NHJC PRESENTS INAUGURAL NATIONAL FINALS HORSE
SHOW
The NHJC is teaming up with the organizers of the
Capital Challenge Horse Show (Maryland) to host the first annual NHJC National
Finals Horse Show. Special championships will be presented in each of the rated
hunter and jumper divisions, as well as the Capital Challenge/NHJC Equitation
Classic. In keeping with the goal of including all twelve zones, each zone is
eligible to send one entry per division. This year, horses will qualify for
their respective hunter and jumper divisions based on AHSA Zone Horse of the
Year standings as of August 1, 2001.
For the first time, the top horses from each zone will be able to compete
head-to-head on a national level, thus creating a true national event. "We
wanted to showcase the best of the best, and we also felt strongly about
including the zones, all of the zones," stated NHJC President Tom
Struzzieri. Organizers of the Capital Challenge have guaranteed twelve zone
entry slots in each AHSA rated hunter and jumper division, in addition to the
entries expected through the horse show's qualifying criteria.
The top point earning zone horse based on the championship chart will be named
the NHJC National Finals Champion for each hunter section. In the jumper
division, the highest placed zone horse in the classics for Children's, Adult
Amateur, Junior and Amateur Owner Jumpers will earn the NHJC National Finals
Champion title. The Open Jumper winner will be awarded to the horse/rider
combination earning the most points in the $10,000 Welcome Stake and the
$30,000 Grand Prix. Qualifying details are available from the NHJC or may be
downloaded from its website (www.nhjc.org).
Junior Equitation riders will also vie for a NHJC National Finals title. Each
competitor in the Capital Challenge Equitation class will represent his or her
zone, and the winner of the class will also receive a special award from the
NHJC. The Board of Governors plans to expand the equitation division in the
future to include adults and other levels of junior-aged riders.
Along with individual awards, the NHJC will present team awards by zone in both
the hunter division and the jumper division. The NHJC will also be involved in
various hospitality aspects of the show, as well as staffing an information
booth with materials about the Council. The following divisions and sections
are designated as NHJC National Finals at the Capital Challenge Horse Show:
Green Conformation Hunters Open Conformation Hunters
1st Year Green & 2nd Yr Green Hunters Regular Working Hunters
Small Junior Hunters 15 & under Large Junior Hunters 15 & under
Small Junior Hunters 16-17 Large Junior Hunters 16-17
Amateur/Owner Hunters 18-35 Amateur Owner Hunters 36 & over
Children's Hunters Adult Amateur Hunters
Children's Jumpers Adult Amateur Jumpers
Junior Jumpers Amateur/Owner Jumpers
Open Jumpers Small Pony Hunters
Medium Pony Hunters Large Pony Hunters
Junior Equitation
For more information about the NHJC National Finals Horse Show at the Capital
Challenge, September 29-October 7, 2001 at the Price George's Country
Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, contact NHJC Executive Director Sue
Pinckney at (845) 876-4397 or visit the NHJC website at www.nhjc.org. For
information on the Capital Challenge Horse Show, contact Oliver Kennedy at
(410) 997-5319.
______________________________
The National Hunter/Jumper Council is the official hunter/jumper discipline
organization of the American Horse Shows Association. As such, the NHJC seeks
to represent the interests of all hunter/jumper competitors, horse shows, and
organizations in the United States. The NHJC is divided into 12 geographic
zones, with the chairmen and vice-chairmen from each zone serving on the
Council's 30 member Board of Governors. Each chairman of the six AHSA
hunter/jumper discipline committees serves also, rounding out the 30 member
governing board. In addition, the NHJC has many other committees dealing with
specific issues relevant to the hunter/jumper sport, such as education, grass
roots, stewards, judges, show management, show standards, drugs and
medications, young rider and junior jumper championships, and planning. The
NHJC is also committed to communicating with its hunter/jumper constituency
through a variety of media, including "Horse Show" magazine, the NHJC
website (www.nhjc.org), and its quarterly newsletter, "The Council
Connection." For more information, contact Marnye Langer, Director of
Communications.
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