NEWSFLASH: Victoria Birdsall wins the North American Junior Equitation Championships

Written by Michelle Bloch

Sunday, 03 October 2010 12:40

Victoria Birdsall of Topsfield, Mass., bested a field of 80 riders to lead the Victoria Birdsall captured the title in the North American Equitation Championships. Photo by Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Victoria Birdsall captured the title in the North American Equitation Championships. Photo by Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

victory gallop in the North American Junior Equitation Championships held in the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD. Birdsall, 16, dominated the two-round class with scores of 88.95 and 91.80 and was asked to return for additional testing along with Hayley Barnhill, Abby O'Mara and Amber Henter.
     Testing in reverse order, Birdsall was the final rider to face a test designed by the panel of five judges [Jeff Ayers; Rob Bielefeld; Bob Crandall; Randy Mullins; Steve Wall]. The course included a series of six jumps, a trot test and a counter canter at the end of the ring.
     Although the first three riders chose to execute a flying change to the counter canter on the turn to the final fence, Birdsall opted for the more conservative option of bringing Baheera back to the walk before picking up the counter canter.
     She explained why she made that choice saying, “It was on kind of a rounded turn and I know he would have probably done the lead change, but I didn't want to risk it being on top by two points. I just wanted to play it safe and not risk throwing it all away for a stupid mistake like trying to show off when it wasn't as necessary.”
     Scoring an 88 in the final round Birdsall held her lead and earned the blue.