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MEDIA CONTACT:
Abby Whitaker
Cheryl Magoteaux
Pro Management
Media & Public Relations
13181 US Highway 177
Byars, Oklahoma 74831
405-238-9893 (at Show)
Fax: 580-759-3999
E-Mail:
abby@magoteaux.com
Cheryl@magoteaux.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
USEF Youth Champions
are Determined / Jessicah Keller Wins Fiesta Non Pro Classic
Youth reiners in three divisions worked toward a
qualification to compete at the USEF Youth Championships during Fiesta
in the Park. The Championships, sponsored by Markel Insurance and
Hagyard, Davidson and McGee, awarded three Youth riders with USEF titles
today during the Fiesta’s final day of competition.
In the Youth 19-21, three riders qualified to attend the
Championships but only one was able to make the trip to Lexington,
giving the victory to Valerie Ball, Charleston, West Virginia. Valerie,
riding her gelding Bonitas Corona Kid, played it safe in the arena,
knowing she only had to stay on pattern to earn her title. Although she
didn’t have an opponent in her age division, she was still nervous about
her run.
“The first year I went to Gladstone (for the United States
Equestrian Team Festival of Champions) I did five spins and zeroed,”
Valerie explained. “This was my last year to compete in the USEF Youth
so I had to go out with a bang.”
Valerie, 22, is a business major at West Virginia State
University. She
and
Bonitas Corona Kid finished in the NRHA Top Ten in 2001 and 2002 and
were top 10 finishers in the USET Youth Rider Finals in Gladstone, New
Jersey, during the Festival of Champions.
Lyndsey Jordan, Georgetown, Kentucky, earned her second
title at the Fiesta when she topped the USEF Youth 14-18 Championship.
After earning the Fiesta Limited Non Pro Maturity title on Wednesday,
Lyndsey returned to the arena this time riding Flip My Nic, by Reminic
and out of Dun Its Kalico Star. Flip My Nic has had a tremendous year,
winning eight of nine derbies entered in 2005. At the ninth event,
“Flipper” finished reserve.
“He is a great little horse,” Lyndsey said. “He definitely
has a home for life.”
Winning a USEF Youth title was a goal that Lyndsey set for
herself earlier this year. She normally competes in NRHA Limited Aged
Events and was looking forward to competing in the USEF as something new
and different.
“This is more nationally recognized than an NRHA show, even
though they are huge as well,” she explained. “This is just a huge honor
and big accomplishment.”
Youth 14-18 Reserve Champion, Hampton Deck, watched his
horse compete in last night’s USEF Open Championship with trainer Casey
Hinton. After a top 10 finish in the prestigious Open, Chex N Sugar
carried Hampton to a 210.5-point run and the reserve finish in the
Youth.
“It wasn’t the best ride that I’ve had but it was enough to
get second,” Hampton said modestly following his run. “He was still
pretty wound up from last night.
It’s pretty cool for
him to place that high in the Open and it was pretty cool to see someone
else show my horse.”
Hampton, Kennett, Missouri, and Chex N Sugar, by Topsail
Whiz and out of Sugarita Chex, were the 2003 NRHA Youth 13 & Under World
Champions. At just 15 years old, Hampton still has plenty of time to
earn a USEF Youth Championship.
Thirteen-year-old Jordan Brown and her gelding, Topsail Ma
Cee Blair, made a tremendous run as the last draw in the Youth 13 &
Under Championship and topped the division by seven and a half points.
“It’s very exciting, it’s a big honor and it’s something
I’ll remember for all of my life,” Jordan said of her accomplishment.
“This is one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done.”
The young horsewoman was the 2003 and 2004 NRHA 13 & Under
Reserve World Champion and is in the running for the title again this
year, riding Topsail Ma Cee Blair.
Jordan, Selma, North Carolina, and her horse marked a 210
for the win, followed by Reserve Champions Rhett Peeples and Rufus Rose.
Rhett, Ringgold, Georgia, marked a 202.5 with his 12-year-old Oakies Leo
Rose mare out of Linda Mae Command.
Open and Non Pro Freestyle riders took to the arena
following the USEF Youth, where Ohio trainer Stacy Westfall topped the
Open and Sarah Locker, Fayetteville, Tennessee, won the Non Pro. Stacy,
riding Whizards Baby Doll, by Whizard Jac and out of Boot Scootin Dolly,
marked a 225 performing bridle-less. Whizards Baby Doll is owned by
Gregory Gessner, Strasborh, Ohio. Sarah and See Chex To Cash, by Nu Chex
To Cash and out of Cee Carmis Minx, marked a 217 to win the Non Pro by
seven and a half points.
In the $10,000-added Fiesta Non Pro Classic, Tennessee
cowgirl Jessicah Keller picked up the championship check for $3,584.
Jessicah, riding Night Deposit Chex, marked a 220 to tie Sally Broten
and Mega Ditto, as well as Lee Schild and Juiced Up Doc. During the
three-horse run off, Jessicah and her Nu Chex To Cash stallion returned
for an impressive 223-point run. Jessicah also finished fourth riding
Boomboomvoodoodaddy, by Boomernic and out of Amarilla Chex for an
additional $1,280.
Jessicah, a multiple American Quarter Horse Youth
Association World Champion and Palomino World Champion, is a standout
performer in reining and reined cow horse events. Earlier this week she
tied for sixth and seventh riding her 4-year-old Nu Chex To Cash mare,
Rondalena Chex, during the Fiesta Non Pro Maturity.
During the Non Pro Classic run off, Sally and Lee once again
tied, this time to share the Reserve Championship with a 218.5. Sally’s
Mega Ditto, is a 7-year-old gelding by Marthas Mega Jac and Okie Dokie
Dunit. The gelding is the NRHA’s Highest Money Earning Non Pro Horse,
adding $2,496 to his lifetime earnings that already exceed $100,000.
Lee’s horse, Juiced Up Doc, is a 5-year-old Smart Like Juice gelding out
of Jokes Startime and also earned $2,496.
The inaugural Fiesta in the Park took place August 24-28 at
the historic Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.
For complete
results and highlights from the show, or for more information on the
Fiesta in the Park, visit
www.fiestainthepark.com or contact Pro
Management at
580-759-2572.
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