Some content provided by Heidi Hill

Harrisburg, PA— In Friday night’s Adequan/USEF National Junior Jumper Team Championship – Prix des States at the Pennsylvania Horse Show, the Gold Medal and Frances Newbill Rowe perpetual trophy went to Zone 4 (AL, FL, GA, MS, SC, TN), which includes Taylor Land and Canielle, Anne Marie Walker and Radio Flyer, Reed Kessler and Flight and Juliana Fischer and Lola. Of 30 horses, only three went clean in the first round including all of Zone 4.

The competition used a modified Nation’s Cup format, which included two rounds in the team competition. Zone 4 led going into the second round and finished the competition with a total of four faults.

“My horse, Lola, was a little anxious at first,” Juliana Fisher, 16, of Lake Worth, Fl, said, from within an embrace of happy teammates. “I went into the second round just wanting to improve.” And, improve she did by going clear.

The second round saw 10 clean trips. Three of these came from Zone 10 (CZ, NV) moving them to a close second as Ann Marie Walker, from Mobile, AL, faltered with Radio Flyer with two rails and two time penalties.

“My horse was perfect in the first round,” said 17-year-old Walker. “But she can be a little fickle and maybe a bit tired.”

It was up to 14-year-old Reed Kessler of Wellington, FL and Taylor Land of Alpharetta, GA. This is Reed’s first year jumping at this level and she was surprised she qualified. She was glad to be riding on the same team with her best friend, Taylor. Reed had a rail in the second round after her clean first trip. Pressure shifted to Taylor, 16, riding anchor for her team and the final rider to compete.

“Canaille was an angel,” said Kessler. “I’ve ridden him for two years and have complete confidence in him. He did so well in the first round, I just figured we’d go in the ring and do it again. And, we did!”

This is only the third time in 30 years of Prix de States Jr. Jumper competition that the South, Zone 4, has won. The first time was 27 years ago when both Taylor Land’s parents, Kim Kratish and Jay Land rode.

“They were not even dating at the time,” said former Zone 4 Chef d’Equip trainer Missy Clark. “Isn’t that a great story?!”

Second place went to California’s Zone 10 (CA, NV), the 2007 winning team. This year the team was Sophie Benjamin of Rancho Santa Fe; Saer Coulter of San Francisco; Carle Cook of Woodside and Mavis Spencer of Santa Monica. Their final score was 12 faults.

Zone 2 (NJ, NY, PA) finished third and took the bronze medal with a total of 20 faults. Riding for Zone 2 were Clementine Goutal from New York City; Julie Lourie of New York; Kimberly McCormack and Chelsea Moss of New Jersey.

Also determined on Friday was the William C. Steinkraus Style Award, which was donated and presented by Karen Healey of Westlake Village, CA. Winning the Style Award was Mavis Spencer of Santa Monica, CA. Mavis and Winea Van’t Vennehof also won the Welcome class of the Adequan/USEF National Junior Jumper Championships on Thursday night and received the Helvetia perpetual trophy. The judges who decided this year’s style award winner were Frank and Mary Chapot.


Saturday night’s Adequan/USEF National Junior Jumper Individual Championship

The following evening, the final phase of the 2008 Adequan/USEF National Junior Jumper Individual Championship was completed. This individual championship was a three phase competition with the top 60% of the competitors from Thursday night’s Welcome class and Friday night’s team championship returning for the third and final phase.

Winning the Gold Medal was Taylor Land, of Alpharetta, GA, aboard Canielle with 2.07 in total penalties. Land received the AHSA National Show Jumping Championship perpetual trophy. Taking the silver medal was Mavis Spencer, of Santa Monica, CA, riding Winea Van't Vennehof with a total of 4 penalties. The bronze medal went to Clementine Goutal, of New York, NY, riding Kelline Fonroy with 4.91 penalties.