HITS Hosts Gold Medal Athletes for 2022 Markel/USHJA Zone 1 and 2 Jumper Team Championships
Riders from Zones 1 and 2 showcased their skills throughout three days of exciting competition in HITS-on-the-Hudson’s Grand Prix ring for the 2022 Markel/USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships. With nail-biting jump-offs for team and individual medals, riders had to stay focused and jump clear to earn one of the six coveted gold medals. Team and individual competition was guided by Chefs d’Equipe Annie Dotoli from Zone 1 and James Benedetto from Zone 2, along with Technical Delegate DiAnn Langer, who were all thrilled with the performances of the riders.
“It’s an important series, and the championship itself gives me an opportunity to talk to the professionals about their riders and see them in the ring under pressure,” explained Langer, who acts as Chef d’Equipe during Young Rider Nations Cup events “I’ve already seen a few 12-14-year-olds that are quite nice for the future and we’ll be watching them throughout the year as they come forward. The USHJA is in charge of development from the lowest level up to the 1.40m in the jumpers, and through the educational process of Gold Star we try to reach out and give as much information and as much direction as possible to the juniors. Obviously, we really need the support of amateurs and we recognize that and we want to give them a championship that highlights their achievements in this sport as well.”
Langer added, “This was a great success. The jumper division is growing in leaps and bounds, it is huge, next year we go to regionals which will add a different aspect to it. Like all programs it takes time to get it going, but now I think it’s caught on fire.”
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