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September 7th 2010

The competition in the 2010 North American League (NAL) is approaching the mid point. With classes in Florida at the Winter Equestrian Festival and the Ocala Horse Show, as well as at other horse shows around the country awarding lots of points, riders are climbing the standings and already setting their sights on the 2010 NAL Finals, held at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA, in October.

The NAL offers a year-long Series in six divisions - Children's Hunter, Adult Hunter presented by Cavalor, Children's Jumper, Adult Jumper, Pony Jumper, and the Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper. The Series includes classes held at hundreds of horse shows across the United States and Canada. The NAL has recently made the decision not to hold classes in its Open Jumper Speed division for 2010.

Riders need not be members of the NAL to compete in the qualifying classes, but only members earn points toward the year-end finals. With the annual membership fee only $35, most riders join in hopes of earning a trip to Harrisburg. The current NAL qualifying period began on September 1, 2009 and runs through August 31, 2010.

"More and more we find riders asking horse shows to be sure to include NAL classes on their schedules," said Lloyd Longenecker. "And it's never too late for riders to start earning points. As soon as a rider signs up, they not only get points for all classes they enter from that point on, but also, thanks to our grace period, for recent classes they've already shown in. Joining the NAL is a great way to qualify for Harrisburg."

In the Children's Hunter division, Lauren Rasmus of Atlanta, GA, led with 1,344 points aboard Excurs. In second place with 1,298 points was Sydney Fadel of Winston Salem, NC, and Arch Angel. Following in third was Emily Green of Memphis, TN, and Matador with 1,101 points.

In the Adult Hunter Division, presented by Cavalor, Mindy Wurzburg of Memphis, TN, and Overseas led the standings with 1,105 points. The pair were the NAL Adult Hunter Division Champions in 2008. In second was Cindy Schmidt of Fallston, MD, and Surfs Up with 1,000 points. In third was Lindsay Ferguson of Newport News, VA, and Amulet with 794 points.

In the Children's Jumper Division, Julia Q. Murray of Lagrange, IL, led with Lord Stanley with 1,750 points. In second was Savannah Talcott of Wildwood, MO, and Trova with 1,423 points. In third place was Abbie Ross of Wheaton, IL, and TNT with 1,214 points. Ross and TNT won last year's $10,000 NAL Children's Jumper Final at Harrisburg.

In the Adult Jumper Division, Raymond Coutley of Lexington Park, MD, led with 1,150 points aboard Navier Stokes. In second was Maxine (Star) Schatten of Franklin, TN, and Colina with 985 points. In third was Kim Shovelin of Fountain, NC, and Jameson with 950 points.

In the Pony Jumper Division, Nicole Kehrli of Glenmoore, PA, led with 186 points aboard Northwind's Opus. Kehrli and Northwind's Opus won last year's $5,000 NAL Pony Jumper Final at Harrisburg. In second was Dana Rizzo of Wall, NJ, and Coraggioso with 78 points. In third was Lauren Antanasio of Douglasville, PA, and Captain with 70 points.

In the Low Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Division, Lucy Blundon of Bethesda, MD, and Uthaliet Utopia led with 869 points. In second was Samantha Schafer of Westminster, MD, and Sugar Ray with 645 points. In third was Liza Finsness of Wellington, FL, and Houston with 621 points.