2017 USHJA Children’s and Adult Amateur Hunter Regional Championships Kick Off in Conyers

PRESS RELEASE

Conyers, GA – June 21, 2017 – This week the 2017 USHJA Children’s and Adult Amateur Hunter Regional Championships, presented by SmartPak, kick off during the Atlanta Summer Classic II at the Georgia International Horse Park. More than 35 Children’s and Adult Amateur Hunter riders from Zones 3 and 4 

will compete for team and individual championship medals in this unique team Hunter competition. 
In their second year, the Championships provide riders with a competitive team experience and the 

opportunity to earn Zone Horse of the Year Championship points in their respective Children’s or Adult Amateur Hunter section. The USHJA congratulates the following riders who qualified for the USHJA Children’s and Adult Amateur Hunter South Regional Championships:

Zone 3 Adult Amateur Competitors
Vicki Autry, Greensboro, N.C.
Sally Kay, Charlotte, N.C.
Angela Pollex, Troutman, N.C.
Sandra Savage, Pittsboro, N.C.
Sophia Vella, The Plains, Va.

Zone 4 Adult Amateur Competitors
Allyson Baros-Kabler, Alachua, Fla.
Addison Bihm, Germantown, Tenn.
Barbara Britt, High Springs, Fla.
Caroline Carr, Tampa, Fla.
Heather Conder, Camden, S.C.
Lucy Heaton, Clarksdale, Miss.
Heather Hooker, Wellington, Fla.
Liz Hudspeth, Alpharetta, Ga.
Samantha Kench, Milton, Ga.
Samantha Kramig, Wellington, Fla.
Leigh McDonald, Eads, Tenn.
Kimberly Middlebrooks, Panama City, Fla.
Emily Mitzel, Tampa, Fla.
Wendy Rice, Lutz, Fla.
Amelia Stone, Stone Mountain, Ga.
Kelly Thumel Frohsin, Atlanta, Ga.
Laura Tison, Atlanta, Ga.
Margaret Weaver, Hickory Valley, Tenn.

Zone 3 Children’s Competitors
Libby Bertelsen, Charlotte, N.C.
Nicole Butchko, Dunn Loring, Va.
Hannah Himelfarb, Reisterstown, Md.
Carly Rein, Raleigh, N.C.
Jordan Sigmon, Charlotte, N.C.

Zone 4 Children’s Competitors
Addison Benio, 14, Marietta, Ga.
Kat Fuqua, Atlanta, Ga.
Katherine Habeeb, Mountain Brook, Ala.
Victoria Herran, Miami, Fla.
Madison Hill, Germantown, Tenn.
Campbell Key, Atlanta, Ga.
Katie Kittrell, Madison, Ga.
Alexandra Kozel, Sarasota, Fla.
Sara White, Pinecrest, Fla.

Thursday, June 22, in Conyers will feature the jog for all competitors, and the Championships will consist of two days of competition, which will begin on Friday, June 23. The first day of competition is the team competition as riders will compete in three phases: an under saddle, and two classic hunter style courses. The team with the highest overall score is Team Champion.

The second day of competition is open only to horse and rider combinations ranked 40th or above from the team competition, as well as any alternates who did not compete in the team phase. The individual competition also consists of three phases, including an under saddle, a hunter derby style course and a handy hunter course. The horse-and-rider combination with the highest overall score from all three phases of the second day of competition will be crowned Individual Champion.

In addition to competing for the Championship title in their sections, riders can win great prizes. All riders will receive polo shirts and tote bags from the Championships presenting sponsor SmartPak. Medals and ribbons are awarded to the top three teams, and the Individual Championships are pinned through 8th place. The Team Champions in either section will also receive an embroidered cooler, and Individual champions will receive an embroidered cooler, Charles Owen Helmet, CWD halter, Professional’s Choice Pro Performance Schooling Boots, Essex Classics Riding Shirt and FITS Riding breeches. And, the Individual Competition’s Best Turned Out horse in each section will receive a grooming bucket with Shapley’s products.

The 2017 Championships will be held by region—-North Region, made up of Zones 1, 2 and 5; South Region, made up of Zones 3 and 4; Central Region, made up of Zones 6 and 7; and West Region, made up of Zones 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. The South Regional Championships is the first to be held of the 2017 competition year. The Central Regional Championships will be held next, July 12-16, at GO Show in Oklahoma City.

For more information about the Children’s and Adult Amateur Hunter Regional Championships, and to see all Championship dates, visit ushja.org/ChAAHunter.