Wilmington, OH – Sophia Mitchell of Wrightsville Beach, NC, rode Chevito to the Overall Grand Junior Hunter Championship on Sunday, October 4, to conclude the 2020 Capital Challenge Horse Show, held this year at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, OH.
 
On their way to the overall championship win, Mitchell and her own Chevito first clinched the Large Junior Hunter 3’6”, 16-17 division championship, sponsored by Beacon Hill Show Stables. The duo picked up two wins and a third-place finish over fences, as well a second place under saddle to earn the most points of any Junior Hunter 3’6” competitor at this year’s show.
 
“I’m so excited! This horse has never let me down ever,” said Mitchell of Chevito, the 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding that she has had since early 2019. “He really performed. He gave me his all this week, and I’m so happy with how it went.

​Wilmington, OH – Out of a field of more than 75 ponies, Vivian Golden aboard her own Goldhills As You Like It took home the title of Grand Pony Hunter Champion on Saturday, October 3, at the Capital Challenge Horse Show.
 
The Grand Champion title, sponsored by Enchantment Farms was awarded to the Pony Hunter who accumulated the most points over all three divisions. Golden, of Wyomissing, PA, took champion honors in the Medium Pony Hunters with 32 points, winning today’s over fences class and placing second in the Medium Pony Stake, second in the remaining over fences, and third under saddle.
 
“It feels amazing,” the 11-year-old said of her achievement. “We got her last year, and it was a little but of a bumpy road. She was hard to get used to. We weren’t a perfect match together at first, but we have gotten to know each other, and it feels amazing to have accomplished this much.”

​Wilmington, OH – Michael Britt-Leon of Alpharetta, GA, capped off his first trip to the Capital Challenge Horse Show with the victory in the $10,000 World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Professional Finals on Friday, October 2.
 
Six of the country’s top professional hunter riders went head to head at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, OH, with Britt-Leon claiming the title for the first time with an overall score of 186.16 aboard Private I.
 
“It is a dream come true to win the WCHR Professional Finals,” Britt-Leon said of his win. “I have watched this class for a while. Being here in 2020 when it’s been so crazy, just being at a horse show of this caliber, is incredible. It’s been a memorable and wonderful experience. This just put it over the top.”
 
This was Britt-Leon’s very first appearance in the class, and he joined Evan Coluccio, Greg Crolick, Kelley Farmer, Courtney Lenkart, and Geoffrey Hesslink in the line-up to ride for the title.

​Wilmington, OH – Madeline Schaefer of Westminster, MD, claimed both the Grand Amateur-Owner 3’6” Hunter Championship title with Sutton Place and the Grand Amateur-Owner 3’3” Hunter Championship win with Checkmate on Thursday, October 1, at the Capital Challenge Horse Show.
 
The horse show, which continues through Sunday, October 4, at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, OH, also recognized the Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Champion on Thursday, with the award going to Barbara Brungess and Levianto.
 
For Schaefer, the road to the Grand Amateur-Owner 3’3” Hunter Championship, sponsored by Missy Luczak-Smith, began with the Amateur-Owner 3’3”, 18-35 division championship with Checkmate. Schaefer and the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, owned by Samantha Schaefer, won two of the over fences classes and the under saddle class to take the tricolor.
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“I had a really great last two days!” said Schaefer, who aged up into the amateur-owner hunter divisions this year following a highly successful junior career. “It’s a big deal to win a grand championship at Capital Challenge. They always make it feel important. The presentations are always amazing. It’s one of the best shows.