Page Tredennick rode First Date to the top of the North American League (NAL) Adult Hunter Championships held at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, Pa.  The pair dominated the two-round class scoring an 87 in the first round and 78 in the second to take home the blue ribbon to Littleton, CO.

            Thirty-two horses qualified for the year-end finals and after a first round twelve were asked to return for the second go over a shortened course.  Because Tredennick and First Date had posted the highest first-round score the pair was last to return for the second trip.  Victoria Watters of Cincinnati, OH, rode Eye Remember Rio to scores of 85 and 79, giving them a competitive combined total of 164. Tredennick needed better than a 77 in her final trip to win the class.

            She thought before entering the ring, "Don't muck it up.”  First Date, a nine-year-old Selle Francais gelding, did his part too and the pair edged out Watters to hold the lead.

            Tredennick said of her round, “We were a little too quiet into the first fence, but then got going. He's like riding a large pony, but without the 'pony' attitude.  He always goes and is always in the ribbons." 

            Tredennick owns and operates Wood Run Farm in Castle Rock, Co., and has been riding since she was ten. She trains with Susan Bagninski in St. Louis, Mo., but Louise Serio helped her at the Pennsylvania National.

            The 51-year-old rider has qualified for the NAL class the last three years. She admits she enjoys the adult division.  She said, “There are a lot of people who really don't need to be running around over 3'6." They are a lot better suited to 3'.  Then they can compete, not just be in the "Also Ran" category.   If you are going to be competitive at 3'6," you have to practice more.  The Adults are bringing along the next generation of riders. It's nice to give them a place where they can be competitive.”

         The North American League (NAL) runs season-long series in six hunter-jumper divisions – Children’s Hunter, Children’s Jumper, Adult Hunter, Adult Jumper, Pony Jumper and Open Jumper Speed.  Each series culminates with a championship final at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA in October.  Riders need not be members of the NAL to compete in any qualifying classes, but only current members earn points toward year-end finals. 

Place/horse/rider

1 FIRST DATE /Page Tredennick

2 EYE REMEMBER RIO /Victoria Watters

3 LANCOME/Brittany Yates

4 BLUE OCTOBER/Cecilia Halsey

5 SENSATION /Lara McPherson

6 KING LEAR /Laura Lee Montross

7 MR FLASH/Amelia Hershey

8 FLAGLAR/Donna Struve

9 LOLA /Amelia Hershey

10 5 O CLOCK SOMEWHERE /Emily Straw-Colella

11 GALWAY BAY /Cecilia Halsey

12 DUBYA /Elizabeth Sponseller