Lexington, KY – Riding Topsail Ma Cee Blair, 13-year-old Jordan Brown of Selma, North Carolina, took home the Championship title and Gold medal in the 13 and under division at the inaugural 2005 USEF Youth Reining Championship, presented by Markel and Hagyard-Davidson-McGee on Sunday, August 28, at the Kentucky Horse Park, with a winning score of 210.

“It was exciting!” said Brown. “It’s a big honor to win. It’s something I’ll remember all my life.” Of her horse, Brown said “he’s very lovable. It was probably one of the funnest rides I’ve ever had.”

Rhett Peeples, 11, of Ringgold, Georgia, was named the Reserve Champion of the 13 and under division, earning a final score of 202.5 on Rufus Rose.

In the 14-18 division, Georgetown, Kentucky’s Lyndsey Jordan won the Championship with Flip My Nic. Together, the pair brought in a score of 214.

“This was definitely a goal I had for this year,” shared Jordan. “It’s really a big accomplishment and I’m very thankful to USEF for putting it on. It was a lot of fun and he tried really hard for me in competition.”

The Reserve Championship went to 15-year-old Hampton Deck of Kennett, Missouri. Deck rode Chex N Sugar, the same horse that, ridden by Deck’s trainer, Casey Hinton, tied for sixth place in the 2005 Adequan/USEF Open Reining Championship on August 26. In the Youth Championship, Deck and Chex N Sugar earned a score of 210.5.

In the 19-21 division, Valerie Ball, the single entrant in the division, put on a good show with her horse Bonita’s Corona Kid, for a final score of 191.5. Ball, who is a business management student at West Virginia State University in Charleston, said she’s been training for the competition herself. While she was a little disappointed there weren’t any other competitors, she said the pressure was still on and she gave it her all.

“I just knew I had to do it,” she said. “It means a lot more to me because I did it on my own.” Ball is quick to credit her parents though, Jack and Mary Jane Ball, who have been “a great support.”

Each of the three champions was awarded a custom tooled USEF Youth Reining Championship saddle and USEF Championship belt buckle.

Selected Results from the 2005 USEF Youth Reining Championship, Presented by Markel and Hagyard-Davidson-McGee

13 and under division:

1. Jordan Brown, 13, of Selma, NC, riding Topsail Ma Cee Blair, owned by Jordan Brown, Score: 210

2. Rhett Peeples, 11, of Ringgold, GA, riding Rufus Rose, owned by Rhett Peeples, Score: 202.5

3. Nico Delserro, 12, of Bethlehem, PA, riding One Lucky Son of a Gun, owned by Ronald Delserro II, Score: 201

4. Kasey Solo, 13, of Hubbard Lake MI, riding Dun It On Stage, owned by Dale Solo, Score: 200

5. Jordan Leigh Cox, 13, of Trenton, NC, riding Lenas Dixie Chic, owned by Robert, Gina, Jordan and Sydne Cox, Score: 199.5

14 – 18 division:

1. Lyndsey Jordan, 17, of Georgetown, KY, riding Flip My Nic, owned by Lyndsey Jordan, Score: 214.0

2. Hampton Deck, 15, of Kennett, MO, riding Chex N Sugar, owned by Timothy and Jo Deck, Score: 210.5

3. Ashley Fuchs, 17, of Canfield, OH, riding Missin Silk Socks, owned by Saddlecreek Farms, Score: 207.0

4T. Nichole Grant, 17, of Elverson, PA, riding My Dun It Darn It, owned by Guy Palmer, Score: 203.5

4T. Sean Alquist, 16, of Wapiti, WY, riding Might Mega Jac, owned by Sean Alquist, Score: 203.5

4T. Maura Doone, 18, of Gahanna, OH, riding Lena’s Irish Whiskey, owned by Jim Doone, Score: 203.5

19 – 21 division:

1. Valerie Ball, 22, of Charleston, WV, riding Bonita’s Corona Kid, owned by Valerie Ball,