Not one, not two, but three USEF eventing championships were contested from October 19-22 at the prestigious Fair Hill Festival in the Country in Elkton, MD. Each year, Fair Hill hosts the USEF CCI*** championship – one of two three-star competitions in the country. In addition to the three-star, the USEF National Owner/Rider and the USEF National Under 25 eventing championships were also contested.

Two of the championships were awarded off of the same ride – the three-star and the owner/rider championships. Horses and riders take to the course once, but are eligible for both honors.

Gina Miles of Creston, CA, took two of the championships titles aboard McKinlaigh (a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse chestnut gelding co-owned with Thomas Schulz and Laura Coats). In the three-star championship, she bested Jan Byyny and Waterfront (11-year-old dark chestnut Thoroughbred co-owned by Jo Ellen and Richard Byyny) for the title on a score of 55.6, over Byyny’s 56.4.

In the owner/rider championship, Miles finished ahead of Byyny once again, who took the reserve title.

Up until the last test – show jumping – it looked as if there might have been another winner altogether. Florida’s Jonathan Holling and Lion King II had held the lead after cross-country (they were in second after dressage). It was in the show jumping ring that Holling, who had a rail in-hand, seemed to come up against an unfortunate round. Three rails downed left him out of top-spot contention. Ultimately, Holling finished in seventh place.

In the dressage phase, Miles stood at fifth on a score of 54.8 compared to Byyny’s 52.4. It was truly a cross-country competition as both Miles and Byyny held nothing back. Miles added 0.8 time penalties to her score to head into show jumping on her 55.6. Byyny added four time faults to go into the final day on 56.4.

Both riders went clean and clear through the show jumping round, but it was Miles’ score that brought her the victory in both competitions.

The 2006 USEF National Under 25 Eventing Championships were also held over the weekend. This award is open to competitors from the beginning of the calendar year in which they reach the age of 22 until the end of the calendar year in which they reach the age of 24.

This year’s title was awarded to 22-year-old Tara Ziegler of Lincoln University, PA, aboard Buckingham Place, an 11-year-old bay Thoroughbred gelding.

ENDS~~~For more information, please contact Maria Partlow, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications, at (859) 225-6941, or via e-mail at [email protected].