![George Williams and Don Bailey will return to Traverse City to compete at the Dressage by the Bay Fa (Photo © 2010 Diana Hadsall)](/images/articles/870/6096.jpg)
George Williams and Don Bailey will return to Traverse City to compete at the Dressage by the Bay Fa (Photo © 2010 Diana Hadsall)
The competition will be held September 9-12, 2010, at Flintfields Horse Park in beautiful Traverse City, MI. Coming to Traverse City for the first time this year, the Dressage by the Bay Fall Classic and Region 2 Championships will feature some of the country's top horses and riders competing at their finest in the beautiful discipline of dressage.
Some top competitors include George Williams and his fantastic Intermediaire I horse, Don Bailey. Williams is the current President of the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) and has been at the top of the dressage industry riding, coaching, and competing for many years. Williams had a great win at Dressage by the Bay in July and returns to Traverse City with student Laura Noyes, who has a huge list of accomplishments as a young rider. Noyes represented the United States twice at the FEI Young Rider World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany. She also won Team Silver and Individual Gold in the Freestyle at the NAJYRC. Noyes was the recipient of the 2008 Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy, recognizing a Junior/Young Rider who exemplifies the USET Foundation's ideals of sportsmanship and horsemanship.
Judy Kelly is an experienced competitor who will return to compete this fall, coming from Topline Dressage in Clarkston, MI. Kelly has been training horses and riders for over 20 years and had her biggest accomplishment in the show arena placing fifth in the selection trails for the Pan Am Games in 1979 with a horse named The Maestro. Also returning will be Maria Lithander, head trainer at Hampton Green Farm in Fruitport, MI. Lithander is a veteran Dressage competitor and trainer with over 25 years of experience, showing at every level through Grand Prix in Sweden, Brazil, Mexico and the United States.
The Great American/USDF Regional Dressage Championships program is designed to promote and recognize the pursuit of excellence by providing a showcase venue for riders within each of the nine USDF regions. Riders can qualify for the Regional Championships by riding in designated qualifying classes at USDF recognized competitions. The Regional Championship competitions provide an excellent opportunity for spectators to view the top horses and riders in their region. USDF Region II encompasses Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
For more information, please visit www.horseshowsbythebay.com.