WESTBROOK, CT-September 24, 2001-Brian Walker of St. Lazare, Quebec won the ASPCA Maclay Northeast Regional Final (Region 1) at the Grand Fall Classic in Westbrook, CT on September 23.

With his victory, Walker qualified for the Maclay National Championships for the ASPCA Horsemanship classes at the National Horse Show Presented by Budweiser at Madison Square Garden in New York City, November 2-4. Also qualifying were Caitlyn Shields of Sheffield, MA (2nd), Jennifer Hannan of Wakefield, RI (3rd), Cody Baird of Greenwich, CT (4th), Whitney Hollinger of Medfield, MA (5th), Elizabeth Saunders of New Canaan, CT (6th), Lara Gay of Ridgefield, CT (7th), Hannah Wirfel of Westport, CT (8th), and Abby Carpenter of Greenwich, CT (9th).

Fifty finalists from eight Maclay Regional Championships will qualify to compete for the Maclay National Championships for the ASPCA Horsemanship classes. The other qualifying events are:

East (Region 2), held at the Autumn Classic in Port Jervis, NY on September 8 included competitors from New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Northwest (Region 7), held at the Northwest Autumn Finals in Monroe, WA on September 8 included competitors from Arkansas, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming.

Central (Region 5), held at the St. Louis National Charity in St. Louis, MO on September 15 included competitors from Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin.

West (Region 8), held at The Oaks Fall Classic in San Juan, Capistrano, CA on September 15 included competitors from California, Hawaii and Nevada. Mountain (Region 6), held at the High Prairie Fall Classic in Parker, CO on September 15 included competitors from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah.

Southeast (Region 3), held in Alpharetta, GA on September 16 included competitors from Alabama, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Midwest (Region 4), held at the Kentucky National in Lexington, KY on September 22 included competitors from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio.

The Maclay National Championships for the ASPCA Horsemanship classes, which is open to riders under the age of 18, is a showcase of future show jumping champions. Each year more than 1,000 riders participate in local and regional events to earn the right to compete in the National Horse Show's Finals. Fifty of the country's top riders demonstrate their talents to a panel of three judges for the most prestigious title for young hunt seat riders.

The opening rounds of the prestigious Maclay National Championship for the ASPCA Horsemanship classes will be held at Madison Square Garden during the National Horse Show Presented by Budweiser in New York City on Saturday, November 3 while the final rounds of the Maclay Championship will take place on Sunday, November 4.

Past winners of the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Trophy include such top riders as Olympic veterans William Steinkraus, George Morris, Frank and Mary Chapot, and Leslie Burr. For more information, please visit www.nhs.org.