The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation awards many prestigious trophies throughout the year to various equestrian disciplines. One of the most coveted is the Fritz Cup, which is given to the national champion in show jumping every year. In 2008, the award was given to Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, for her win in the Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Championship presented by Equine Motorcoach.

Veteran rider Margie Engle was the most consistent over the two rounds of competition for victory. She was eighth overall in the $60,000 phase on Sunday with Hidden Creek's Quervo Gold, and combined with her third place in the first leg with Hidden Creek's Pamina L, she ended up with 44 points for the lead over Kirsten Coe and Starlight.

"I was very pleased with Pamina; she hasn't shown in that many big classes. It was her first time showing under the lights, and I've only had her since March. I thought Quervo was solid too," Engle said.

This was Engle's second victory in the National Show Jumping Championship. She won the first time in 1988 with Hidden Creek's Glory. "It was actually kind of a pleasant surprise to win," Engle revealed. "We weren't sure how the points were adding up. I think it's great that the USET Foundation gives the Fritz Trophy. We need to keep our national championship alive and make sure it is prestigious. It should be a goal for show jumpers, like it is in other countries."

Captain John "Jack" H. Fritz, who donated the trophy, has been a leader of the United States Equestrian Team for nearly three decades.

Some of the most well-known names in equestrian sport have had their names etched onto the Fritz Cup trophy for the national championship. The first winner was Michael Matz on Honest Tom, owned by Joy Slater, in 1981. Matz went on to win the trophy another five times on four different horses, sealing his place as the winningest rider in national championship history.

Other multiple winners were Conrad Homfeld, Leslie Howard, Beezie Madden, and McLain Ward. Thirteen Olympians are listed as winners, including Katie Monahan, Chris Kappler, Lisa Jacquin, Tim Grubb, Peter Leone, Margie Engle, Peter Wylde, Laura Kraut and Todd Minikus.

In 1992, the National Show Jumping Championship was first held in Gladstone, NJ, home of the United States Equestrian Team and now the headquarters for the USET Foundation. The event was held in Gladstone for the following 11 years.

For more information on the USET Foundation, please visit www.uset.org.