FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Marty Bauman (508) 698-6810 or classic.pr@verizon.net

 

 

Battles for Top Positions Continue in 2005 North American League

 

Annville, PA—May 16, 2005—Battles for top positions in the North American League (NAL) continue as the 2005 season goes along.

The NAL runs season-long series in six hunter-jumper divisions – Children’s Hunter, Children’s Jumper, Adult Hunter, Adult Jumper, Pony Jumper and Open Jumper Speed.  Each division’s series culminates with a championship final at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA in October.  All horses competing in the NAL finals earn U.S. Equestrian Federation Horse-of-the-Year points.

The current NAL qualifying period runs from September 1, 2004 through August 31, 2005.  Riders need not be members of the NAL to compete in any qualifying classes, but only current members earn points toward year-end finals. 

Classes held in the fall and winter have generated plenty of excitement for competitors and spectators alike.  As the spring competitions progress, thousands of horses and riders continue their quest to qualify for the 2005 NAL finals.  As the early spring events came to a close, some impressive horse-and-rider combinations were holding the lead in each of the six divisions.

In the Jumper Divisions, the battle for the top spot in the Open Speed division has begun to heat up with many of this country’s top horses and riders competing for the right to ride in the NAL Finals.  Leading the way with 5,850 points is U.S. equestrian team veteran Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, NJ, followed by Sydney Olympian Laura Kraut of Oconomowoc, WI, with 4,500 points.  In third is Athens Olympic team Silver Medalist Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, NY, with 1,800 points.  Points in the Open Speed division are awarded for riders only, based on their best finish in a class regardless of the horse on which the finish was obtained.

Topping the Children’s Jumper division standings are Lillian Lee Grant of Mendham, NJ, and Zeitgeist, who have earned 5,162 points.  In second place with a total of 4,019 points is Marion Royer of Wellington, FL, with I Love Lucy.  Rounding out the top three is Samantha Wagner of South Barrington, IL, with 2,990 points riding Cisco.

Mindy Blackford of Mayfield, OH, and Gypsy Rose lead the Adult Jumper division with 2,050 points.   Following Blackford in second place with 1,934 points is Tim Boulton of Bradenton, FL, riding Kimarilla, and in third are Melissa Marineau of Baltimore, MD, and Justifiable with 1,645 points.

In the Pony Jumper division, Lindsay Lewis and Mind Your Manners sit atop the standings with 411 points, more than 100 points ahead of second place rider Isabel Jolicoeur.  Jolicoeur of Wellington, FL, has 296 points aboard Mustang Sally.  Wilhelmina Horzepa of Englishtown, NJ, sits in third aboard Exhilaration with 272 points.

Both Hunter Divisions have also proven to be extremely competitive this year.  With 1,964 points, Mackenzie MacLean of Worthington, OH, and Navaroan lead in the Children’s Hunter division.  Natalie Morris of Raleigh, NC, and Junior Mint follow in the standings with 1,465 points, and Lucy Blundon of Chevy Chase, MD, and Lux sit in third with 1,331 points.

In the Adult Hunter division, Donna Struve of Wilmette, IL, and Flaglar lead with 2,022 points.  In second with 1,987 points is Lindsay Ianello of Lake Forest, IL, piloting Bowmore.  Following Ianello in third place with 1,648 points is Victoria Watters of Cincinnati, OH, aboard Eye Remember Rio.

For more information on the North American League and a list of qualifying competitions for the 2004-2005 season, please visit the Ryegate Show Services website at www.Ryegate.com.

The 2005 North American League leader boards appear below:

OPEN JUMPER SPEED – As of April 28

 

Plc          Rider                                                                     Points                    City, State

1             Laura Chapot                                                         5850.00                 Neshanic Station, NJ

2             Laura Kraut                                                            4500.00                 Oconomowoc, WI

3             Beezie Madden                                                       1800.00                 Cazenovia, NY

4             Jeffery Welles                                                         1750.00                 Ridgefield, CT

5             Margie Engle                                                          1450.00                 Wellington, FL

6             Leslie Howard                                                        1300.00                 Westport, CT

7             McLain Ward                                                         1000.00                 Brewster, NY

7             Aimee Aron                                                            1000.00                 Keswick, VA

9             Molly Ashe                                                               600.00                 Wellington, FL

10           Alison Firestone                                                        550.00                 Upperville, VA

11           Lauren Bass                                                              400.00                 Willoughby Hills, OH

12           Michael Walton                                                        350.00                 Valley Forge, PA

 

CHILDREN’S JUMPER – As of April 28

 

Plc          HORSE; Rider                                                     Points                    Rider - City, State

1             ZEITGEIST; Lillian Lee Grant                                 5162.00                 Mendham, NJ

2             I LOVE LUCY; Marion Royer                               4019.00                 Wellington, FL

3             CISCO; Samantha Wagner                                     2990.00                 South Barrington, IL

4             SEAL HARBOR; Samantha Senft                          2730.00                 Wellington, FL

5             SASSY'S SENSATION; Christina Johnson            2213.00                 Egg Harbor Twp, NJ

6             PRESS FOR TIME; Christina Johnson                   2150.00                 Egg Harbor Twp, NJ

7             MC LEOD; Maureen Haffer                                   2123.00                 Mentor, OH

8             TUCKER'S TOWN; Kathryn Fogarty                    1937.00                 Chardon, OH

9             COPA CABANA Z; Kevin Ferguson                     1872.00                 Jupiter, FL

10           TUFF STUFF; Matt Tainer                                    1864.00                 Chagrin Falls, OH

11           BELLAGIO; Anna Banks                                       1800.00                 Wheaton, IL

12           TRES CORONA DATURA; Lindsay Portela         1723.00                 Southwest Ranches, FL

 

ADULT JUMPER – As of April 28

 

Plc          HORSE; Rider                                                     Points                    Rider - City, State

1             GYPSY ROSE; Mindy Blackford                           2050.00                 Mayfield, OH

2             KIMARILLA; Tim Boulton                                    1934.00                 Bradenton, FL

3             JUSTIFIABLE; Melissa Marineau                          1645.00                 Baltimore, MD

4             IMA GOOD 1-2; Patty Van Housen                      1475.00                 Mequon, WI

5             FOUL PLAY; Mindy Blackford                             1464.00                 Mayfield, OH

6             POWERLAND; Wendy Dixon                               1163.00                 Coatesville, PA

7             FANGIO DU REVERDY; Tracy Rich                    1120.00                 Ballwin, MO

8             TOSCA; Brittany Lewis                                          1032.00                 Chesterfield, OH

9             ISOTOPE DE LELO; Rachel Spencer                      950.00                 Keswick, VA

10           ORIOLO; John Martino                                           859.00                 Keswick, VA

11           ADAGIO; Katie Rosinski                                         838.00                 Pittsburgh, PA

12           OLIVER TWIST; Gigi Stetler                                   832.00                 Ft. Lauderdale, FL

 

PONY JUMPER – As of April 28

 

Plc          HORSE; Rider                                                     Points                   Rider - City, State

1             MIND YOUR MANNERS; Lindsay Lewis              411.00                 Chester Springs, PA

2             MUSTANG SALLY; Isabel Jolicoeur                      296.00                 Wellington, FL

3             EXHILARATION; Wilhelmina Horzepa                   272.00                 Englishtown, NJ

4             C'EST LA VIE; Kasey Cannon                                262.00                 North Wales, PA

5             GOLDBUG; Rose Feldman                                      221.00                 Huntingdon Valley, PA

6             MAGIC BB; Kaitlin Campbell                                  195.00                 Doylestown, PA

7             JACKIE BROWN; Bridget Moffly                           162.00                 Mt. Pleasant, SC

8             GOOD FORTUNE; Renick Townsend                     155.00                 Wellington, FL

9             QUIETLY DUN; Hope Guzzo                                 146.00                 Laurel, MD

10           INDIGO; Julianna Fischer                                         142.00                 Lake Worth, FL

11           FIRST CLASS; Marie Farley                                   140.00                 La Plata, MD

12           TOP GUN; Julia McLaughlin                                    129.00                 Titusville, NJ

 

CHILDREN’S HUNTER – As of April 28

 

Plc          HORSE; Rider                                                     Points                   Rider - City, State

1             NAVAROAN; Mackenzie MacLean                      1964.00                 Worthington, OH

2             JUNIOR MINT; Natalie Morris                             1465.00                 Raleigh, NC

3             LUX; Lucy Blundon                                               1331.00                 Chevy Chase, MD

4             PLAY ME COLTRANE; Kaitlin Campbell            1094.00                 Doylestown, PA

5             ON HOLIDAY; Kenzie Duckett                            1050.00                 Wellington, FL

6             DEVISE; Maddie Gardner                                     1018.00                 Charlotte, NC

7             AT LAST; Sarah Morris                                           810.00                 Memphis, TN

8             KEEPSAKE; Jennifer Gray                                      804.00                 South Euclid, OH

9             IF IT’S DARK; Lauren Moyer                                 764.00                 Mt. Airy, MD

10           GO IT AROAN; Chelsea Kornblau                          736.00                 Manakin-Sabot, VA

11           BISSINGER; Nicole Guthrie                                    720.00                 Virginia Beach, VA

12           ACCORDINGLY; Jessie Lewis                               718.00                 Chesterland, OH

 

ADULT HUNTER – As of April 28

 

Plc          HORSE; Rider                                                     Points                    Rider - City, State

1             FLAGLAR; Donna Struve                                      2022.00                 Wilmette, IL

2             BOWMORE; Lindsay Ianello                                 1987.00                 Lake Forest, IL

3             EYE REMEMBER RIO; Victoria Watters              1648.00                 Cincinnati, OH

4             HERITAGE; Laura Schroff                                     1465.00                 Vienna, VA

5             TAPESTRY; Donna Struve                                     1416.00                 Wilmette, IL

6             SENSATION; Lara McPherson                             1412.00                 Mc Lean, VA

7             TOUCHSTONE; Nancy Ross Merritt                    1040.00                 Greensboro, NC

8             MEANT FOR ME; Denise Moore                            959.00                 Chagrin Falls, OH

9             GALWAY BAY; Cecilia Halsey                               929.00                 Madison, AL

10           PATHFINDER; Mary Markvan                                926.00                 Freedom, PA

11           DUBLIN BAY; Donna Struve                                  913.00                 Wilmette, IL

12           RIVIERA; Caroline Jeffs                                           860.00                 Crosse Pointe Park, MI

 

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