Articles: Press Release

Contact:
Marty Bauman: 508-698-6810, info@classic-communications.com

Harrisburg, PA - October 9, 2009 - The four team members from Zone 10 might have traveled the farthest to get to Harrisburg, but the reward made it worthwhile. Lucy Davis, Saer Coulter, Paris Sellon and Karl Cook came from California with the intention of winning, and with anchor rider Davis turning in a clear and fast ride in the tie-breaking jump-off, they will be taking home the title in this prestigious competition.

The riders from Zone 10 were always in contention for the title, but the combined team of riders from Zones 1 and 8 were in the lead after the initial round of competition with a score of 4 faults.

Victoria Birdsall with Jeremy and Kelsey Thatcher and Carlotta both turned in clear rounds for Zone 1 & 8, while Navona Gallegos and Drossana had one rail down. Zachary Libes with Landdame was the drop score, with 8 faults.

For Zone 10, Saer Coulter and Chalan went around the track fault free while Lucy Davis with True Love and Karl Cook aboard Notories Utopia each has a rail down. Paris Sellon and Troyes had two rails down and two time faults in their first round, and were the ride that was not counted.

"I really tanked in the first round", said Sellon. "I knew that I had to pull it together for the second round, and I did."

The second round, following the Nations' Cup format, was contested over the same course as the first round and nine riders managed to better their scores from the previous round. Among those were Sellon and Davis from Zone 10 and Libes and Birdsall from Zone 1 & 8, all of whom turned in fault free performances. Birdsall was the only rider who managed to complete both rounds without penalty.

This gave both Zone 10 and Zone 1 & 8 a total score from the two rounds of 12 faults, necessitating a jump-off. Lucy Davis was the rider chosen to represent Zone 10 in the tie-breaker, and she came through with a clear round in a time of 33.409 seconds, but not without a mishap between fences 1 and 2. True Love seemed to stumble and Davis lost her stirrup around the corner. The pair managed to right themselves and complete the course with only one horse shoe in front, the cause of the bobble. Victoria Birdsall was the designated rider for Zone 1 & 8, and she and Jeremy were clear until the last fence, which came down.

"I was so nervous, but once you get to this point, you kind of have to go all out", said Davis. "You have to just go for it. I had four faults in the first round and I was a little bit angry, and when I get angry I get really competitive, which is a good thing, it usually helps. Lovey is the best. He is so fun and so fast, and he has the biggest heart. He almost wants it more than me. He is aptly named."

The course was very challenging for these juniors. Out of 58 trips around the Steve Stephens designed course, there were only 11 clear rounds. The toughest fence on course was a skinny plank fence that was set 70 feet from the double combination, fences 9A and B, on a bending line. While looking innocuous, the fence came down 26 times over the course of the evening.

This was the 31st year of the Prix de States competition being held at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. Each zone across the United States may field a team of four for the Adequan/USEF National Junior Jumper Championships. The top four horse-and-rider combinations in the zone's National Junior Jumper standings qualify to represent their zone.

In the 31 years that the Prix de States has been held, Zone 10 (California and Nevada) has earned more championships than any other zone with Zone 2 (New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania) following closely behind.

The 2009 Pennsylvania National Horse Show runs October 8-17, featuring 10 full days of hunter and jumper competition with both amateurs and professionals vying for the coveted championships. The Pennsylvania National hosts 10 national championships. The competition highlight is the $75,000 Grand Prix de Penn National on Saturday evening, October 17.

Special event highlights include: Kinsley Construction Company Hunt Night Competition, Jack Russell Terrier Races, The North American Fox Hunting Horn Blowing Championship, Family Days with Free Pony Rides. There will be demonstrations, as well as special educational events and barrel and carriage racing.

The show is entertaining and educational. Approximately 70 vendors are accepted offering a wide variety of items: clothing, gifts and antiques, custom signs and furniture, fine and costume jewelry, toys, pet items, t-shirts and tack shops. All offer a unique variety of items sure to please horse lovers and non-horse people alike.

The Pennsylvania National Horse Show is proud of its tradition of supporting both equine and youth programs. The show benefits the Harrisburg Kiwanis Youth Foundation and the Pennsylvania National Horse Show Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation.

Further information is available at the horse show's website at www.panational.org or by calling the horse show office at 717-770-0222.

Live streaming webcast of the event is available at http://www.productionseast.com.