Gomez Named Leading Open Jumper Rider at 2026 Marshall+Sterling/USHJA National Championships
Las Vegas, Nev.—Nov. 14, 2026—Competition continued Friday at the Marshall+Sterling/USHJA National Championships, hosted by Desert International Horse Park at the South Point Hotel, Casino, & Spa, from November 9-15. Amanda Gomez earned the Leading Open Jumper Rider honors after accumulating the most points across the Open Jumper sections, including winning the USEF/USHJA 1.40m Open Jumper National Championship. Elena Berarducci commanded the Affiliate Jumper divisions, capturing the USHJA Affiliate .70m Children’s Jumper Championship and the .80m Children’s Affiliate Jumper division. Additional national champions were crowned in the rated Junior and Amateur Jumper divisions, Affiliate Hunter and Jumper divisions, as well as Bling Awards.
USEF/USHJA 1.40m Open Jumper National Championship and Leading Open Jumper Rider
Gomez of Norco, California, in Zone 10, capped off a banner week in Las Vegas with a win in the $50,000 1.40m Grand Prix and a slew of new accolades, including the USEF/USHJA 1.40m Open Jumper National Championship title.
Gomez and Charly-Ann, owned by Rising Star Equestrian, opened the 1.40m division with a win in Tuesday’s $5,000 1.40m Welcome. Then, after electing to forego the $5,000 1.40m Speed on Wednesday, Gomez and the 15-year-old Holsteiner mare returned on Friday night to take the win in the Grand Prix, over a track set by course designer Anderson Lima.
“Charly loves Vegas!” said Gomez. “I'm not sure what it is exactly about this ring, but she really, really performs here. I think she's so naturally fast. So, an indoor ring like this, she really is strong in. Sometimes, with the bigger horses, it's harder for them to be in a smaller ring. She's a good medium size. She has a good typey canter, and she’s very, very quick in the air. I think, for me, I just lucked out because this is a perfect setting for her. She loves the environment here.”
Gomez has been partnered with Charly-Ann for the last six years, and in that time, the mare has become one of Gomez’s winningest mounts and a trusted partner for the 23-year-old rider.
“She's such a special horse to me,” said Gomez. “I wasn't sure what she was going to be when I first acquired the mare. I knew she was going to be competitive at 1.35m, but she's given me so much more than that. Every time I walk in the ring, I know if I don't win a class, it's my fault. I know every time I walk in, if it’s a 1.35m, 1.40m, it's her class all day long…And how lucky am I to have a horse like that?”
Gomez continued, “The biggest thing I had to work on when I got her was that she was really bad at the in-gate. I think her job at that time made her feel a little bit sour. I really have thought outside the box with her and just tried to keep her as happy as possible. I really think it showed tonight how happy she is. Truly, when I get on her now, I feel like she is enjoying her job more than I am in that moment…For me, that's a win in itself, just that she's enjoying it. She's sounder now than I think she was when I got her. So again, I'm really proud of my program. I'm so thankful to my vets, my grooms, all the people behind the scenes that helped keep my horses in the top form that they are. All in all, it was just a fantastic night and a testament to my whole team.”
Gomez’s top results not only on Friday night but throughout the week earned her the Leading Lady Open Jumper Rider award and the Leading Open Jumper Rider award as the rider who earned the most points from all classes in the 1.20m, 1.30m, and 1.40m Open Jumper sections. As the owner of Charly-Ann, Gomez’s Rising Star Equestrian was also named the Leading 1.40m Open Jumper Owner.
USHJA Affiliate .70m Children’s Jumper Championship
Elena Berarducci, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, in Zone 8, made an impressive debut at the USHJA Affiliate Championships aboard Cha-Cha, owned by Tracey Castle and nominated by the Colorado Hunter Jumper Association. Competing in her first year of Jumpers, Berarducci and Cha-Cha delivered an outstanding week in the Jumper divisions, earning five victories and two national titles. The pair won the .70m Children’s Affiliate Jumper Two Phase, Grand Prix, and the title before moving up to the .80m Children’s Affiliate Jumper division, where they swept all three classes: the Welcome, Two Phase, and Grand Prix.
Berarducci credited Cha-Cha’s quickness across the ground as a key factor in their success throughout the week, while also appreciating the mare’s personality.
“She covers the ground really quickly, which is what really helped us with our placings this week,” Berarducci said. “She's a very good girl, but she's a very personal character, and I'm really glad I got to work with her this year. She took me really far this season, and, yeah, I'm very proud of her.”
Reserve champion went to Hannah Huhn, of Lansing, Kansas, in Zone 7, with Amara Packwood's Spencer Twist, where the pair took second in the Welcome and third in the Grand Prix. Huhn was nominated by the Kansas Hunter Jumper Association.
The day’s additional award winners include:
USEF/USHJA 1.10/1.15m Junior Jumper National Championship and Leading 1.10m Junior Jumper Trainer
Harper Keeney and her own Babbe Z, and trained by Emily Esau Williams
USEF/USHJA 1.10/1.15m Amateur Jumper National Championship and Leading 1.10m Amateur Jumper Trainer
Jordan Lunney and her own Qualified, trained by herself
USEF/USHJA 1.20/1.25m Junior Jumper National Championship and Leading 1.20m Junior Jumper Trainer
Lucia Perry and her own Hussard Du Bary, trained by Erin Isom
USEF/USHJA 1.20/1.25m Amateur Jumper National Championship and Leading 1.20m Amateur Jumper Trainer
Cavan Smith and Mr. Balue BR Z, owned by Lilah Nakatani and trained by Michelle Mahoney
USHJA Affiliate .70m Adult Jumper Championship
Braddison Beathem and Parlay, owned by Isabella Smith and nominated by Sierra Nevada Horse Show Association
USHJA Affiliate .80m Children’s Jumper Championship
Elena Berarducci and Cha-Cha, owned by Tracey Castle and nominated by Colorado Hunter Jumper Association
USHJA Affiliate .80m Adult Jumper Championship
Meagan Mejia and her own Chasan 3, nominated by Ocean Breeze
USHJA Affiliate 2' Children's Hunter Championship
Anjali Gulati and her own Let's Rock, nominated by Sierra Nevada Horse Show Association
USHJA Affiliate 2' Adult Hunter Championship
Sarah Lafayette and First Look, owned by Millennium Farm LLC and nominated by Sierra Nevada Horse Show Association
USHJA Affiliate 2'6" Children's Hunter Championship and the USHJA 2'6" Affiliate Perpetual Trophy sponsored by Kevin Price
Kaviya Blew and her own Boulahrouz, nominated by Colorado Show Circuit
USHJA Affiliate 2'6" Adult Hunter Championship and the USHJA 2'6" Affiliate Perpetual Trophy sponsored by Kevin Price
Stacy Nelles and her own Outspoken, a USHJA Backstage Pass winner
Bling Awards
Lily Groff and her own Westminster’s Shades of Cool
Jordan Lunney and her own Qualified
Eleanor Hoover and Fox Ridge Medley, owned by Missy Jo Hollingsworth
Viva Las Vegas Award
Lexi Hoyer and Volente, owned by Kacey Cube
The USHJA thanks the Desert International Horse Park team for hosting the Championships and longtime Title Sponsor Marshall+Sterling. Special thanks also go to Official Sponsors Herm Sprenger, Nutrena, Parlanti, Stridefull, and Exhibitor’s; and Championship Sponsors Essex Classics, Human Touch, Prize Possessions, RingSide Pro, SmartEquine, GumBits, and the US Equestrian.
Live streaming coverage of all classes is available on USEF Network, and complete results are available here.
For more information about the Marshall+Sterling/USHJA National Championships, visit ushja.org/NationalChampionships
Press Release: Desert International Horse Park and USHJA
Photos: Andrew Ryback Photography, Julie Mercer/USHJA, Terisé Cole/USHJA
