Lillie Keenan, winner of the 2013 Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Finals presented by Randolph College (©alcookphoto.com)

New Cumberland, Pa.- More than 200 of the most talented junior riders went to task on Sunday in the Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Finals presented by Randolph College. Held during junior week of the 68th Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show, judges Ralph Caristo and Leo Conroy brought 25 riders back for the second round and tested the top six riders to crown the 2013 champion. Lillie Keenan emerged victorious to claim one of the few titles that had eluded her and cap of an unprecedentedly successful weekend.

In the final test, Caristo and Conroy asked for riders to halt after the first fence, jump out of counter-canter, produce numerous changes of lead and effectively trot a jump all while holding their positions without their stirrups.

See Keenan’s work-off ride here; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExTMSu3D3To&feature=player_embedded

Riding Heritage Farm, Inc.’s Clearway, Keenan (New York, N.Y.) was the clear winner on Sunday after demonstrating a great proficiency and style particularly with the lead changes. The victory in the Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Finals presented by Randolph College provided vindication for the 16-year-old who led the Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search Finals East after two phases but was eliminated in the jumping phase when Clearway refused twice.

With her win on Sunday, Keenan, who is trained by Andre Dignelli, closed out a banner weekend that saw her earn the Team Silver and Individual Gold in the 2013 Randolph College/USEF Junior Jumper National Championship in addition to the equitation Nation Title.

Earning Reserve Champions was 2013 Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search Finals East, Michael Hughes (Allendale, N.J.). On Sunday the 2013 Randolph College/USEF Junior Jumper National Championship Team Silver and Individual Bronze medalist who is trained by Missy Clark and John Brennan rode Curtis to second place.

See Hughes’ work-off ride here; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_FjmxccWR8

Finishing in third place was fellow Clark and Brennan trainee Charlotte Jacobs (East Aurora, N.Y.) with Patrick.

See Jacob’s work-off ride here; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcfIdCmSAXI

Lauren Tyree (Chicago, Ill.), Allison Toffolon (Bronxville, N.Y.), Alexandra Maracic (Syosset, N.Y.) rounded out the work-off competitors.

To see video, photos and news from the 68th Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show visit; http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2013PennsylvaniaNationalHorseShow