Markel/USHJA Zone 3,4, & 7 Platinum and Team Jumper Championships:
Team Constantine Achieved Top Spot on the Podium in the USHJA 1.40/1.45m Platinum Jumper Champ Team Final
Team Artemis of Zone 3 Jump to Victory in USHJA 1.30/1.35m Platinum Jumper Champ Team Final
USHJA 1.20/1.25m Amateur Zone Champs Team Final Winners: Team Big Star
Team Authentic of Zone 4 Triumph in USHJA 1.20/1.25m Junior Zone Champs Team Final
Zone 4 Team Snowman Take the Gold in the USHJA Adult Amateur Zone Champs Team Final
Canter Crusaders Named Top Team in USHJA Children's Zone Champs Team Final
Juliette Johansson and TH Magic Win the USHJA Adult Amateur Zone Champs Individual Final
Mimi Collette Frei Rides Emir to Gold in the USHJA Children's Zone Champs Individual Final
Kama Michelle Godek and Lady Stakkata Claim Victory in the USHJA Platinum Jumper Champ Individual Final
July 21, 2023 - Earning gold in the USHJA 1.40/1.45m Platinum Jumper Champ Team Final was Team Constantine which consisted of Leah Curtiss (Mobile, AL) riding Fortuna from Zone 7, Natalee Haggan (Copper Hill Cir, TX) aboard MTM Hyperion Z from Zone 7, and Kacy Smith (Ashburn, VA) with Chicago M from Zone 3. Receiving silver was Team Augustus from Zone 3 who consisted of John Angus (Mooresboro, NC) riding Dominator, Kama Godek (Fairfax Station, VA) aboard Conny 409, and Addison Reed (Mechanicsville, VA) with Goliath. Rounding out the podium was Team Tiberius with Trinity Beitler (Boca Raton, FL) riding Cruemmel 3 from Zone 4, Abby Grabowski (Midland, VA) aboard Quantum Trost 3 from Zone 3, and Ansley Wright (Manalapan, FL) with Diamanto JT Z from Zone 4.
Team Constantine
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Team Artemis of Zone 3 Jump to Victory in USHJA 1.30/1.35m Platinum Jumper Champ Team Final
July 21, 2023 – Team Artemis, representing Zone 3, secured gold in Friday’s 1.30/1.35m Platinum Jumper Championship Team Final. Addison Reed (Mechanicsville, VA) was aboard Doc Di Villigana, owned by Reed Training & Sales LLC. Riley McKesson (Wellington, FL) rode her own 007 Van't Hagenhof. Jesse Smith (Wellington, FL) partnered with her horse, Falive T.
Zone 3 Team Artemis
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Kama Godek (Fairfax Station, VA) and her own Lady Stakkata rounded out Team Artemis. Team Hermes, made up of Aidan Smith-Fullerton, Mickenzie Casper, Cullen Drescher Speckhart, and Sulu Rose-Reed earned silver in the Platinum Jumper Championship. Earning Bronze was Team Apollo, with team members Jen Hauser, Hugh Turner, John Angus, and Grace Lyons.
Addison Reed of the winning team spoke highly of her Zone championship mount, Doc Di Villigana. “He's a fairly new partner of mine. He's a really good horse – he goes out and tries really hard,” she expressed. “It was a pretty consistent round today. I ended up with a time fault, but I was overall very pleased with my horse and my riding!”
Addison Reed and Doc Di Villigana
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
007 Van't Hagenhof and Riley McKesson had a successful day, despite a few setbacks in the final round. “This is his first Zones, and my first Zones with him,” McKesson shared. “He has such a big heart, and he's amazing. We had a few rails, but I was really happy with our rounds today and yesterday.”
Riley McKesson and 007 Van't Hagenhof
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Returning Zones competitor Jesse Smith admitted to some rider errors, but gave plenty of credit to her teammates. “Thankfully, the rest of my team carried me! It's always a really fun experience here. This is my third Platinum Championship. I love to come here, especially with teammates from Zone 3,” she concluded.
Jesse Smith and Falive T
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Kama Godek aboard Lady Stakkata was selected to represent Team Artemis in the jump off. “With a horse like Lady, she gives me a lot of confidence because she's just naturally quick. I just always have to think about making a nice tidy track, and she's quick enough across the ground, so I felt pretty confident,” Godek detailed. “I was glad that they chose me to be the jump off rider because I have confidence in the horse!”
Kama Godek and Lady Stakkata
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
USHJA 1.20/1.25m Amateur Zone Champs Team Final Winners: Team Big Star
July 21, 2023 – In the 1.20/1.25m Amateur Zone Championships Team Final, Zone 3’s Team Big Star rode to victory. The champion team was made up of Cullen Drescher Speckart (Virginia, VA) partnered with Speckhart Sporthorse LLC’s Oscars Afterparty, Juliette Landis (Daniels, WV) aboard her own Shiraz, and Jesse Smith (Wellington, FL) with her own Nadav.
Zone 3 Team Big Star
©Natalie Suto Photography
Team Authentic of Zone 4 Triumph in USHJA 1.20/1.25m Junior Zone Champs Team Final
July 21, 2023 – Fast and clean riding earned Team Authentic the win in the USHJA 1.20/1.25m Junior Zone Championships Team Final. McKenzie Welch (Lakeland, TN) with Leisker and Veronica Feeley (Canton, GA) aboard Cascal E both jumped clear rounds with the two fastest times in the final round. Zoe Elizabeth Mielenz (Collierville, TN), riding Jason Berry’s Oley, and Grace Rabb (Fort Mill, SC), with her family’s horse Jakino, completed Team Authentic’s roster, also recording speedy rides to help secure the win. Team Gem Twist of Zone 3 took the silver medal, with members Pilar Ojeda, Margaret Frank, Ella Quigley, and Riley McKesson making up the roster. The bronze medal team Flexible was composed of members Frankie Nicklaus, Lois Cooper, Ava Hartman, and Molly Segars.
Zone 4 Team Triumph in their Presentation Ceremony
©Natalie Suto Photography
Zone 4 Team Snowman Take the Gold in the USHJA Adult Amateur Zone Champs Team Final
July 21, 2023 - There were 23 entries from Zones 3 and 4 in Friday’s USHJA 1.10/1.15m Adult Amateur Zone Champs Team Final. Team Snowman from Zone 4 consisted of Angelica Cuprill riding Jill Z S.A, Amber Lee with partner Soleil Fleur, and Charlotte Simons aboard Mulhalls Sunrise. This unique team actually met for the first time while all standing on the podium together!
Zone 4 Team Snowman in their presentation ceremony
©Natalie Suto Photography
Amber Lee (Aiken, SC) described her 2014 Westphalian mare Soleil Fleur (Prado x Ablesse) “She’s a little pocket rocket. She’s only 15.2 hands, but she can jump the moon!” Alongside her teammate Charlotte Simons, they shared that this was both their first team experience.
Amber Lee and Soleil Fleur
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Charlotte Simons (Sandy Springs, GA) was the anchor rider for team Snowman aboard her 2014 Irish Sport Horse gelding Mulhalls Sunrise (Cobra x Mulhalls Fox Trott). Simons explained, “The second day was really low pressure because they had announced we had already secured gold. It was minimal pressure and I just wanted to focus on him [Cobra] having a really good experience because he is only nine.” Simons imported Cobra from Ireland herself when he was seven years old, she detailed, “It was both my horse and my first time in the stadium, so we just wanted to end on a good note and we did!”
Charlotte Simons and Mulhalls Sunrise
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Angelica Cuprill (PRI) rode her 2014 Dutch Warmblood mare Jill Z S.A (Bugatti VDL X W.Amelusina 11) through a double clear in the team round one and team final. Cuprill was unable to make it to the interview, but her teammates Lee and Simons commented, “She’s from Puerto Rico originally and she lives in Guyton, Georgia. She rides really well!”
Lee and Simons concluded by sharing their Tryon experiences, Lee shared “I love how they are horse friendly about everything and it is only a two and a half hour commute for me!” Simons added, “I have come to Tryon a handful of times and it is one of my favorite places to show because it is very rider and spectator friendly.”
Angelica Cuprill and Jill Z S.A
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Kama Michelle Godek and Lady Stakkata Claim Victory in the USHJA Platinum Jumper Champ - Individual Final
July 23, 2023 - Wrapping up a busy week filled with USHJA events, the USHJA Platinum Jumper Champ Individual Final had 13 entries. Kama Michelle Godek (USA) and her own 2015 Holsteiner mare Lady Stakkata (Stakkato x Lady Levisto 2) were the only pair to have a double clear round. Earning reserve honors with a clear preliminary round and four faults in the jump off was Gianna Aycock (USA) and Dalman Show Jumping’s 2011 Oldenburg mare Con Sorpresah H (Contempo x Pinon Isadora). Sulu Rose-Reed (USA) and Rich Girl (N’Oubliez Jamais x Stutbuch 1 Ricura) the 2013 Oldenburg mare owned by Reed Training and Sales LLC received third place with four faults and a time of 54.951 seconds in the preliminary round.
Kama Michelle Godek and Lady Stakkata
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the USHJA Platinum Jumper Champ - Individual Final, click here.
Canter Crusaders Named Top Team in USHJA Children's Zone Champs Team Final
July 21, 2023 – Made up of riders from Zones 3 and 4, the Canter Crusaders battled for the top podium spot in the Children's Zone Championships Team Final. Canter Crusaders teammates Lucas Anderson, Alexander Winslow, Hannah Randolph, and Lydia Jordan bested a large field of teams to be crowned the winning team. Team Thundering Hooves made up of Katherine Leonard, Bailey Petronis, Kenslee Ringo, and Hannah Banks took second place in the team final. Placing third was Hoofbeats United, with Alex Lorinc, Mimi Colette Frei, and Claire Williams on the team roster.
Canter Crusaders from Zones 3 and 4
©Natalie Suto Photography
The Canter Crusaders’ Lucas Anderson (Mechanicsville, VA) rode Gray Horse Farm’s Dyami in the team championship round. Anderson expressed how much he enjoyed his initial Zones experience. “This year was [Dyami’s] first ever Zones, and this was also my first ever Zones. It was a really great experience! I loved the team effort and the team support,” he shared. “The guidance while walking the courses was great, and I really enjoyed it. I will definitely be looking forward to next year.”
Lucas Anderson and Dyami
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Alexander Winslow (Raleigh, NC) was aboard his own horse, Built To Last. “It was a good round! It was a hard course, with a really short TA, but my teammates did really well,” Winslow said of his team championship ride. “It’s been really fun, I love Tryon!”
Alexander Winslow and Built To Last
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
The Canter Crusaders had speed on their side thanks to Hannah Randolph’s (West Palm Beach, FL) performance. With her equine partner Chica L'amaurial, Randolph recorded the fastest round of the team championship, marking a time of 69.02 seconds. “We were just trying to go clean, and be tight through the corners to stay within the time allowed,” Randolph explained. “It worked out really well!”
Hannah Randolph and Chica L'amaurial
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Lydia Jordan (Keswick, VA) kept all the jumps up to secure her team the gold. Accruing only one time fault, Jordan and Calista Miller’s C'est Bon Cidane were the anchor pair for the Canter Crusaders. “My only goal today was to go fast and clear, because I'm not that great at the fast parts, but we got it done!” Jordan shared.
“Going into it, I knew we ended yesterday with zero [faults],” Jordan detailed. “I was really nervous. I didn't want to crack under the pressure, so I really wanted to get it done.”
Juliette Johansson and TH Magic Win the USHJA Adult Amateur Zone Champs - Individual Final
July 22, 2023 - After a busy week of individual and team rounds, Juliet Johansson (Fort Lauderdale, FL) and her partner TH Magic (Akiem x Aguas Dulces Marcella) the 2005 Warmblood gelding earned the gold medal in the USHJA Adult Amatuer Zone Champs Individual Final. Earning silver was Charlotte Powers (Leesburg, VA) and her own 2006 Hanoverian gedling Escot 6 (Escudo I x Leca). Rounding out the female dominated podium was the 2014 Westphalian mare Soleil Fleur (Prado x Ablesse) ridden and owned by Amber Lee (Aiken, SC).
Juliet Johansson and TH Magic
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Johansson competed in last year’s USHJA Zone’s competition and loved the experience, “It was one of the toughest courses and it taught me so much, so I told myself I would come back and see if I can improve in the rankings” she shared. As the last rider in round one the pressure was on to go clear and win the gold, but with one rail down it was off to the jump off, Johansson elaborated, “I was happy with the ride, rails fall and what a more fun way to end then in a jump off!”
Charlotte Powers and Escot 6
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
This team has been loving this year’s Tryon experience, she shared “There are so many things to do whether it’s on the show grounds, restaurants, we have even gone tubing and ziplining!” Johansson included a shoutout to a few team members, “Sammy Phelps was here with me all week, Amy Foster is my trainer and has been great, my chef, Megan was awesome,” she concluded with a thank you to the event sponsor, “I really appreciate Markel sponsoring this opportunity for us at this level.”
Amber Lee and Soleil Fleur
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the USHJA Adult Amatuer Zone Champs Individual Final, click here.
Mimi Collette Frei Rides Emir to Gold in the USHJA Children's Zone Champs Individual Final
July 22, 2023 - With 15 entries and no clear first rounds the USHJA Children's Zone Champs Individual Final concluded with a jump off. Mimi Colette Frei (Birmingham, AL) rode Bailey Petty’s 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding Emir (Diamant De Semilly x Mon Amie) with one time fault in round one and a clear jump off. Cierra Case (Middleburg, VA) aboard her own 2011 KWPN mare Generosa MK (Mylord Carthago*HN x Parcival H) earned silver with 38.021 seconds in the jump off. The bronze medal was awarded to Luna Valobra (Metairie, LA) and Flashback VDS (Diarado x Bereusa S) the 2010 Dutch Warmblood mare with a 40.774 second jump off.
Mimi Colette Frei and Emir
©Natalie Suto Photography
A bittersweet moment for Mimi Colette as this was her last horse show and her last time riding Emir as she heads off to college in the Fall. She explained, “We leased him for a year so I honestly could try out the jumpers and it ended up being my favorite event I've ever done! I am super grateful for him.”
This was Colette’s first Zone’s competition and she had seen her friends compete in the competition in previous years, she elaborated “This was my first time doing something like this, so all the team events were super exciting!”
Cierra Case and Generosa MK
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Adding this moment was a highlight to her Tryon experience and she shared, “This is my favorite horse show by far and we come here every year. Every summer we do two weeks here, my friends and I stay in one of the cabins and we look forward to it and talk about it all year!” Colette concluded, “Thank you Fox Lake, Jen Hauser, Alison Black, Julie Curtin, Emma and Gary, and all the guys for getting me here.”
Luna Valobra and Flashback VDS
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the USHJA Children's Zone Champs Individual Final, click here.