Tedra Bates Tops Monarch International/NHJC Equitation Flat Championship

Riders from all parts of the country take top honors on the opening day of the Capital Challenge

Upper Marlboro, MD - (September 28, 2002) It was a successful day for the California contingent on the opening day of the Capital Challenge Horse Show in Upper Marlboro, MD. Tedra Bates of Carmel, Ca., topped a field of 37 riders to win the Monarch International/NHJC Equitation Flat Championship. The Championship class is held in a dressage test format. Bates, 17, has a background of three-day eventing and was right at home in the dressage ring.

"Actually, I really love dressage," said Bates. "It's fun, especially when you get to the higher levels. It really helps me. It's also something to do while I'm home with my horses."

Bates began her riding career at the age of nine, working with local three-day event trainers. She now rides with well-known equitation trainer Karen Healy in Thousand Oaks, California.

"I came to Karen four years ago when my trainer said I had to be a well-rounded rider," said Bates who chose Healy for her students' record of success in the equitation ring. She added, "I went to the eq ring and I just got attached."

The high-school senior at San Catalina school in Monterey, Ca., was second in the dressage class two years ago riding the same horse, Liberal. She purchased the nine-year-old warm blood from Healy and the pair has been quite successful.

Bates also rides Justinian. That pair collected a first, a fourth and a third in the 16-year-old equitation over fences classes as well as a third on the flat.

Besting Bates in two of the over-fence classes in the 16-year-old division and earning the championship ribbon was Courtney McKay of Ocala, Florida. McKay was riding Skywalker to the top honors.

In the 15-year-old division Randy Sherman of Pasadena, California, bested a field of 20 to earn the blue in two of the three over fence classes and picked up the reserve championship.

Although Sherman is no stranger to the victory gallop, he was surprised by his performance at the show. He explained, "I flew in late last night, and I didn't go to sleep until about midnight because I'm on California time. I had to get up at 4:30am and as soon as I woke up my head was killing me. I was shaking. So I was quite surprised to win today."

He jokingly added, "Usually when I have energy I stand up in the turns, but I had no energy so I sat and so I guess that looked better."

Riding Editorial, a well-known equitation veteran, the pair most recently won the ASPCA Maclay regionals in Connecticut. Sherman and Editorial have been teamed up since the Lake Placid (NY) shows in July, and he is thrilled to be riding the grey gelding.

"He's one of the nicest horses I've ever ridden, for sure," said Sherman who trains with Suzie Schroer and Dick and Francie Carvin of Meadowgrove Farm.

Another rider to sweep two of the over-fence classes of their division was Daisy Johnson of New York, New York. Johnson rode Officer in the 14-and-under equitation division and went on to collect a second on the flat riding Charmer. Johnson collected the championship as well.

Brother and sister, Charlie and Maggie Jayne of Elgin, Illinois, each will take home a championship from the Capital Challenge this year. Charlie picked up the tri-color in the 15-year-old division riding Ivy, while his sister did the same in the 17-year-old division aboard Grappa.

Tomorrow's showdown of equitation riders will take place in the Show Place Arena starting at 8am. There the top riders will compete for the title of the Monarch International/NHJC Equitation Championship.

The Capital Challenge Horse Show runs through Sunday, October 7th and features top hunter competition as wells year-end finals in the Ariat National Adult Medal, Stateline Tack National Children's Medal and Marshall & Sterling Hunter and Jumper classes. Admission is free throughout the week. For more information please contact the show office at 301-952-7944/7945 or look for scheduling, results, photos and more on the official website - www.capitalchallengehorseshow.com.