Harrisburg, Pa. – October 20, 2024 – Five new champions and two grand champions were crowned in the Penn National Children’s and Adult Hunter Championships, presented by Marshall + Sterling on Friday and Saturday, October 18-19, 2024, at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA.
Earning the Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Championship, sponsored by Dorli Burke/Meadow Lark Farm, were Andee Holland and Lochridge Prince. In the Children’s Hunters, the grand championship title, sponsored by Walkenbach Equestrian, went to Sofia Hughes and Leo Lamour.
“It’s so exciting!” said Holland of earning both the grand championship and the division tricolor in the Adult Amateur Hunters 50 & Over, sponsored by Fayetteville Farm/Meg Giannetti. “I really have a good time when I’m here [at the PNHS].”
Holland – who has trained with Jimmy Torano for nearly a decade – has been partnered with “Prince” for roughly the past four years, and she describes her relationship with the Dutch Warmblood gelding as having come a long way in that time.
“He was always lovely, but our partnership has meshed; we’ve just gotten really good together,” explained Holland of the horse that she rode two second places and a win over fences, as well as a win in the under saddle. “He’s so adjustable, and he goes from almost any distance; you have a little wiggle room with him. He’s really just so sweet on the ground and just a lovely boy.”
For the grand championship, Holland was awarded the A Bit of Thom Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by Maria Cognetti. Finishing as the reserve champions behind Holland and Lochridge Prince in the Adult Amateur Hunters 50 & Over were Jeanine Cash and Fine By Me.
In the Adult Amateur Hunters 36-49, the championship was awarded to Mary Roth and Bentley.
“Bentley and I just started working together this year, starting in Lake Placid,” said Roth, who trains with Emil Spadone. “We showed together there and were reserve. Then we showed at [HITS Hudson Valley] this summer and had a championship there. Then, we didn’t show for a couple months; so, we came back together for this show, and I’m really grateful to have Emil and to get to ride [Bentley] this weekend.”
Roth continued, “It’s just unbelievable! I took about an 18-year break from riding, and I started again a couple of years ago with Emil, so this is just a really wonderful thing and really rewarding. I’m very excited.”
Roth, who works as a real estate agent in New York City when she’s not in the saddle, showed in the pony hunter divisions at the PNHS as a kid but did not get to return to the event at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex until last year. Now, she hopes “to make it an annual appearance from here on out!”
Taking the reserve championship in the Adult Amateur Hunters 36-49 were Rita Krejci and Halston.
In the Adult Amateur Hunters 18-35, Alexa Bing piloted her 18-year-old Selle Français gelding, Subtil, to the championship.
“He’s one of a kind!” said Bing of Subtil, who she rode to a first and second place over fences. “My trainers saw him about three and a half years ago, and he was actually just supposed to be like a three-month lease. Three years later, I have him now, and he’s mine forever! He’s an amazing horse. He’s my heart horse. I would do anything for him, and he tries his hardest every single time.”
The reserve championship in the Adult Amateur Hunters 18-35 went to Brooke Cole and Poetic Justis.
The Penn National Adult Amateur Hunters concluded on Friday, October 18, with the $10,000 Marshall + Sterling Penn National Adult Amateur Hunter Finals, where the win went to Kimberley Simmons and Forte.
With the Adult Amateur Hunters completed on Friday, the Penn National Children’s Hunters took center stage in the Keystone Arena on Saturday, October 19.
In the Children’s Hunters 15-17, sponsored by Walkenbach Equestrian, two wins over fences, the championship and, ultimately, the grand championship went to Sofia Hughes and Leo Lamour. The reserve championship was awarded to Natalie Townsend and Exclusive.
In the Children’s Hunters 14 & Under, also sponsored by Walkenbach Equestrian, Kenzie Smith and Sundown took home the championship with two wins over fences. After being presented with their tricolor Smith and the 9-year-old Zangersheide gelding returned to also earn the win in the $10,000 Marshall + Sterling Penn National Children’s Hunter Finals.
The reserve championship in the Children’s Hunters 14 & Under went to Sienna Smith and Skyhawk. For full results of all Penn National Children’s and Adult Hunter Championships classes, visit pnhs.showmanagementsystem.com.
