pony honor with an 83 Welcome. Red Storm, owned by Olya Shkola and ridden by Sophie Shkola, of Alberta, Canada, was also recognized as a High Point Pony with an 83 Welcome. Jones, this time on her own Black Tie Affair, topped the $2,500 Large Pony Hunter Classic.
USEF/USHJA 1.00m Junior Jumper Championship
The USEF/USHJA 1.00m Junior Jumper Championship title went to Dakota Sheikh, of Weston, Florida, after jumping her own Guerrera into first in the Grand Prix.
A blue ribbon in the Speed class earned Matilda Gibson of Omaha, Nebraska, riding her own Campari the reserve champion title.
USEF/USHJA 1.00m Amateur Jumper Championship
Allison West Hughes of Scottsdale, Arizona, and her own Landis galloped to victory for the USEF/USHJA 1.00m Amateur Jumper Championship. The pair earned a red ribbon in the Welcome and the Speed classes earning themselves the Konnichiwa Perpetual Trophy sponsored by Kym K. Smith.
Kyle King based in Cave Creek, Arizona, collected the reserve aboard See Jane Edit LLC’s SWS Hellcat after taking first in the Welcome class.
USHJA Affiliate .90m Children’s Jumper Championship
Keira Ventura of Eagle, Idaho, with her own Cheindira, nominated by the Boise Saddle and Jump Club, collected the USHJA Affiliate .90m Children’s Jumper Championship. The pair took second in the Welcome and Grand Prix on the way to the title.
“It feels amazing and I'm so grateful for this opportunity to be in Vegas and win the championship,” said Ventura. “We love this show. This was our first time, but it's been so fun.”
Kameron Berry of Lakeway, Texas, jumped Kathy Slack’s Slackberry Bedrock into first place in the Welcome to claim reserve honors. The duo was nominated by the Hill Country Hunter Jumper Association.
USHJA Affiliate .90m Adult Jumper Championship
The USHJA Affiliate .90m Adult Jumper Championship went to Susan Kruse of Scottsdale, Arizona, with her own The Cardo. The pair were nominated by Sweetwater Stables Educational Association and had a speedy clean sweep clocking in times of up to over 4 seconds faster than their competitors.
Lauren Wilson of Huntington Beach, California, and the Pacific Horse Show Association, rode her own Alley Oop to the reserve honor after taking second in the Speed and third in the Welcome.
USHJA Affiliate 1.00m Children’s Jumper Championship
Xena, owned and ridden by Cru Andrus, earned the USHJA Affiliate 1.00m Children's Jumper Championship title. The pair from Tooele, Utah, was nominated by Creekside Equestrian and went on to win the Welcome and the Speed classes together.
Nominated by the NorCal Hunter Jumper Association, Macayla Okland, of Kingsburg, California, aboard Michelle Mahoney’s Bowmore VDL earned reserve honors after topping the Grand Prix and placing third in the Speed.
USHJA Affiliate 1.00m Adult Jumper Championship
Nominated by the Los Angeles Hunter Jumper Association, Sofia Soto, of Los Angeles, California, jumped Carolin Malmkvist’s Cayenne to the top of the Welcome and Grand Prix, and took third in the speed to earn the USHJA Affiliate 1.00m Adult Jumper Championship title.
Joyce Williams, of Denver, Colorado, riding for the Colorado Hunter Jumper Association, jumped her own Dude Diligence to claim reserve honors after topping the Speed and taking third in the Welcome.
Live streaming coverage of all 2024 Marshall+Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championship classes is available on USEF Network. Complete results are available on ShowgroundsLive.
The USHJA extends its thanks to the Desert International Horse Park team for hosting the Championships and to longtime Title Sponsor Marshall+Sterling Insurance. Special thanks also go to Official Sponsors CWD, Nutrena, Parlanti, and Exhibitor’s; and Championship Sponsors Boy O Boy Bridleworks, Charles Owen, Essex Classics, Human Touch, Prize Possessions, RingSide Pro, SmartPak, and the US Equestrian Foundation.
Additionally, USHJA extends its gratitude to division supporters Balmoral Farm, Ledges Sporting Horses, The Struve Family, Showplace Productions, Tapestry Farm, Patrick and Nicole Boyle, Mr. and Mrs. Carleton Brooks, Steve and Lisa Hankin, and Cheryl and Michael Rubenstein.
For more information about the Marshall+Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships, visit ushja.org/NationalChampionships.
Release: USHJA and Desert International Horse Park
Photos: Terisé Cole/USHJA, Julie Mercer/USHJA
