The Capital Challenge Horse show wrapped up another year of fantastic competition today and finished with younger junior and children's hunters. Victoria Colvin swept the junior hunter awards today by winning all four tricolors. She and Scott Stewart's Ovation were awarded the Grand Junior Hunter Championship sponsored by Lochmoor Stables/Mindy and Greg Darst, while the Grand Children's Hunter Championship went to Rosebud and Audrey Layman. The Capital Challenge Horse Show is held at the Prince George's Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD.

    Colvin and Ovation won through their championship performance in the Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under division. They were also the High Point Junior Hunter 15 & Under, sponsored by Susie and Weatherly Stroh. Colvin swept the Small Junior Working Hunter 15 & Under division sponsored by Cynthia Williams/New England Farm; she was also reserve champion on Sanzibar, owned by Karen Long Dwight and Barbara Ridder Irwin. Ovation jumped to two blue ribbons and a fourth place, and he won the under saddle class. Sanzibar finished second, third, and fifth over fences and was sixth under saddle.

    Ovation, an 11-year-old Warmblood gelding, competed at Devon with Colvin and they were champions at Lake Placid, but both horse and rider have taken a break from showing for the past few weeks. Colvin described Ovation as having “the best canter.” She added, “It's like a couch and it's perfect. He jumps good, but it doesn't feel like it, so you don't get popped out of the tack and you don't fall off.”

    For their win, Colvin and Ovation were presented with The Spontaneous Perpetual Trophy donated by the Listrani Family. Colvin was named the Best Junior Rider, an award sponsored by Karen Healey and Karen Healey Stables. The EMO Junior Trip of the show went to Small Affair and Olivia Esse, who were champions in the Large Junior 16-17 Hunter division yesterday.

    The champion in the Large Junior Working Hunter 15 & Under division sponsored by Oscany Inc, was Dr. Betsee Parker's Way Cool, a nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Embassy. They placed first, first, and second over fences. Inclusive, owned by Scott Stewart, was second, second, and third for the reserve championship.

 

   The $10,000 North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Challenge Cup Final Round, presented by The Oken Family, highlighted the evening session today at the Capital Challenge Horse Show. Kaitlin Campbell (20) of Washington, D.C., and Rocky W jumped to the win. Earlier in the day, the Grand Pony Hunter Championship was presented to For the Laughter, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, and Meredith Darst. The Capital Challenge Horse Show, held at the Prince George's Equestrian Center, will run through Sunday, October 9.

  

 There were 29 entries in tonight's final round, which was held in jump-off format. There were eight clear rounds, and they went for speed over the shortened course, designed by Ken Krome. The fastest time was set by winners Campbell and Rocky W with no faults in 35.830 seconds.

 Victoria Colvin rode Waminka for Rivers Edge to second place in 36.917 seconds. Tracey Weinberg and Larone placed third in 38.267 seconds.

   Campbell studies at American University in Washington, D.C., and despite taking tests this week, she was able to commute to the horse show. She had taken a month off from showing to be at school, and this was their first show back since they won a grand prix in Kentucky.

   “He was a little fresh yesterday, which worked out since it was a speed class. Today he went in there and after he jumped the first jump, I thought, 'Yeah, he's got this today.' He felt amazing,” she said.

   Campbell returned last in the jump-off, but had her plan set before she walked in the ring. “I didn't see Tori, but I heard her time and figured she went inside to the vertical,” she explained. “I knew my horse could handle that, and he covers ground pretty fast.”

   In the turn to the final gallop to an oxer, Campbell and Rocky W turned on the afterburners and flew over the final jump. When asked what she thought of the last obstacle, she laughed, “Just kick! Sometimes you have to hope you get lucky and leave them up!”

   Campbell showed in the Challenge Cup as a junior rider with Rocky W, but this time the result was different. “ When I did Capital Challenge as a junior, (I) won the first day and I couldn't hold it together for the second day. So this year, after I won the first day, I really wanted to make sure I kept it the second day.”

In three weeks, Campbell and Rocky W will contest the open jumpers at the Washington International Horse Show, known for its strong field of international show jumpers. Winning here has given her great preparation going into her next indoor show. “This was definitely a nice show to come back into. I'm glad I got a good show in beforehand,” she said. “My trainers help run the horse show, so it's always good to bring one home for the home team. This is a great show.  I've done it since I was on ponies. It's nice to be able to do it on the bigger jumpers now.”

 

   For their win in the final round, Campbell was presented with the Remy Martin Perpetual Trophy donated by Rolling Acres and Melanie Wright. By winning the overall Challenge Cup, she was awarded the Ariat Congressional Cup. The Best Junior Jumper Rider Award was given to Victoria Colvin, while Campbell won the Best Amateur Jumper Rider Award sponsored by Lyman T. Whitehead and Eight Fences, LLC.

    The Grand Pony Hunter Championship sponsored by Lochmoor Stables/Mindy and Greg Darst was awarded to Meredith Darst and Dr. Betsee Parker's For the Laughter, who picked up the championship in the Large Pony Hunters sponsored by Heritage Farm. They won all four over fences classes and were second in the under saddle. The reserve championship went to West Side and Barbara Ann Merryman, who rode for Scott Stewart. They placed second and third over fences and were third in the under saddle.