Lexington, KY – Riders from throughout the United States travelled to the Kentucky Horse Park to contest the 2011 USEF National CCI1* Eventing Championships held October 21-23. These championships, which were hosted in conjunction with the Hagyard MidSouth Three Day & Team Challenge, saw 25 U.S. competitors braved the frigid autumn temperatures to vie for top honors. Robin Walker and Florenz scored a wire-to-wire victory finishing more than 10 points ahead of the other National Championship competition.
Walker (Grass Lake, MI) was competing for the first time under the U.S. flag at the Hagyard MidSouth Three Day after having changed his nationality four days prior to the start of competition. He finished his first competition as an American in style, piloting Florenz to double-clear rounds in both the cross country and show jumping to add nothing to their dressage score of 45.
This pair was the winner of both the CCI1* and USEF National CCI1* Eventing Championship. Walker thinks very highly of Anne-Marie Rasch’s seven-year-old Oldenburg and believes she has a future in the sport.
“I’m very happy with the way things have gone. I’m very happy with the way the horse has progressed throughout the year,” Walker said. “I believe the horse is ready for the next level.”
Selena Pape (Louisville, KY) was crowned USEF National Amateur Eventing Champion on her own Vanity after finishing on a three-day total of 56.2. Mackenzie Spaes (Prospect, KY) and her Ripple Effect finished on a score of 62.7 to win the USEF National Junior Eventing Championship. In the USEF National 19-21 Year Old Eventing Championship, Elinor MacPhail (Johnstown, OH) rode her own Goodnight Moon to top honors on a score of 74.9.
For more information about the Hagyard MidSouth Three Day & Team Challenge including schedules, ride times and results, visit http://www.kyevents.net/shows/info/tchallenge.
For Results from the USEF National CCI1* Eventing Championship, visit http://usefnetwork.com/blogs/174/2011/10/25/2011_usef_national_eventing_champio.aspx.
Visit http://usefnetwork.com/featured/EventersinEurope/ to keep up with the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team.