It's Gold Again for Mishara in USHJA Zones 1 and 2 Jumper Team Championships Children’s Individual Final

Stacy and Champey Ride to the Top of Amateur and Junior/Amateur Sections

Skillman, N.J.—August 26, 2019—The USHJA Zones 1 and 2 Jumper Team Championships concluded yesterday with the Individual Final rounds. Hosted at Princeton Show Jumping in New Jersey, 35 horse-and-rider combinations contested a challenging course built by Bernardo Costa Cabral, all vying for medal positions and 2019 Gold Star Emerging Jumper Rider titles.

It was a double-gold-medal weekend for Isabel Mishara and her own Stella Blue, of Wayland, Massachusetts. After winning gold as a member of Zone 1's winning team on Saturday, the duo were the only combination in the 1.10/1.15m Children’s competition to jump four clear rounds, earning them the Children’s Individual Gold Medalist title. “It was amazing; I’m really happy with how we did. We went clear in all the rounds and were really consistent. I trust Stella so much,” Mishara said. “It would have been a lot of pressure to jump off for the gold, so it was nice to have a clear round.”

Kailey Fuchs of Zone 2 jumped off for the silver medal aboard Butterfly Chavannais, while Individual Qualifier winner Jacqueline Van Meter and Maxima 103 from Zone 1 claimed the bronze. 

Zone 1’s Michelle Stacy, of Marstons Mills, Massachusetts, and her IWatch were victorious in a three-way jump-off to claim the 1.10/1.15m Adult Amateur Individual Championship. “Smooth and clean was the plan. IWatch and I were a little bit tired, so the first round was a little shakier than I usually like to give her, and she really stepped up to the plate,” said Stacy. “She’s a dirt bike; she is super easy to turn. She is right on it. She’s looking for the next jump.” 

Stacy was third in the Individual Qualifier and a member of Zone 1's silver medal team, Touch of Class. 

Individual Qualifier winner, and member of the Zone 2 gold medal winning team on Saturday, Kendra Sue Walmer and Electra took the silver medal, with fellow team members Emily Throop and Capitalist earning the bronze.

After competing in the jump-off to win silver for her 1.20/1.30m Junior/Amateur team on Saturday, the Junior/Amateur Individual Championship was won by Hunter Champey and Caprice, of Derminster, Pennsylvania, in Zone 2. “It felt great. I needed to redeem myself from [the] team competition and coming in second. I came into the jump-off feeling really confident. I was thinking, ‘I’ve got to do that inside turn in order to win because these are such great riders,’” Champey said. 

Leigh Gallagher and Inette LVP from Zone 1 finished with the silver medal, and Gwyneth Babington, of Zone 2, rode Navy Blue Tarroy to bronze. 

Of the overall competition, Zone 2 Chef d'Equipe James Benedetto said, “I thought all the riders and horses were excellent and they really came to play. We’ve had a lot of jump-offs, and the horses jumped better and better.”

Individual gold medalists received a variety of awards from Essex Classics and FITS Riding, a pair of Parlanti paddock boots, a medal, a ribbon and a cooler. 

Individual medalists at the USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships will be recognized as 2019 Gold Star Emerging Jumper Riders by awarding them an exclusive 2019 Gold Star Emerging Jumper Rider pin that can be worn at future competitions to distinguish them. At the same time, trainers of these riders will be recognized as 2019 Gold Star Jumper Coaches and receive specialized pins that denote their title. Riders and trainers who receive the designation are also invited to attend one of the USHJA Gold Star Clinics.

All Championship competitors will be recognized as 2019 USHJA Emerging Jumper Riders. During a special orientation session during the riders meeting on Friday, riders, trainers and parents received comprehensive information about how riders can advance through the sport to its highest levels. The session specifically discussed the Show Jumping Athlete Pathway, a joint USHJA-US Equestrian effort that identifies and nurtures Jumping athletes as they advance through the sport to enhance future success for Olympic and international teams representing the United States.

The USHJA extends special thanks to the entire Princeton Show Jumping team for hosting the Championships.

For more information about the USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships, visit ushja.org/ZoneJumper. For more information about the USHJA Emerging Jumper Rider Program, visit ushja.org/EmergingJumper. 

USHJA extends its gratitude to all of our official sponsors, Charles Owen, CWD, Parlantiand Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, and our award sponsors Essex Classics and FITS Riding, that make these programs possible.

Children's/Adult Amateur Jumper Individual Final Results
Rider / Horse / Hometown / Zone
GOLD: Isabel Mishara / Stella Blue / Wayland, Mass. / Zone 1 
SILVER: Kailey Fuchs / Butterfly Chavannais / Sinking Spring, Pa. / Zone 2
BRONZE: Jacqueline Van Meter / Maxima 103 / Ridgefield, Conn. / Zone 1
4: Gianna De Mattheis / Luca Warande Z / Morristown, N.J. / Zone 2
5: Olivia Holtz / Dublin 4 / Villanova, Pa. / Zone 2
6: Ava Kavulich / Makoa / Pennington, N.J. / Zone 2
7: Tiffany Scott / Cabri D’ Authieux Z / Cranbury, N.J. / Zone 2
8: Kenny Reuter / Bolanda VDL / Hillsborough, N.J. / Zone 2

Adult Amateur Jumper Individual Final Results
Rider / Horse / Hometown / Zone
GOLD: Michelle Stacy / IWatch / Marstons Mills, Mass. / Zone 1
SILVER: Kendra Sue Walmer / Electra / Reinholds, Pa. / Zone 2
BRONZE: Emily Throop / Capitalist / Westfield, N,J. / Zone 2
4: Mercy Paine / Chambrinus / New York, N.Y. / Zone 2
5: Faith Kollien / Dominique / Acton, Mass. / Zone 1
6: Julia Wiley / Kobochon / Litchfield, Conn. / Zone 1
7: Barbara Rochford / Butterfly Ambition / Ringoes, N.J. / Zone 2
8: Wendy Chapot Nunn / Cashé / Madison, N.J. / Zone 2

Junior/Amateur Jumper Individual Final Results
Rider / Horse / Hometown / Zone
GOLD: Hunter Champey / Caprice / Derminster, Pa. / Zone 2
SILVER:  Leigh Gallagher / Inette LVP / Westport, Conn. / Zone 1
BRONZE: Gwyneth Babington / Navy Blue Tarroy / Blue Bell, Pa. / Zone 2
4: Clifford Bell / Prized Native / Lebanon, N.J. / Zone 2
5: Lauren Henry / VDL Ferrari / North Kingstown, R.I. / Zone 1
6: Morgan Champey / Diego / Derminster, N.J. / Zone 2
7: Leslie Schillat / SLF Destiny / Malvern, Pa. / Zone 2
8: Stephanie Dixon / Valenzia / Ringoes, N.J. / Zone 2

Release and photos by Paws and Rewind for USHJA