Final Markel/USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships Finishes in the West Region

Thermal, Calif.—Dec. 5, 2023—The final Markel/USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships of the year in the West Region took to the Desert International Horse Park, November 27 to December 1. Zones 8, 9 and 10 vied for the titles under the guidance of Chef d'Equipe Debbi Long of Zone 9 and Georges Bittar, Carlton Brooks, Jeni Brown, Holly Charlebois, Hap Hansen, Kyle King, Sean Leckie, Angel Karolyi and Kyle King of Zone 10. 

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Team Medalists

1.30/1.35m Platinum Jumper

GOLD: Milton
Savannah Jenkins - Casallantum - Zone 10
Calista Yun - Panama - Zone 10
Sarah Cline - Beauwaniki WH - Zone 10 
Lauren Frandson - Golda - Zone 10

SILVER: Cruising
Nicole Haunert - Concolue - Zone 10
Lindsay Stefanko - Carerras HD - Zone 10
Jenny Calandra - Farambole - Zone 10

BRONZE: Stroller
Lilah Nakatani - Mr. Balue BR Z - Zone 10
Julia Greenspan - Essie Starlight - Zone 10
Daniella Sternberg - Qruella - Zone 10

1.40/1.45m Platinum Jumper

GOLD: Touch of Class
Emmaline Adamick - Igelo - Zone 10
Leila Diab - Prada Van D Abdijhoeve - Zone 10
Madison Sanders - Andy's Boy Bretoniere - Zone 10
Cameron Trimino - Firewall - Zone 10

SILVER: Shutterfly
Laura Hazlett - Avianna - Zone 9 
Maddee Morley - Champions Legue - Zone 8
Tali Dejong - Duke of Doel - Zone 8

BRONZE: Rhythmical 
Savannah Jenkins - Comrado - Zone 10
Stacey Bacheller - Jackpot VDM - Zone 10
Danielle Morrow - Mira F - Zone 10
Zacko Hardin - TSH First Edition - Zone 10

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Individual Medalists

1.30/1.35m Platinum Jumper
GOLD: Lauren Frandson - Golda - Zone 10
SILVER: Lilah Nakatani - Mr. Balue BR Z - Zone 10 
BRONZE: Stacey Bacheller - Ketouelle-S - Zone 10		 1.40/1.45m Platinum Jumper
GOLD: Emmeline Adamick - Igelo - Zone 10
SILVER: Madison Sanders - Andy's Boy Bretoniere - Zone 10
BRONZE: Cameron Trimino - Firewall - Zone 10

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Each team and individual earning gold received champion coolers and ribbons. 

The Platinum Jumper Championships are part of the USHJA Emerging Jumper Rider Program, which rewards competitive achievement with education to advance athletes in the sport. The Program serves as the entry point for 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.

The Markel/USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships are the highest level of the USHJA Emerging Jumper Rider Program and are open to qualified juniors, amateurs and professionals competing at 1.30/1.35m and 1.40/1.45m fence heights. All Championship competitors are recognized as USHJA Platinum Jumper Riders and individual medalists are designated as USHJA Show Jumping Platinum Athletes.

Individual medalists and their trainers are also invited to attend one of two Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund/USHJA Gold Star Clinics that are scheduled to take place over January 10-14, 2024, at the Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, California, for the West clinic, and over February 14-18, 2024, at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the East clinic. Each clinic includes four days of mounted and unmounted instruction from Olympic-caliber clinicians and industry professionals.

The USHJA extends special thanks to the team at Desert International Horse Park for hosting these MK_R_GG(CMYK)championships. The USHJA also thanks official sponsors CWD, Nutrena and Parlanti and the title sponsor Markel Insurance.

For more information about the Markel/USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships Program, visit ushja.org/PlatinumJumper.

Photos: High Desert Sport Photo