USHJA Zones 5 and 6 Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships, Presented by SmartPak Set to Begin This Weekend

Crete, Ill.—July 19, 2019—The second USHJA Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships, presented by SmartPak, of 2019 is set to get underway today, Friday, July 19 for Zone 5 and 6 riders. HITS Chicago Series' Showplace Summertime III will host the competition in Crete, Illinois, beginning with the riders meeting on Friday, followed by the jog and team competition on Saturday and individual competition on Sunday.

The USHJA congratulates the following athletes who are competing in the Championships this week: 

Zone 5 Children
•    Olivia Barkell, Plymouth, Mich.
•    Natalie Bertoglio, South Barrington, Ill.
•    Taylor Collins, Oxford, Mich.
•    Sinead Fennelly, Schaumburg, Ill.
•    Lily Forney, Chagrin Falls, Ohio
•    Madison Grider, Prospect, Ky.
•    Carly Haimerl, Powell, Ohio
•    Elizabeth Klein, Simpsonville, Ky.
•    Dayna Pochron, Westland, Mich.
•    Brooke Tegtmeyer, Bartlett, Ill.

Zone 5 Adult Amateurs
•    Ashley Abbruzzi, Novi, Mich.
•    Jessica Bertoglio, South Barrington, Ill.
•    Leea Bridgeman, Prospect, Ky.
•    Jessica Ianello Brosche, Winnetka, Ill.
•    Maeve O'Sullivan, Chicago, Ill.
•    Donna Struve, Lake Bluff, Ill.

Zone 6 Children
•    Jordan Green, Mahtomedi, Minn.
•    Grace Griffin, Medina, Minn.
•    Hannah Reed, Pleasant Valley, Iowa
•    Chloe Rogers, Omaha, Neb.

Zone 6 Adult Amateurs
•    Sharon Golden, Plymouth, Minn.
•    Sierra Osborne, Lincoln, Neb.
•    Lindsay Vail, White Bear Lake, Minn.

Special thanks to Zone 5 Chef d'Equipe Ryan Sassmannshausen and Zone 6 Chef d'Equipe Janine Weatherby who will be leading the teams this year.

The Team Championship on Saturday will have riders competing in three phases: an under saddle and two classic hunter-style courses. Each phase will be placed and awarded individually, and the team with the highest overall score will be crowned Team Champion.

Competition will conclude with the Individual Championship on Sunday. The Individual Championship also consists of three phases, including an under saddle, a classic hunter derby-style course and a handy hunter course. Each phase will be placed and awarded individually, and the Individual Champion will be the horse-and-rider combination with the highest overall score from all three phases.

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, a Charles Owen Helmet, a CWD halter, an Essex Classics show shirt, FITS Riding breeches and a pair of Parlanti paddock boots.

Taking place concurrently this week at Showplace Summertime III is the USHJA Zones 5 & 6 Platinum Jumper Championships and the USHJA Zones 5 & 6 Jumper Team Championships.

For more information on the USHJA Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships, presented by SmartPak, click here.