Boshold and Flury Crowned USHJA Zones 5 and 6 Jumper Team Individual Champions

Crete, Ill.—July 22, 2019—Wrapping up USHJA Zones 5 and 6 Jumper Team Championship competition at HITS Balmoral Park in Crete, Illinois, was the Individual Finals for 1.10m/1.15m Children and Adult Amateurs. In the Children's, Kate Boshold rode to gold and Alison Flury took the top spot in the Adult Amateurs.

The Children kicked things off with 15 athletes taking to Florencio Hernandez's course for the Individual Final. Going in with zero faults after three-rounds of competition was Erica Halstead of Barrington, Illinois, on Blu Sanvalou and Kate Boshold of Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, with Rodrigo's Bianca. A nail-biter finish found the two Zone 5 riders in a jump-off for the gold medal. A rail down for Halstead and a clean finish for Boshold gave the competition a clear winner.

'[Rodrigo's Bianca] was perfect, and it's an honor to win. I never thought I would have won this. I thank my trainers, my mom, and my dad for making this happen," said an astounded Boshold. "I was very nervous [for the jump-off]—more nervous than anything! When I crossed the finish line clear it felt very surreal."

Halstead walked away a dual medalist, having been a member of yesterday's gold medal team. "Riding on team was a great experience and a lot of fun," she said.

"The courses were great—they were super fair, but they posed a lot of questions. It wasn't a walk in the park but it wasn't overly challenging. I think throughout the three days of jumping they jumped a lot but a lot of the horses stayed fresh throughout and you saw a lot of kids having great success," said Zone 5 Chef d'Equipe Ryan Sassmannshausen.

Alison Flury, of Minooka, Illinois, riding Role Model, was one of three Adult Amateurs heading into the final round with no faults, but she was the only one to compete the competition penalty-free. A jump-off for the silver medal ensued between Christopher Ferralez of Elgin, Illinois on Cubscout BG and Lindsey Russell of Perrysburg, Ohio, on Ruslan. An unfortunately rail for Ferralez secured him the bronze medal and gave Russell silver.

Flury is no stranger to the Zone Jumper Team Championships, having competed in the 1.20/1.25m Junior/Adult Amateurs in 2017 and finishing seventh. "I did the Championships [two] years ago. I did that and it was okay, but I didn't have the same confidence that I do on this one," she said. "It's amazing to win. I give it all to my horse. I just get to be the happy rider, and I feel really good because we've worked really hard for this. This is what we were working towards."

[Role Model] was my sister's Grand Prix horse for a couple years, but she got injured and shattered her knee. She was a broodmare while she recovered then we brought her back, and I just started showing her this winter down in Florida," Flury said of her Championship mount. "The nice thing about her is that I always feel confident going into the ring and some of the pressure is taken off because of that. I just go in and have fun."

Individual gold medalists received a variety of awards from Essex Classics and FITS Riding in addition to a medal, a ribbon and a cooler, and the Adult Amateur individual gold medalist received a pair of Parlanti paddock boots. 

Individual medalists at the USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships will be recognized as 2019 Gold Star Emerging Jumper Riders by awarding them an exclusive 2019 Gold Star Emerging Jumper Rider pin that can be worn at future competitions to distinguish them. At the same time, trainers of these riders will be recognized as 2019 Gold Star Jumper Coaches and receive specialized pins that denote their title. Riders and trainers who receive the designation are also invited to attend one of the USHJA Gold Star Clinics.

All Championship competitors will be recognized as 2019 USHJA Emerging Jumper Riders. During a special orientation session during the riders meeting on Wednesday, riders, trainers and parents received comprehensive information about how riders can advance through the sport to its highest levels. The session specifically discussed the Show Jumping Athlete Pathway, a joint USHJA-US Equestrian effort that identifies and nurtures Jumping athletes as they advance through the sport to enhance future success for Olympic and international teams representing the United States.

Also taking place at HITS Balmoral Park were the USHJA Zones 5 and 6 Platinum Jumper Championships and the USHJA Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships, presented by SmartPak.

The USHJA extends special thanks to Showplace Productions and the entire HITS Chicago team for hosting the Championships.

For more information about the USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships, visit ushja.org/ZoneJumper. For more information about the USHJA Emerging Jumper Rider Program, visit ushja.org/PlatinumJumper. 

USHJA extends its gratitude to all of our official sponsors, Charles Owen, CWD, Parlantiand Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, and our award sponsors Essex Classics and FITS Riding, that make these programs possible.

Children's Jumper Individual Final Results

Rider / Horse / Hometown / Zone

GOLD: Kate Boshold / Rodrigo's Bianca / Hawthorn Woods, Ill. / Zone 5

SILVER: Erica Halstead / Blu Sanvalou / Barrington, Ill. / Zone 5

BRONZE: Adeline Pavlin / Ragazzon Carino / Cincinnati, Ohio / Zone 5

4: Annabella Harold / Upsilos Vida / Mundelein, Ill. / Zone 5

5: Rebecca Gutstein / Diego VD Endepoel / Glencoe, Ill. / Zone 5

6: Karlee Boshold / Virantos / Hawthorn Woods, Ill. / Zone 5

7: Anna Spitzer / Esparta / Lake Bluff, Ill. / Zone 5

8: Riley Malina / Riverrun / Skokie, Ill. / Zone 5

 

Adult Amateur Jumper Individual Final Results

Rider / Horse / Hometown / Zone

GOLD: Alison Flury / Role Model / Minooka, Ill. / Zone 5

SILVER: Lindsey Russell / Ruslan / Perrysburg, Ohio / Zone 5

BRONZE: Christopher Ferralez / Cubscout BG / Elgin, Ill. / Zone 5

4: Claire Stockard / Canturada Seconda / Chicago, Ill. / Zone 5

5: Samantha Hill / Finnley 5 / Lexington, Ky. / Zone 5

6: Maya Lovdal / Smart Cover / Saint Germain, Wisc. / Zone 6

7: Anne Meyer / Sella Luna / Plymouth, Minn. / Zone 6

8: Kaitlin Gilbert / Innovation / Clarkston, Mich. / Zone 5