Annville, PA— In the competition for top positions and places in the regular season of the 2010-2011 North American League (NAL), six top riders emerged as division winners.
The NAL runs season-long series in six hunter-jumper divisions — Adult Hunter, presented by Practical Horseman, Children’s Hunter, Adult Jumper, Children’s Jumper, Pony Jumper and the Low Junior/ Amateur-Owner Jumper.
The NAL qualifying period started September 1, 2010 and ended August 31, 2011. While riders did not need to be members of the NAL to compete in any qualifying classes, only current members earned points toward year-end finals at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA, October 13-22 and the West Coast Finals at the Las Vegas National Horse Show in Las Vegas, NV.
The NAL Finals are among the most popular year-end championships in the country for hunter and jumper riders. This year the West Coast Finals was added to the show series and will take place during the Las Vegas National Horse Show at the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV, in November. The West Coast Finals feature competitions in five divisions: Children’s Hunter, Adult Hunter, Children’s Jumper, Adult Jumper, and Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper.
In the NAL Adult Hunter division, presented by Practical Horseman, Charlene Graham of Fairpoint, NY, and Soft Spoken won with 4,118 points. In second place with 3070 points, was Mindy Wurzburg of Memphis, TN, riding Overseas. Finishing third was Cheryl Rubenstein of Bellaire, TX and Casino with 3,070 points.
With 4,207 points, Katie Ramsey, of Mt. Juliet, TN, and Donatowon the Children’s Hunter division. Kathryn Maginnis, of Centreville, VA, finished second aboard Fargo with 4,074 points. Sydney Wilder, aboard Zivago, from Chevy Chase, MD, rounded out the top three with 3,632 points.
Alissa Kinsey of Danville NH, rode Grisset to win Adult Jumper division with 8,633 points. Following in second place with 3,900 points was Kaley Pratt of Gainsville, FL aboard Shane. Kinsey also placed third with 3,718 points with Caretina.
Topping the Children’s Jumper division standings were Kady Abrahamson of Loveland, OH, and Chalvino Z, who had 3,535 points. Christopher Johnson of Carmel, IN, and Carmelita followed with 2,943 points. Rounding out the top three was Nina Montross of Bedford Hills, NY, with 2,940 points riding Nerazzurro.
In the Pony Jumper division, Elizabeth Shaffer, of Layton, NJ, claimed both the first and second place positions. She clinched the division with 658 points aboard Styled with Perfection, and finished second with Proven Theory, 619.5 points. In third was Dagney MacTaggart of Old Greenwich, CT with 554 points ridingIceman.
In the Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper division, Kelsey Thatcher of Bluffdale, UT, finished in first with 4,866 points aboard Klotaire Du Moulin. In second with 3,942 points was Kenzie Donovan of River Hills, WI, and Volarnah. Rounding out the top three was Teri Kessler of Armonk, NY, with Swiss Franc with 3,834 points.
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For more information regarding the NAL series, including series specifications, current standings and a list of upcoming events, please call (717) 867-5643, email to NAL@Ryegate.com or visit www.ryegate.com.
