Markel/USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships Crown North Central Region Winners
Lexington, Ky.—Sept. 21, 2026—The Markel/USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships brought together athletes from Zones 5 and 6 during the Split Rock Kentucky National from September 16-20 in Lexington, Kentucky. Under the guidance of Chefs d’Equipe Elaine Schott and Dan Urban, nearly 40 horse-and-rider combinations tackled courses in the Rolex Stadium.
|
1.10/1.15m Junior Team GOLD: Jet Run Ava Lappi | RH Contagion | Zone 6 Keirah Kennedy | La Belle Coral HX | Zone 5 Avery Roper | MTM Unexpected | Zone 5 Savannah Jurs | Ringsgaards Holly | Zone 5
SILVER: Abdullah Samuelle Leerkamp | Malacrianza | Zone 5 Madelyn Davie | Nagoya | Zone 5 Katelyn McPhie | Cantucchini | Zone 5
BRONZE: Balbuco Hadley McBreen | Sapphire Moon | Zone 5 Annabelle Wood | Cobalt de la Pomme Z | Zone 5 Alita Liggett | Poppychin NA | Zone 5
1.10/1.15m Junior Individual GOLD: Savannah Jurs | Ringsgaards Holly | Zone 5 SILVER: Katelyn McPhie | Cantucchini | Zone 5 BRONZE: Annabelle Wood | Cobalt de la Pomme Z | Zone 5 |
1.10/1.15m Amateur Team GOLD: Idle Dice Corinne Mitchell | Chacco Taco | Zone 5 Scott Morrison | Paraselene SCF | Zone 5 Laura Lafnitzegger | Livella | Zone 5
SILVER: Sapphire Samantha Hill | Hematite | Zone 5 Alexis Clancy | Lucas | Zone 5 Emily McTish | MTM Lorde | Zone 5
BRONZE: Snowman Elizabeth Craddock | Muchachomalo VD Knuffel | Zone 5 Chloe Callanan | Pumpkin | Zone 5 Vanessa Mazzoli | Fabulous Van Het Eikehof | Zone 5
1.10/1.15m Amateur Individual GOLD: Vanessa Mazzoli | Fabulous Van Het Eikehof | Zone 5 SILVER: Chloe Callanan | Pumpkin | Zone 5 BRONZE: Emily McTish | MTM Lorde | Zone 5 |
1.20/1.25m Junior/Amateur Team
GOLD: Sympatico
Sofia Funk | N Hickstead's Sun | Zone 5
Eleanor Gentry | Banda | Zone 5
Fiona Von Hartleben | Mary Ann 12 | Zone 5
SILVER: Bold Minstrel
Jeffrey Tow Arnett | Just Happy Hero Z | Zone 6
Devin Handy | Forgotten Lore | Zone 5
Tessa Husband | Loughnavatta Cedar | Zone 5
BRONZE: Starman
Francesca Badalamenti | Imperial Princess | Zone 6
Annelise Detlie | Infinity and Beyond | Zone 6
Brooklyn Webb | Bull Run's Charis | Zone 6
1.20/1.25m Junior/Amateur Individual
GOLD: Sofia Funk | N Hickstead's Sun | Zone 5
SILVER: Francesca Badalamenti | Imperial Princess | Zone 6
BRONZE: Fiona Von Hartleben | Mary Ann 12 | Zone 5
The Zone Jumper Team Championships are part of the USHJA Emerging Jumper Rider Program. The Program serves as the entry point for 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.
"This week was interesting because it was my first time ever riding on a team; taking a more individual sport and giving it a team aspect was really cool," remarked Von Hartleben, member of Gold Medal Team Sympatico and 1.20/1.25m Junior/Amateur Individual Bronze Medalist. "[Mary Ann 12] is amazing. We're coming up on one year of having her in the States, and she's really taken me up the levels and taught me a lot so far. I'm so thankful for her and our team at Fox Hill Training and Sales with Laura Douglas."
The Markel/USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships are open to Junior and Amateur riders at the 1.10/1.15m and 1.20/1.25m levels. Participants are recognized as USHJA Emerging Jumper Rider, with individual medalists recognized as Gold Star Emerging Jumper Riders.
"[This win] is so exciting," added Jurs, member of Gold Medal Team Jet Run and 1.10/1.15m Junior Individual Gold Medalist. "This was the goal I had coming into this weekend. I really wanted to try my best with [Ringsgaards Holly]. This is my first time competing in this [Championship], and we wanted to have clear rounds all weekend, so I'm very happy that I actually won it. I'm super grateful."
The Zone Jumper Team Championships for the West Region (Zones 8, 9, and 10) are set for October 14-18 at Temecula Valley National Fall III in Temecula, California.
The USHJA extends special thanks to the team at Split Rock Jumping Tour for hosting this Championship. The USHJA also thanks official sponsors Herm Sprenger, Nutrena, Parlanti, and Stridefull; title sponsor Markel Insurance; and supporting sponsor Essex Classics.
For more information about the Markel/USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships, visit ushja.org/ZoneJumper.
Photos: Winslow Photography
