Riders Set Sights on 2009 Capital Challenge

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Written by Michelle Bloch

Sunday, 21 June 2009 21:39

The 2009 Capital Challenge Horse Show marks the sixteenth year for the competitive event held each autumn at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. Unlike other fall indoor horse shows, the Capital Challenge does not require most of the riders attending to qualify in order to compete, with the exception of two events. Riders competing in the ARIAT National Adult Medal and Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children’s Medal spend a year collecting points at shows across the country in order to qualify for the year-end finals held at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center.

     The Capital Challenge will be held this year from September 26 – October 4. The THIS National Children’s Medal Finals will take place on Sunday, September 27th and the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals will be held on Friday, October 2nd.
     Riders are currently over the halfway mark in the qualifying period for both events. As of June 12th the national standings for the ARIAT National Adult Medal are as follows: the leading rider with 898 points is Deirdre DePrisco Radler from Boca Raton, FL. In second is Emma Mann-Meginniss from Brooklyn, NY, with 880 points. In third is Courtney Grimm of Green Cove Springs, FL, with 570 points.
     In the THIS National Children’s Medal race, the leading national rider with 2000 points is Alexa Bayko of Salisbury, MA. Bayko placed fourth in the 2008 THIS National Children’s Medal Finals riding Crespo. Bayko’s 2000 points give her a good lead over Lucille Oken of Charlotte, NC, who hangs in second with 1106 points. Currently holding the third position is Adeline Audette of Fall River, MA with 1058 points.
     In addition to these two prestigious year-end events, the Capital Challenge Horse Show will host the World Champion Hunter Rider Finals and will bring together the country’s best horses and riders to compete in hunter, jumper and equitation classes.