USHJA Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships Kick Off for the 2018 Competition Year

Held by zone in 2018, the first Championships begin today in Conyers, Ga.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lexington, Ky.  – June 21, 2018 –  The 2018 USHJA Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships, presented by SmartPak, kick off today at Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, Georgia, with Zones 3 and 4 participating.

The 2018 USHJA Zones 3 & 4 Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships are hosted by Classic Company's Atlanta Summer Classic II at the Georgia International Horse Park. Credit: Megan Lacy/USHJA 

The Championships feature both team and individual competition, providing riders with a unique competitive team experience as well as an opportunity to earn Zone Horse of the Year championship ponts in their respective Children's or Adult Amateur Hunter section. The USHJA congratulates the following Championships competitors:

Zone 3 Adult Amateurs
Shannon Casey, Marshall, Va.
Shelby Edson, Chevy Chase, Md.
Sable Fetty, Pylesville, Md.
Morgan Geelhaar, Eldersburg, Md.
Coleman Murray, Greensboro, N.C.
Susan Reynolds, Advance, N.C.

 

Zone 4 Adult Amateurs
Ali Barros, Eads, Tenn.
Addison Bihm, Germantown, Tenn.
Heather Conder, Camden, S.C.
Katherine Gayon, Bluffton, S.C.
Rachel Griffin, Brandon, Fla.
Lucy Heaton, Clarksdale, Miss.
Lindsey Irvin, Woodstock, Ga.
Debi Peloso, Greenville, Fla.
Kelly Thumel Frohsin, Atlanta, Ga.
Stacey Vertullo, Tampa, Fla.
Margaret Weaver, Hickory Valley, Tenn.
Diane Welter, Clearwater Beach, Fla.
Emily Yoder, Boca Raton, Fla.

Zone 3 Children
Charlotte Andersen, Germantown, Md.
Ellison Beaver, High Point, N.C.
Sophie Blondel, Rockville, Md.
Madelyn Jadick, Wilmington, N.C.
Elizabeth Ragsdale, Jamestown, N.C.

 

Zone 4 Children
Mia Bakotic, Alpharetta, Ga.
Madeline Jordan, Tallahassee, Fla.
Isabella Lafferty, Cumming, Ga.
Madison Ramsey, Palm Harbor, Fla.
Lucy Thornhill, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

 

Special thanks to Chefs d'Equipe Deloise Noble-Strong (Zone 3), Kat DeMas Mulkey (Zone 4) and Amy Center (Zone 4) for leading the teams.

The Championships begin today, June 21, with a riders meeting and the official jog. The first day of competition, Friday, June 22, is the team competition and riders will compete in three phases: an under saddle, and two classic hunter style courses. The team with the highest overall score is Team Champion. The second day of competition, Saturday, June 23, is open only to horse and rider combinations ranked 40th or above from the team competition, as well as any alternates who did not compete in the team phase. The individual competition also consists of three phases, including an under saddle, a classic hunter derby style course and a handy hunter course. The horse-and-rider combination with the highest overall score from all three phases of the second day of competition will be crowned Individual Champion.

In addition to competing for the Championship title in their sections, riders will take home great prizes. All riders will receive polo shirts and tote bags from the Championships presenting sponsor  SmartPak. Medals and ribbons are awarded to the top three teams, and the Individual Championships are pinned through 8th place. The Team Champions in either section will also receive an embroidered cooler, and Individual Champions will receive an embroidered cooler, Charles Owen Helmet, CWD halter, Professional's Choice Pro Performance Schooling Boots, Essex Classics Riding Shirt, FITS Riding breeches and a pair of Parlanti paddock boots.

The Championships format changed from regions to zones this year, similar to the format for the USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships. The Zones 3 & 4 Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships are the first to be held of the 2018 competition year, followed by the Zones 7 & 8 Championships, June 27-July 1, at the Colorado Horse Park Summer in the Rockies IV in Parker, Colo. For a complete list of Championship dates and for more information on the USHJA Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships, presented by SmartPak, visit ushja.org/ChAAHunter.

Media Contact:
Megan Lacy
mlacy@ushja.org
(859) 225-6723