South Region for Markel/USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships and Markel/USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships Crown Winners for Zones 3, 4 and 7

Mill Spring, N.C.—July 25, 2023—The Markel/USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships and Markel/USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships for the South Region took to Tryon International Equestrian Center, July 18-23. Zones 3, 4 and 7 competed throughout the week for top tricolors as Chefs d'Equipe Sandra Ruiz from Zone 3, Megan Thiel from Zone 4 and Whitney LaBrie from Zone 7 oversaw the competition.

"I participated in the championships because I saw it as an opportunity to compete in an event in a team format. It’s not often in this sport that we get the chance to have teammates," said Alexander Winslow, from Raleigh, North Carolina, and 1.10/1.15m Children's Team gold medalist rider. "It was great meeting other riders from Zones 3, 4 and 7. I just moved up to the 1.10m in January, so this was also a way to stretch myself and have a goal to focus on. It felt great to achieve my goal of qualifying."

Team Medalists

"I am still on cloud 9 about winning and still can’t believe it really happened," exclaimed Amber Lee, Gold 1.10/1.15m Adult Amateur Team medalist and Bronze Individual medalist and native to Aiken, South Carolina. "Getting on the podium for Team Gold and Individual Bronze is just surreal! On day one I was pretty bummed to have a rail and been the drop score for my team. We came back on day two double clear and helped the team to first place! I love my little pocket rocket of a horse!" 

"I participated in the Championships because it is a great opportunity to experience working with a team. My favorite part of the week was definitely the team days because it allowed me to decorate my horse and to enjoy success with my teammates," said Gold medalist rider Veronica Feeley of Canton Georgia. "It honestly feels amazing to have won both Team and Individual. I have the best partner, Cascal E, who always tries his heart out for me and I’m so grateful for him. The team experience was a good way to meet new friends, and to work together on making our result the best it could be!"

"I have done these championships in the past and have always had a blast! My trainer Sandra Ruiz is very involved in all of Zone 3 and she encourages everyone to participate. I’ll never go to the Olympics so this is the closest thing to getting that experience," said Juliette Landis, of Daniels, West Virginia, and 1.20/1.25m Amateur Team Gold medalist. "It’s a great experience that I will never forget and I would definitely recommend it to everyone. I have met so many amazing people through these championships over the years and everyone should do it at least once." 

"This was the first year I had a Jumper, so this was my first opportunity to compete [in the Championships]. It was very fun meeting new people and having to rely on them to win. Competing on a team also adds more pressure so as to not let the team down," said Zoe Mielenz, Junior Gold Team medalist in the 1.20/1.25m division from Collierville, Tennesse. "I had a great experience overall for my first year competing in the championships and I would highly recommend others to compete in the following years." 

Individual Medalists

"I had a great experience at the Championships. I recommend everyone who qualifies to give it a try. The rider meeting the first day was very informative and helpful giving me a better idea of how the weekend would run and how scoring works. The prizes were even greater than I could imagine from Markel and USHJA. Tryon was the perfect location because the big stadium ring makes you feel really special being on the big jumbotron," said Lee on her experience. 

Each team and individual earning gold received champion coolers and ribbons. For her efforts in the 1.10/1.15m Children's/Adult Amateur Zone Jumper individual section, Haverfield was awarded a pair of Parlanti paddock boots. Gold individual medalist in the 1.20/1.25m Junior/Amateur Zone Jumper, Merna, received a CWD certificate.  

The Zone Jumper Team Championships and Platinum Jumper Championships are part of the USHJA Emerging Jumper Rider Program, which rewards competitive achievement with education to advance athletes in the sport. 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.

The Markel/USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships provide Children's and Adult Amateur Jumper (1.10/1.15m) and 1.20/1.25m Juniors and Amateur competitors both team and individual competition. All competitors are recognized as USHJA Emerging Jumper Riders and individual medalists are recognized as Gold Star Emerging Jumper Riders.

The Markel/USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships are the highest level of the USHJA Emerging Jumper Rider Program and are open to qualified juniors, amateurs and professionals competing at 1.30/1.35m and 1.40/1.45m fence heights. All Championship competitors are recognized as USHJA Platinum Jumper Riders and individual medalists are designated as USHJA Show Jumping Platinum Athletes.

Individual medalists and their trainers are also invited to attend one of two Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund/USHJA Gold Star Clinics scheduled for the early part of the next year. Each clinic includes four days of mounted and unmounted instruction from Olympic-caliber clinicians and industry professionals.

One more Markel/USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships and Markel/USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships will be held during the 2023 competition season. The West Zone Jumper Team Championships for Zones 8, 9 and 10 will be held October 18-22 at Temecula Valley National Horse Shows in Temecula, California, while the Platinum Jumper competition will be held November 29-December 3 at Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, California.

The USHJA extends special thanks to the team at Tryon International Equestrian Center for hosting these Championships. The USHJA also thanks official sponsors CWD, Nutrena and Parlanti and the title sponsor Markel Insurance.

For more information about the Markel/USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships, visit ushja.org/ZoneJumper. For more information about the Markel/USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships Program, visit ushja.org/PlatinumJumper.

Photos: Natalie Suto Photography