Lexington, Ky., October 23, 2009 — Four U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) Eventing National One Star Championships were contested at the Kentucky Horse Park October 15-18. Held in conjunction with the Haygard MidSouth 3Day and Team Challenge Horse Trials, competitors flocked from all parts of the country to vie for the National One Star Championships.?
Showing once again that eventing is not for the faint of heart, competitors endured near frigid temperatures, deluges of rain and blustery conditions. However, riders were undeterred by the weather and took every opportunity to showcase their beautifully turned-out and fit horses.
Erin Freedman (Oak Hill, Va.) and her 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, Viola, captured the USEF National One Star Championship over Jamie Price and Poker Run. Freedman led the competition from start to finish adding just 4.4 time faults on the cross country to her winning dressage score of 41.6.
In the USEF Junior Championship 15-year-old Noelle Varga (Louisville, Ky.) and Great Scot put in a consistent performance over the weekend in spite of the chilly conditions to take home the blue ribbon.
Elinor MacPhail came from Johnstown, Ohio, with her Selle Francais gelding, Parador Mail, to win the USEF 19 to 21-Year-Old Championship.
In addition to a third place overall finish Kassidy Kirchner (Ellettsville, Ind.) and Umi were also awarded the USEF National Amateur Championship. Kirchner was one of the few competitors to not add a single penalty point over the weekend and finish on her dressage score of 47.2. Emily Rose Evans (Nashville, Tenn.) and Read All Over took home the reserve championship in the amateur division.