Medals Awarded at Markel/USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships and Markel/USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships in Mill Spring

Mill Spring, N.C—July 26, 2024—Zones 3, 4, and 7 convened at Tryon International Equestrian Center from July 17-21 for the South Region's Markel/USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships and Markel/USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships. The Jumper competition spanned four height sections with nearly 100 athletes vying for a podium finish.

Zone Jumper Team Medalists

1.10/1.15m Junior Team

GOLD: Royal Kaliber
Keeghan Bevars - Apollo Eleven - Zone 4
Lily Louise Lidsky - Just For You D'Hof-Ten-Bos - Zone 4 
Addison Buckley - Guizmo de Riverland - Zone 4
Ryan Haselden - Isabalia - Zone 4

SILVER: Ilex
Airlie Corder - AC Triple Shot - Zone 3
Madeline Rubin - Colin MR - Zone 3
Vera Britt - Catch Me 53 - Zone 3
Alexander Winslow - Built to Last - Zone 3

BRONZE: Contagious
Emily Skaggs - Kricket - Zone 7
Marleigh Hunt - Iskando - Zone 3
Thomas Thomasson - Fardento - Zone 4
Kate Laborde - Maestro Van de Volkaert - Zone 4

1.10/1.15m Junior Individual

GOLD: Sophie Smith - Houston VK Z - Zone 4
SILVER: Lily Louise Lidsky - Just For You D'Hof-Ten-Bos - Zone 4 
BRONZE: Thomas Thomasson - Fardento - Zone 4

1.10/1.15m Amateur Team

GOLD: Gazelle
Rebecca Forbes Smith - Ferno van de Hermitage - Zone 3 
Madeline Mohn - Caracas - Zone 3
Charlotte Powers - Escot 6 - Zone 3

SILVER: Eddie Blue
Juliet Johansson - El Casper - Zone 4
Anna Payne - Cadoro - Zone 4
Adriene Singleton - Cooley Zoom - Zone 4

BRONZE: Clinta
Melanie Hammer - Flambeur des Forêts - Zone 7
Rachel Gracia - OHF Cordani - Zone 7
Whitney Miller - Proof - Zone 7

1.10/1.15m Amateur Individual

GOLD: Charlotte Powers - Escot 6 - Zone 3
SILVER: Madeline Mohn - Caracas - Zone 3
BRONZE: Melanie Hammer - Flambeur des Forêts - Zone 7

1.20/1.25m Junior Team

GOLD: Clinta
Ava Hartman - Bronson CR - Zone 4
Sadie Remington - Gringo - Zone 4
Lola Bacardi - India-S - Zone 4

SILVER: Zeremonie
Hampton Baker - Alanta - Zone 7
Sloane Burns - C Wellie - Zone 7
Lourdes Frontera - Benedetto - Zone 7
Luna Valobra - Flashback VDS - Zone 7

BRONZE: Baloutinue
Kenzlee Ringo - Toscane de L'Isle - Zone 4
Pilar Ojeda - Jagermeister - Zone 3
Ella Quigley - Continuity - Zone 3

1.20/1.25m Junior Individual

GOLD: Lola Bacardi - India-S - Zone 4
SILVER: Sadie Remington - Gringo - Zone 4
BRONZE: Luna Valobra - Flashback VDS - Zone 7

1.20/1.25m Amateur Team

GOLD: Gem Twist
Madison Jones - Ekyra Fortuna - Zone 4
Hannah Banks - Ghiradelli - Zone 4
Heidi Poinsett - Ollie Go Lightly - Zone 4
Alexis Gallati - Citizen Mezz - Zone 4

SILVER: Shutterfly
Meghan Dinnerman - J Vivian MM - Zone 4
Elizabeth Cram - HF Jett - Zone 4
Amber Lee - Soleil Fleur - Zone 4
Isabella Sparks - Dominator - Zone 4

BRONZE: Canturo
Sophia Bruny - Halifax Van de Conynenberg - Zone 4
Samantha Reynoso - Diamond B Corsica - Zone 7
Courtney Bohart - Revelation - Zone 3

1.20/1.25m Amateur Individual

GOLD: Alexis Gallati - Citizen Mezz - Zone 4 
SILVER: Elizabeth Cram - HF Jett - Zone 4
BRONZE: Alexandra Kuhn - Arisca 5 - Zone 4

"This is the third year I’ve done the Championship, but it's my first gold medal, and it feels great to have contributed to my team’s win," exclaimed Heidi Poinsett, 1.20/1.25m Amateur Team Gold medalist. "On the one hand, being on a team adds more pressure because you don’t want to let your teammates down, but on the other hand, it’s so much more fun than a regular show because there are so many people rooting for you."   

A special thanks goes to the Chefs d'Equipe who oversaw the competition: Delaney Williams, Kim Cox, and Sandra Ruiz

Platinum Jumper Medalists

1.30/1.35m Team

GOLD: Hickstead
Rebecca Buchanan - Chazino - Zone 7
Gabriella Curry - New York's Joy - Zone 4
Jami Jensen - Aksai Chin VDL - Zone 4
Lindsay Haselden - Cruise Mor - Zone 4

SILVER: Stroller
Jesse Smith - Nadav - Zone 3
Ella Quigley - Bellendorfs Detroits Thunder - Zone 3
Kama Godek - Lady Stakkata - Zone 3
Doug Payne - Big Kahuna - Zone 3

BRONZE: Idle Dice
Alexa Curry - Quentin K - Zone 4
Jordan Gilchrist - Nicolosi - Zone 7
Victoria Fazio - Camaro - Zone 4
Gianna Ayock - Con Sorpresa H - Zone 7

1.30/1.35m Individual

GOLD: Gabriella Curry - New York's Joy - Zone 4 
SILVER: Kama Godek - Lady Stakkata - Zone 3
BRONZE: Alexa Curry - Quentin K - Zone 4

1.40/1.45m Team

GOLD: Foxhunter
Doug Payne - Chaccolate RFB - Zone 3
Amy Krebs - Ike - Zone 4
Megan Wexler - Chronicle 4 - Zone 4
Adam Sklansky - Emerald's Double Down - Zone 4

SILVER: Cristalline
Tanner Korotkin - Qastaar Van't Heike - Zone 4
Rachel Lindsey - Cokidoo - Zone 7
Brandon Howard - HF Andiamo - Zone 7
Nicolas Gamboa - NKH Skydancer - Zone 7

BRONZE: Hauso
Kristen Vanderveen - Bull Run's Ruah - Zone 4
Faith Davis - Carmit T - Zone 4
Isabella Harding - GRS Conta Blue - Zone 4

1.40/1.45m Individual

GOLD: Nicolas Gamboa - NKH Skydancer - Zone 7
SILVER: Amy Krebs - Ike - Zone 4
BRONZE: Kristen Vanderveen - Bull Run's Ruah - Zone 4

"The Championships are a great format, and it's nice that Junior, Amateurs, and Professionals can compete on a team together. As a Professional, it's good to have an opportunity to compete with a little extra pressure," said Nicholas Gamboa, 1.40/1.45 Individual Gold medalist.

The Zone Jumper Team Championships and 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 Zone Jumper Team Championships provide 1.10/1.15m and 1.20/1.25m Junior and Amateur competitors both team and individual competition. All competitors are recognized as USHJA Emerging Jumper Riders and individual medalists are recognized as Gold Star Emerging Jumper Riders.

"Winning gold feels incredible," remarked 1.30/1.35m Team Gold Medalist Lindsay Haselden. "It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication our team has invested and a significant milestone that I hope inspires my clients."

The Markel/USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships 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 Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund/USHJA Gold Star Clinic of their choice over the following two years. Each clinic includes four days of mounted and unmounted instruction from Olympic-caliber clinicians and industry professionals.

Competition continues for the West Region with the Zone Jumper Team Championships for Zones 8, 9, and 10 at the Temecula Valley National Horse Show in Temecula, California, on October 16-20, while Platinum Jumper competitors will show at the Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, California, on October 31-November 3.

The USHJA extends special thanks to the team at Tryon International Equestrian Center for hosting these Championships. The USHJA also thanks official sponsors CWD, Nutrena, and Parlanti and title sponsor Markel Insurance.

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

Photos: Natalie Suto Photography