by Sophie St.Clair
The qualification period for the Children’s and Adult Amateur Western Regional Jumper Championships closes Monday, August 26, 2013. Points will continue to be tabulated to determine the top 12 riders and the makeup of teams. Alternate riders will also be determined once points have been calculated.
Looking at the list of riders who have applied I can assume that a good number of these riders will make it to the Championships. And, more exciting, if selected I will be on a team with some of them. I haven’t had the pleasure of getting to watch all of my future teammates do their thing but I am so incredibly excited to meet and make friends with what looks like a talented group of riders. I only have a little experience with some of the girls on the California list and know that I will be super stoked to ride with any of them.
At Showpark Summer Festival in August my hopes for maintaining my first place position in two Children’s Jumper classes were thwarted by Zoey Pacyna and her horse Wonderfull. They deservedly took first place on all three days of competition at that show and were super fast to boot!
Peyton Masteller and her horse Pikador have been on fire winning Children’s and Mod Jr. Amateur Classics.
I have seen and talked to Serenity Phillips briefly at the shows. She’s very friendly and both of her qualified horses are fantastic.
However, some of my toughest competition comes from Katie Murray a member of my own barn! Katie and her horse Taboo’s Castillo have recently been riding the “MoJams” and she has a new partnership with her other qualified horse Forlana Van’t Arkelhof. It’s always tough to balance friendship and competition but I am proud to say Katie is one of my closest friends.
California will have a great group of riders this year in Sacramento. No matter how the teams shape up we all bring something special to this competition.
To follow the California Standings for the USHJA Children’s and Adult Amateur Western Regional Jumper Championships follow this link. http://www.ushja.org/programs/jumper/ch_aastandings.aspx
Sophie St.Clair and Katie Murray at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center Opener
Sophie and Katie watch a few rounds before the M&S League Children’s Jumper Classic at HITS Thermal
Katie Murray takes 2nd and Sophie St.Clair takes 4th in the Children’s Jumper Classic at Blenheim June Classic 2.
Sophie and Katie finish first and second in the Black Star Equestrian Children’s Jumper Classic at Huntington Beach Surf Classic. They finished less than a tenth of a second apart.
