Victoria Colvin and Ovation. (Shawn McMillen Photography)

Upper Marlboro, MD – The Capital Challenge Horse Show wrapped up another year of fantastic competition today and finished with younger junior and children's hunters. Victoria Colvin rode two horses owned by Dr. Betsee Parker – Way Cool and Ovation – to the Grand Junior Hunter Championship sponsored by Lochmoor Stables/Mindy and Greg Darst, while the Grand Children's Hunter Championship was also a tie between Lily Blavin on Pringle and Daisy Farish with Northwind Marin. The Capital Challenge Horse Show is held at the Prince George's Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Colvin and Ovation, an 11-year-old Warmblood gelding, won through their championship performance in the Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under division, sponsored by Cynthia Williams/New England Farm. They also tied with Way Cool for the High Point Junior Hunter 15 & Under, sponsored by Geddaway Farm. Ovation and Colvin won two classes and picked up a third place.

With the same ribbons, Colvin and Way Cool, a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Embassy, took the Large Junior 15 & Under championship.

For her Grand Junior Hunter win, Colvin was presented with The Spontaneous Perpetual Trophy donated by the Listrani Family. Colvin was named the Best Junior Rider, an award sponsored by Karen Healey and Karen Healey Stables. The EMO Junior Trip of the show went to Colvin and Way Cool, who had a 91.

The reserve champion in the Small Junior 15 & Under Hunters was Whatever, ridden by Vivian Yowan and owned by Saddle Ridge LLC. They placed first, second, second, and fifth in the division. Lightning Z, ridden by Meredith Darst and owned by Lochmoor Stables, was reserve champion in the Large Junior 15 & Under Hunters after they placed first and third.

Colvin, who rides as a 14-year-old, was able to rebound from an uncharacteristic bad day yesterday to win all of the junior hunter awards today. When asked about her mindset coming into today, she said, “You just try to do better. I don't think I could have done worse than yesterday, so it's only up from there!”

Even today, Colvin won the first class on Way Cool with a 91, then returned for the second class where Way Cool decided he didn't like the scoreboard at the end of the ring. Laughing and knowing the daily life with horses, Colvin kept a positive attitude.

“Both of them are quirky,” she revealed, “but that's what makes them good, I think. Like Way Cool, he went good in the first trip and it was the exact same thing in the second trip, and he wouldn't go down to the end of the ring. But I think that's what makes their personality. I like it. If you have a perfect horse, it gets boring. You've got to have some action, right?”

Of winning the grand championship for the second year in a row, she stated, “It's pretty awesome. Just being grand with one would be great, but with both is even better. I like winning, and it doesn't get old. But anything can happen, so it's great to win here again. I could easily have not done well. If Way Cool didn't jump well in the first class today, then it would have been over. Ovation's last trip was stressful. If he didn't win, I wouldn't have been champion. Vivian was really good the whole week and I wasn't. If I was second, she would have been champion.”

Colvin ended her day by winning the $2,500 WCHR Junior Challenge, sponsored by The Caldwell and Graves Families, on Inclusive owned by Dr. Betsee Parker.

More from Sunday at the Capital Challenge

Victoria Colvin Ties for Grand Junior Hunter Championship with Way Cool and Ovation at Capital Challenge Horse Show