Harrisburg, PA - (October 18, 2005) - Spectators cheered for speed and clapped for the clean rounds as they watched the top fifteen horses race for the blue in the $10,000 North American League (NAL) Children's Jumper Finals. But it was Samantha Wagner and her Quarter Horse gelding Cisco who put speed and accuracy together to win the class held during the 60th annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA.

It was Wagner's first time showing at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show and her first experience in the NAL Finals, but it didn't take long to put that out of her head. She said, "I was nervous, and I didn't know what to expect, but once I got over the first jump I knew it was going to be good."

Thirty-four riders were invited to compete in the NAL finals after qualifying throughout the year. Wagner made the NAL Finals a goal for the year, but wasn't expecting to win the class. She said, "My goal was to get around clean and be happy with however we ended up."

Riders were put to the test over a course designed by Conrad Homfeld, and fifteen were able to keep the rails in the cups and advance to the jump off. Wagner, 14, was the second-to-last rider to tackle the shortened course.

Rebecca Payne and Never Been Kissed went in the middle of in the order and jumped to the lead after posting a clean round and stopping the clock in 34.809 seconds. Payne had found her distances off a galloping pace despite a twisting track peppered with two stretches meant for speed. Over the final jump Never Been Kissed rocked the front rail of the oxer, but the rail stuck. Payne held the lead until Wagner returned to cut nearly a second off Payne's time posting a 33.455.

Wagner said, "I knew going from 2 to 5b would make up the most time because he's better with his turns than running." The tight rollback gave Wagner and Cisco the opportunity to showoff how they could land and turn on a dime. It was no surprise to learn that Cisco's resume includes barrel racing. His former job explains his agility over the jump-off course.

Wagner and the 13-year-old Quarter Horse Paint were teamed up last October when a girl from her barn was looking to sell. The match was ideal and Wagner and Cisco clicked right from the start. Wagner lives in Barrington Hills, Ill., and trains with Danny Jayne of Elgin, Ill. Her plans for next year include moving up to the junior jumpers.

Another Quarter Horse to lead the victory gallop at the Pennsylvania National was Gold Bug who took the blue in the NAL Pony Jumper Finals with Rose Feldman of Huntington Valley, Pa., in the irons. Goldbug, an experienced 14-year-old mare, demonstrated her speed and agility as she stopped the clock in a blistering 28.524 seconds.

Feldman said of the mare, "She listens to me, but she lets me know when I make mistakes." Talking about her win she added, "I was nervous at first, but then, once I get out there, I just try to do my best. I'm thrilled."

Twenty ponies were invited from across the country to compete in the NAL Pony Jumper Finals. Seven riders were able to keep the rails off the dirt and advance to the jumpoff. The serpentine track of six jumps made for a challenging jumpoff, but Feldman, 13, rode a quick inside turn that saved time and was the fastest to go clean.

Feldman, an eighth grader at Abington Junior High, plans on moving up into the children's jumpers next year. Her win in the NAL Pony Jumper Finals marks the end of her partnership with Goldbug.

The North American League (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 series culminates with a championship final at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA in October. Riders need not be members of the NAL to compete in any qualifying classes, but only current members earn points toward year-end finals. For more information, a list of qualifying competitions and results, please see the Ryegate Show Services website at www.Ryegate.com .

$10,000 NAL Children's Jumper Finals

Place Horse Rider faults/time

1. Cisco Samantha Wagner 0/0/33.455

2. Never Been Kissed Rebecca Payne 0/0/34.809

3. Brave Heart Alexandra Arute 0/0/35.088

4. Manuela Del Juncal Heather Timm 0/0/35.598

5. Valente Caroline Woods 0/0/36.935

6. Mio W Sarah Stanton 0/0/37.837

7. Maxim W Victoria Birdsall 0/0/40.956

8. I Love Lucy Marion Royer 0/4/32.991

9. Clover Knight Amber Hargroder 0/4/34.925

10. Galileo 36 Natalie Solyomvari 0/4/36.437

NAL Pony Jumper Finals

Place Horse Rider faults/time

1. Goldbug Rose Feldman 0/0/28.524

2. Zack Attack Laura Kolber 0/0/32.466

3. Indigo Paige Coles 0/0/32.490

4. C'Est La Vie Kasey Cannon 0/4/29.602

5. Bazooka Joe Tyler Morris 0/4/31.543

6. Magic BB Kaitlin D. Campbell 0/8/26.834

7. Mystic Rainbow Kylie Anne Wright 0/8/28.820

8. Sweet Curiousity Wilhelmina Horzepa 4

9. Exhilaration Wilhelmina Horzepa 4

10. Vertigo Wilhelmina Horzepa 4