Top Junior Riders Advance to ASPCA Maclay Finals Following Regionals

In just one month, the nation’s top junior equitation riders will travel to Lexington, Kentucky for the CP National Horse Show and the prestigious ASPCA Maclay Horsmanship Finals.

Region 1 Winner – Kendra Gierkink

In order to punch their ticket to the finals, riders first had to qualify through highly competitive Regional Finals held in eight different regions throughout the month of September. Winning their regions this year were Kendra Gierkink, Katherine Bundy, Ashton Alexander, Kelli Cruciotti, Hunter Holloway, Janelle Henningsen, Bailey Smith and Genevieve Meyer.

The ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship class has been held since 1933, and it is one of the most prestigious competitions for junior riders in the United States. Among previous winners are some of the biggest names in equestrian sport including William Steinkraus (1941), Frank Chapot (1948), George Morris (1952), Leslie Burr Howard (1972) and Nicole Shahinian Simpson (1992). The 2013 ASPCA Maclay Finals winner was Lillie Keenan, while Tori Colvin claimed the coveted title during last year’s 2014 National Horse Show.

For 2015, the highly competitive Region 1 winning title went to Kendra Gierkink of Harpswell, Maine. Gierkink bested 42 other competitors at the Fairfield Hunt Club to take the win, while second place went to Ali Tritschler of Southport, Connecticut. Rounding out the top three was Jordyn Rose Freedman of Longmeadow, Massachusetts.

Region 2 Winner – Katherine Bundy

In the equally hotly contested Region 2, it was Katherine Bundy of Westport, Connecticut who topped the class at Old Salem Farm. Finishing in second was Maya Nayyar, while third place went to T.J. O’Mara.

The Region 3 Maclay Regional Finals were held during the Southeast Medal Finals in Jacksonville, Florida, and there it was Ashton, Alexander of Ocala, Florida who topped the leader board. Taking home the second and third place awards and securing their spots at the ASPCA Maclay Finals were Jordyn Katz and Mary Elizabeth Cordia, respectively.

Region 3 Winner – Ashton Alexander (Randi Muster)

In Region 4, Kelli Cruciotti of Elizabeth, Colorado, Meredith Darst of Lebanon, Ohio and Rhian Murphy of Charlotte, Vermont took the top three spots respectively at their regional final, held at the Kentucky Horse Park on September 20.

Region 4 Winner – Kelli Cruciotti (Shawn McMillen)

Continuing west to Region 5, it was last year’s Maclay Finals second place finisher Hunter Holloway of Topeka, Kansas who earned the win during the St. Louis National Charity Horse Show. Taking second was Martha Ingram of Nashville, Tennessee, and third place went to Olivia Lawton of Burr Ridge, Illinois.

Region 5 Winner – Hunter Holloway (Flying Horse LTD)

In Colorado, the Norris Penrose Event Center welcomed competitors for the Region 6 Final where Janelle Henningsen of Greenwood Village, Colorado rode away with the win. Second and third place went to fellow Colorado residents, Allison Zimmerman and Kamryn Steel, respectively.

Region 6 Winner – Janelle Henningsen (Flying Horse LTD)

Bailey Smith was the victor in Region 7, where she piloted her mount seamlessly during the Northwest Autumn Classic in Monroe, Washington. The Portland, Oregon based rider finished just ahead of second place winner Krista Taylor and third place finisher Lolly McLellan.

Region 7 Winner – Bailey Smith (Flying Horse LTD)

Also on the West Coast was the Region 8 Regional Final, held during the Blenheim Fall Tournament in San Juan Capistrano, California. There it was Genevieve Meyer of Rancho Santa Fe, California who caught the judges’ eyes for the win. Miela Gross finished in second, and third place went to Alexandra Ladove.

Qualified riders now have their sights set on the CP National Horse Show, where the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Final will now be held over two days. The first round kicks of at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 31, while the final round will be held on Sunday, November 1.

For more information visit www.nhs.org.

Region 8 Winner – Genevieve Meyer

2015 CP National Horse Show Fast Facts:

What:
The CP National Horse Show is a week-long championship event featuring the $250,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Lexington, presented by CP, “AA”-rated hunters, open jumpers, junior/amateur jumpers, and the ASPCA / NHSAA Maclay Championship Finals. The event will run Oct. 27-Nov. 1, 2015, in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, site of the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games.

Click here for the prize list.

Schedule:
Click here for the online schedule.

The highlights of the CP National Horse Show include:

Wednesday, Oct. 28:
$35,000 Elm Rock, LLC International Open Jumpers Welcome Speed Class – Time First Round

Thursday, Oct. 29:
$130,000 CP Grand Prix, presented by Copernicus Stables, LLC

Friday, Oct. 30:
Dover Saddlery Barn Night
Salamander Hotels & Resorts $35,000 Accumulator Costume Class – Faults Converted
Exhibition in the arena by the World Renowned Budweiser Clydesdale Hitch

Saturday Oct. 31:
First round of the ASPCA / NHSAA Maclay National Championship
6:30 p.m.: Free Trick or Treating on the arena concourse Come in costume for free admission.
Exhibition in the arena by the World Renowned Budweiser Clydesdale Hitch
Amalaya Investments $15,000 SJHF Amateur
Owner/Junior Jumper Championship
$35,000 USEF U25 National Championship Grand Prix

Sunday morning, Nov. 1:
9 a.m: Final round and award presentation of the ASPCA / NHSAA Maclay National Championship

Sunday afternoon, Nov.1:
Noon: Exhibition in the arena by the World Renowned Budweiser Clydesdale Hitch

2 p.m.: $250,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Lexington: Olympic Gold Medalists and equestrians from around the world will compete for top honors in this thrilling competition.

All evening competitions will begin at approximately
7 p.m.

Parking:
The Kentucky Horse Park has waived the normal parking fee during the CP National Horse Show. Parking is free. While dogs are permitted at the Kentucky Horse Park on a leash, no dogs are allowed in the Alltech Arena during the CP National Horse Show.

Directions:
The Kentucky Horse Park is located at 4089 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511. The KHP is 8 miles northeast of Lexington at Exit 120 on Interstate 75.

Information:
Cindy Bozan 
cindy@nhs.org
(859) 608-3709
(866) 285-9496

Website:
www.nhs.org

Shopping:
Vendors offering equestrian equipment, apparel, jewelry and home furnishings are located in the Alltech Arena.

Additional Contacts:

Vendors Matt Morrissey at
matt.morrissey@stadiumjumping.com
or call (941) 915-3457 
(941) 915-3457
VIP Table Sales Cindy Bozan at cindy@nhs.org or 
(859) 608-3709
Sponsorship
Mason Phelps at mpjr@phelpsmediagroup.com or
(561) 753-3389
or
Susie Webb at webb_susie@yahoo.com or
(301) 520-6162

Hotels:
Be sure to mention that you are an exhibitor at the National Horse Show when making your reservations.
STAYBRIDGE SUITES
(859) 233-2300 – Approximately 8 miles
SPRINGHILL SUITES
(859) 255-1500 – Approximately 9 miles
COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT
Lexington South
(859) 263-9090 – Approximately 13 miles
Additional hotels in the Lexington area:
TOWNEPLACE SUITES by Marriot
(800) 493-0571 – Approximately 13 miles
CLARION HOTEL
(859) 233-0512 – Approximately 4 miles
CANDLEWOOD SUITES
(859) 368-0087 – Approximately 7 miles
FOUR POINTS SHERATON
(859) 259-1311 – Approximately 4 miles
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS DOWNTOWN
(859) 231-0656 – Approx. 9 miles

For additional rates and hotel availability for the 2015 CP National Horse Show, please call Connections Housing at (855) 464-2556 or (702) 476-6976 or click here. Connections Housing is open Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.

For a complete list of Lexington area hotels click here .

For additional information or questions regarding hotel reservations, contact Susie Webb at susie@nhs.org or (301) 520-6162.

Management:
Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC
P. O. Box 11428
Lexington, KY 40575-1428
(859) 233-0492 (phone)
(859) 233-0495 (fax)
hakshows@earthlink.net
www.kentuckyhorseshows.com

Horse Show Secretary:
Cindy Bozan
(859) 233-0492
secretary.nhs@aol.com

Media Contact:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd
Suite 105
Wellington, FL 33414
(561) 753-3389 (phone)
(561) 753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com 

Tickets:
Tickets for the 2015 CP National Horse Show CSI-W 4* are available online at www.NHS.org or through Ticketleap.com. One of the premier indoor horse shows in the United States, The CP National Horse Show returns to the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, Kentucky on October 27 – November 1, 2015.

Save 20% by purchasing your tickets in advance online at, http://nationalhorseshow.ticketleap.com/nhs2015/ Children 12 and under are always admitted at no charge and parking is free.

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