USHJA Zones 1 & 2 Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships begin tomorrow in New York

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Saugerties, N.Y. --- --Aug. 30, 2018 --- - The 2018 USHJA Zones 1 & 2 Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships, presented by SmartPak, are set to kick off tomorrow at HITS on the Hudson VII in Saugerties, New York.

The Championships feature two days of team and individual competition and provide riders with a unique competitive team experience as well as an opportunity to earn Zone Horse of the Year championship points in their respective Children's or Adult Amateur Hunter section. The USHJA congratulates the Zones 1 & 2 Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships competitors:

Zone 1 Adult Amateurs
  • Nancy Ballou, Harrisville, R.I.
Zone 2 Adult Amateurs
  • Alexandra Beyrer, Setauket, N.Y.
  • Hayley Fedele, Rochester, N.Y.
  • Mercy Paine, New York, N.Y.
  • Samantha Romano, Mount Sinai, N.Y.
  • Maya Schneider, Brighton, N.Y.
  • Emily Weis, Geneseo, N.Y.
Zone 1 Children
  • Campbell L. Hudkins, Farmington, Conn.
  • Zoe Santilli, West Hartford, Conn.
  • Caroline Saunders, Greenwich, Conn.
Zone 2 Children
  • Giordana Daniels, Jericho, N.Y.
  • Ava Girdusky, Northport, N.Y.
  • Kaili Gore, Fleetwood, Pa.
  • Morgan Munz, Califon, N.J.
  • Allison Palmisciano, Pelham, N.Y.
  • Mia Poppinga, New York, N.Y.
  • Madelyn Sano, Clifton Park, N.Y.
  • Daphne Smith, Fleetwood, Pa.
  • Brynn Topolski, Charlton, N.Y.
Special thanks to Chef d'Equipe James Benedetto, who will lead teams at the Championships.

The Championships will begin tomorrow, Friday, August 31, with the Official Jog at noon, followed by a riders meeting and exhibitor party. 

Team competition will be held on Saturday, September 1, 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, Sunday, September 2, 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 Hunter Championships format changed from regions to zones this year, similar to the format for the USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships. The Zones 1 & 2 Championships are the fourth of five Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships to be held in the 2018 competition year. 

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 Qualifying is still open for Zones 9 and 10.
 
About SmartPak
Presenting sponsor of the Championships SmartPak Equine was founded by riders and horse owners for riders and horse owners in 1999 with the purpose of simplifying the administration of nutritional supplements to horses. Their patented SmartPakā„¢ supplement feeding system has been adopted by thousands of barns and horse owners across the country, who value knowing that their supplements will be fed correctly. In addition to the SmartPak supplement system, they offer a broad line of horse health, show apparel, tack, and canine supplies sold online and through their catalogs. More information is available at   www.smartpakequine.com

Media Contact:
Megan Lacy
(859) 225-6723

United States Hunter Jumper Association
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