For Immediate Release:

Contact: Marty Bauman, 508-698-6810, [email protected]

 

 

North American League Riders Rise to the Top in NAL West Coast Finals

at Las Vegas National Horse Show

 

Annville, PA - November 20, 2014 - Qualified riders and horses from across the nation made their way to the Las Vegas National Horse Show to compete in the North American League (NAL) West Coast Finals held at the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, NV, November 15-16.

 

Stephanie Goodson and Poetic, winners of the $5,000 NAL West Coast Adult Hunter Final
(c) Amy McCool

The NAL offers a great opportunity for competitors across the country to compete in five divisions including Adult Jumper Presented by SmartPak; Children's Jumper Presented by EquiFit; Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Presented by UltrOZ; Adult Hunter and Children's Hunter. The NAL qualifying season runs from September 1 through August 31. Anyone can compete in NAL qualifying classes, but only current members are awarded points. Joining the NAL is the best way for riders to get the points necessary to make it to the Finals held at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg and the Las Vegas National Horse Show. Annual memberships are only $40 per rider.

 

The winners of this year's five Finals received an NAL coolerette, a commemorative NAL Finals stall plaque, and gift certificates from SmartPak, EquiFit, and Signature Spurs in addition to a trophy from the Las Vegas National Horse Show. Every rider competing in the NAL Finals received a gift bag with an assortment of gifts from the NAL.

 

"We are delighted that so many competitors took part in NAL West Coast Final at the Las Vegas National Horse Show," said Annette Longenecker of Ryegate Show Services, which administers the North American League. "The NAL Finals are important year-end championships for riders across the nation, and we are thrilled to offer West Coast riders with their own Finals in Las Vegas in addition to our National Finals in Harrisburg."

Hollie Allen and Derby Country, winners of 
the $5,000 NAL West Coast Children's Jumper Final Presented by EquiFit  (c) Amy McCool


 Hollie Allen of Las Vegas, NV, and Derby County, owned by Claire Gallagher, won the $5,000 NAL West Coast Children's Jumper Final Presented by EquiFit, beating 20 other competitors to claim victory in her hometown. Sophie St. Clair of South Pasadena, CA, took second place aboard her own Ottavia Des Hayettes, while Rachel Torok of San Juan Capistrano, CA, took third place with Kristin Hardin's horse Warrick.

 

"On my first horse I was a little slow, so on my second horse I knew I had to turn quicker and earlier," said Allen, who also took fourth place with her own Sharp Dressed Man. "I left out two strides in the last bending line which was a little risky, but I went for it!" she added with a grin.

 

Sara Guren of Boulder, CO, and her own Gold Strike were the big winners in the $5,000 NAL West Coast Adult Jumper Final Presented by SmarkPak, topping a field of 25 starters. Brenna Puckett of Vista, CA, and her own Pikador finished in second place, while Emily Colella of Overland Park, KS, rode Manor Bridge Farm's Filibuster to the third place honors. 

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Sara Guren and Gold Strike, winners of the $5,000 NAL West Coast Adult Jumper Final Presented by SmarkPak (c) Amy McCool

 

"I'm so excited!" said Guren. "My horse is very fast and I just have to keep up with him. I knew I had to make very tight turns so I practiced in the warm-up with my trainers, which I why I think I did so well today."

 
Hannah Von Heidegger and Gucci, winners of the $5,000 NAL West Coast Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Final Presented by UltrOZ (c) Amy McCool

The winner of the $5,000 NAL West Coast Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Final Presented by UltrOZ was Hannah Von Heidegger of Chatsworth, CA, on Cavallo Farms, LLC's Gucci.  She took the win over a field of 23 starters. Kara Sheely of Ramona, CA, and her own Adelante took second place, while Alexandra Ozymy of Coppell, TX, finished third aboard her own MTM Enterprise.

 

"It was a fast jump-off with tight turns and all the competitors were pretty close, but my horse was really great today and we were able to win it," said Von Heidegger.

 

Seventeen starters took part in the $5,000 NAL West Coast Adult Hunter Final, and it was Stephanie Goodson of Beverly Hills, CA, who came out on top, clinching both first and second places aboard her own horses Poetic and Leonetti respectively. Third place went to Clare Grady of Morgan Hill, CA, who rode Deborah Orent's Canadian's Kid.

 

"It was so special to be in Las Vegas, win this class, and have so much fun with both of my horses," said Goodson, who was competing in her third NAL West Coast Finals. "It's such a great opportunity to have a NAL West Coast Finals. I'm so glad we have it!"

Amy Coretz and EAF Wollie, winners of the $5,000 NAL West Coast Children's Hunter Final (c) Amy McCool


 Amy Coretz, of Tulsa, OK, won the $5,000 NAL West Coast Children's Hunter Final aboard Eighteen Acres Farm's EAF Wollie, and also took second place on Eighteen Acres Farm's Sweet Potato Pie. Tommi Lin Stockham of Las Vegas, NV, and Night Cap earned the third place finish.

 

"My horses were awesome!" said a thrilled Coretz. "I couldn't have done it without my parents, my sister, or my trainers. We have a great team!"

 

The NAL would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of the 2014 Finals: SmartPak, EquiFit, UltrOZ, Signature Spurs, The Clothes Horse, Hollis Med LLC, Diane Wade, The Jeanes Family, and Mayer Ranch.

 

For more information regarding the North American League series please call (717) 867-5643, email to [email protected] or visit www.ryegate.com. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NALFinals.