Kelly Champion of Washington, NJ rode her horse All In to victory in the $10,000 North American League (NAL) Adult Hunter Finals at the 66th annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show.    

The win was bittersweet for Champion, who was on tap to show at the Capital Challenge two weeks ago, but was unable to compete because her husband, Tony, suddenly fell ill and was rushed to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  He is recuperating nicely so he urged Champion to show at Harrisburg despite her protests. 

“When I was at the Capital Challenge Horse Show my husband told me to go back and show and I said, ‘No way!’  He made me come here because I wasn’t going to show,” said Champion.  “This is definitely a special win.  I can’t wait to tell my husband.  He is going to be so excited.  He is going to be so happy.”

Champion scored the highest of the 29 qualifiers in the first round with 88.00 points.  The top 12 returned to try their hand at the Blake Alder designed course, which Champions’ trainer of 25 years, Robert Beck, declared as a classic hunter course.

“It was a challenging course that separated the riders in the final round,” said Beck   “You needed a little bit of handier horse, but it was a true classic hunter course.”

Champion earned an 85.00 in the second round giving her the winning score of 173.00.  

Kelly purchased “Hank” as she affectionately calls him in September of 2010.  The eight-year-old gelding is the first horse she has owned in a long time and she could not be more pleased with his performance today.  Champion won the NAL Adult Hunter Finals in 2000 on her mount Copperfield.