North Central Region Riders Shine at USHJA 1.00/1.05m Junior/Amateur Zone Jumper Championships and Markel/USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships

Lexington, Ky.—Sept. 28, 2026—Riders from Zones 5 and 6 competed in the USHJA 1.00/1.05m Junior/Amateur Zone Jumper Championships and Markel/USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships during the Split Rock Fall Classic over September 23-27 in Lexington, Kentucky. Chefs d’Equipe Elaine Schott and Jim Urban guided over 40 athletes as they competed for top honors in each section.  

1.00/1.05m Junior/Amateur Zone Jumper Medalists

Junior Team GOLD: Diamant Brooklyn Smith | Heartbreaker van de Achterhoek | Zone 5 Lillia Downey | Jorno | Zone 5 Elaina Bertoglio | Luciene | Zone 5   SILVER: Sansablaze Gabriella Rivera | Billy Snowdonia | Zone 4 Evelyn Urban | C. Wellie | Zone 7 Emery Barron | Alderford Gold | Zone 6 Cora Greenstreet | Q'Pid SCF | Zone 8   BRONZE: VIP Danica Quadracci | Detroit J | Zone 6 Valerie Sherels | The Honey Monster | Zone 6 Matila Gibson | Campari | Zone 6 Stella Goldman | Tinto des Contes | Zone 6   Junior Individual GOLD: Lillia Downey | Jorno | Zone 5 SILVER: Lola Sturgeon | Cap Grosso | Zone 5 BRONZE: Gabriella Rivera | Billy Snowdonia | Zone 4

Amateur Team GOLD: Simon Monika Ernenwein | Karla | Zone 5 Kara Pellegrini | Wit & Wager | Zone 5 Rachel Michel | Qualibrie S Z | Zone 5 Deeda Howard | Quinto G II | Zone 5   SILVER: Albany Gia Hernandez | Chanintendra PS | Zone 5 Jessica Bertoglio | Pearl of Grey VHL | Zone 5 Lucy Mackowiak | Baywatch | Zone 6   BRONZE: Starman Grace McMorrow | Invicta | Zone 6 Jaclyn Aldrich | Parat | Zone 5 Rylie Ludwig | Edison V | Zone 4   Amateur Individual GOLD: Monika Ernenwein | Karla | Zone 5 SILVER: Deeda Howard | Quinto G II | Zone 5 BRONZE: Anna Nungester | Capriccio | Zone 5

Platinum Jumper Medalists

1.30/1.35m and 1.40/1.45m Team

GOLD: Gemtwist

Laura Douglas | Emelee | Zone 5

Summer Justus | La Belle SCF | Zone 5

Raquel Mazur | Clinline Z | Zone 5

 

SILVER: San Lucas

Mae Mannis | Narissa WB | Zone 4

Elli Yeager | Illusion CL 39 | Zone 4

Samantha Alexis Mackenzie | Nheintje WB | Zone 4

 Jeffrey Tow Arnett | Just Happy Hero Z | Zone 6 

 

BRONZE: Sinjon

Katie Murray | Quentin van Overis | Zone 5

Stephen Foran | Idool | Zone 5

Lauren Hester | Cheslie Colle Z | Zone 5

 

1.30/1.35m and 1.40/1.45m Individual

GOLD: Stephen Foran | Idool | Zone 5

SILVER: Caitlin Hope Rose | Lyminka SH | Zone 5

BRONZE: Campbell Kahn | Gin Tonic 158 | Zone 5

"One of my good friends and a client from my barn was on the team with me, so it was really nice that we got to compete together for the week," remarked Justus, of Gold Medal Team Gemtwist. "I've competed in Platinum Jumper Championships before and always had a good time. [La Belle SCF] is a horse I have a lot of experience with. I've had her for many years, and we've jumped a lot of big tracks around the world together. It was just fun to get her out and compete together."

The USHJA 1.00/1.05m Junior/Amateur Zone Jumper Championships provide riders with a competitive team experience and an opportunity to earn Zone Horse of the Year points in the 1.00/1.05m Junior and Amateur Jumper sections. To qualify, riders must apply and earn a minimum of 20 points in their respective Jumper sections at USEF-licensed competitions by their zone’s deadline, which is 45 days prior to the selected championship. Riders must also be current Active USEF and USHJA Junior or Amateur members in good standing. 

"[Competing here] was really exciting," added Michel, of 1.00/1.05m Amateur Zone Jumper Gold Medal Team Simon. "It's something we've never done before, so it was a new experience, and my horse is new to this too, so it was really rewarding. This is our first full year showing together, and he's young, sweet, and does anything I ask of him, and I couldn't be luckier."

The Zone Jumper and Platinum Jumper 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. 

"I'm super happy with my horse, Karla," exclaimed Ernenwein, 1.00/1.05m Amateur Zone Jumper Individual Gold Medalist and member of Gold Medal Team Simon. "I've had her for about three years, and she just has so much heart. Every time I step in the ring, she wants to win as badly as I do. I saw [this Championship] last year and thought it looked really cool because it's something different from what we normally do."

The USHJA Zone Jumper Championships are open to Junior and Amateur riders at the 1.00/1.05m level, while the Markel/USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships welcome Juniors, Amateurs, and Professionals at the 1.30/1.35m and 1.40/1.45m levels. Participants are recognized as USHJA Emerging Jumper Riders and USHJA Platinum Jumper Riders, respectively, with individual medalists recognized as Gold Star Emerging Jumper Riders or USHJA Show Jumping Platinum Athletes.

"[This Championship] was a lot of fun," said Douglas, of Gold Medal Team Gemtwist. "I've never really ridden on a team before, so it was a fun first experience for us. There was a little bit of pressure, but all the horses were jumping great, and I'm on a very good one, so I felt pretty confident. [Emelee] was really on it. She's coming off a big win a couple of weeks ago, so she was feeling great. It was nice to feel that she was really game and just wanted to jump clear."

For the West Region, the USHJA 1.00/1.05m Junior/Amateur Zone Jumper Championships are set in Temecula, California, at the Temecula Valley Fall National III, October 14-18, with competition for riders from Zones 8, 9, and 10, while the Platinum Jumper Championships will conclude October 28-November 1 at National Sunshine I in Thermal, 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 USHJA 1.00/1.05m Junior/Amateur Zone Jumper Championships, visit ushja.org/lowzonejumper. For more information about the Markel/USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships Program, visit ushja.org/PlatinumJumper.

Photos: Winslow Photography