The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs close with regional superstars showcase.
Photos courtesy of Tina Fitch
The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs wrapped four days of offering something for everybody. The action ranged from international riders pursuing team spots for the U.S. and other countries to Pony Clubbers showing off horsemanship research projects and USEA Mentorship Program participants learning alongside veterans in the judge’s booth, controller’s tower and announcer’s station. USEA Area VI Championship contenders in levels from Preliminary to Starter enjoyed a world class stage and Team Challenges for collegiate, high school and middle school eventers stirred spirited competition.
The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs took place Oct. 28-Nov. 1, including the USEA Area VI Championships.
The Galway Downs team, including its wonderful volunteer crew, accommodated the Eventing Championships’ ever-growing agenda with its trademark can-do approach. And familiar issues – like steady rain on Saturday night – were handled with relative ease. Originally scheduled for two rings, Sunday’s Area VI Championships and Horse Trials show jumping all moved into the Grand Prix Arena. That way, everybody could warm up under cover of the beautiful new covered arena and benefit from wet but excellent footing in the venue’s marquee arena.
Equestrians throughout the country are bookmarking Galway Downs’ calendar. With the Isabell Werth Autumn in the Arena Masterclass Nov. 7-8 and an Intercollegiate Horse Show Association hunter/jumper tournament Nov. 13-15, there’s already a lot coming up. There’s more exciting equestrian calendar additions in 2027, so stay tuned!
Meantime, please meet our USEA Area VI Champions…
Preliminary Championships – Amber Birtcil & Oxford K
Northern California-based Amber Birtcil continues domination of the young horse world with Oxford K standing out in her perpetual pipeline of talented horses from Holland.
Last year’s Area VI Novice/Training Champion, Oxford K started with crazy good dressage, earning an 18.1. That gave the Cellar Farm Corp’s 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood ample margin for 13.6 time penalties on cross-country, and double clear show jumping put them atop this seven-horse division on a 32.4.
“He’s an amazing horse with an amazing jump and all the other pieces,” said Birtcil. After winning the USEA Young Event Horse 4-Year-Old Championships in 2023, Oxford enjoyed a year in Birtcil’s home field to “grow up.” It reflects the patience and individualization for which her horse development program is known. Whether it’s moving them up a level or letting them have a year in the field, “I let them tell me,” she said.
Lauren Bebb and EPA Mo Chara are Reserve Champions on a 37.3, followed by Lindsay Wagner and GCS Ardeo Jupiter on a 45.
Open Modified Championships – Samantha Ehrlich & Midnight Endeavour
High school freshman Samantha Ehrlich and Midnight Endeavour completed a great first year together, finishing on their 23 dressage score to take the title.
Erhlich bought the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare from Tom Jackson in the UK. She is naturally suited for dressage and Samantha is proud to have learned to shape her spirited nature in the right direction. Getting the mare to relax through her back and push from behind benefits all three phases. The combination is a big confidence boost for Ehrlich, who’s new to the level and hopes to advance to CCI1* next year.
The student of Mikalya Howard at Northern California’s Avon Eventing loved the Championships atmosphere at Galway Downs. “It’s important to keep the younger generations excited about eventing, and it really helps to have such an exciting atmosphere here.”
Keelari Mauzy and West Coast Cooley are runners-up on a 33.2. Kassandra McMillan and Lovin Me, who led after dressage on 22, had a tough day with a compulsory retirement after five fences felled.
Modified/Training Championship – Amber Birtcil & Red Rag VDL
Amber Birtcil returned to the winners circle with another young star – 5-year-old Dutch Warmblood Red Rag VDL. They finished on their 27.3 dressage score. Like most of the horses Birtcil imports from Holland, Red Rag VDL spent his 4-year-old year there learning basics in young horse jumping shows, before coming to the States to learn eventing. “He’s quite a big mover, so he’s been a little slower to develop than some of our other 5-year-olds,” Birtcil said. “He’s just getting better and better and I think he’ll be impressive as a 6-year-old, too.”
Birtcil’s horses “come in all different shapes and sizes,” she shared. But they’re all “uphill, super athletic, have great brains and are super trainable.”
Kayleen Crowley and Just Jam are reserve champions on a 27.6, adding only fractional time penalties on cross-country and show jumping to their dressage effort. Erin Kellerhouse and Jonty are third on a 32.6.
Senior Training Rider Championships – Isabella Degner & Supah Heat
A 19.7 dressage score started a fine season finalé for this five-year partnership between 20-year-old Isabella Degner and her 13-year-old Thoroughbred. The pair who trains with Lauren LoPiccolo Eventing started together at Novice and progressed to CCI1* before Supah Heat needed a year off to recover from a surgery.
“I was really proud of him for being able to focus so well in dressage,” said Degner, a Sierra Community College student. Double clear cross-country was especially great because “I did not ride well!” she shared. “He stepped up for me and he was the best he’s ever been out there.” Concern about the wet track for show jumping in the Grand Prix Arena prompted Degner to take careful routes, but they finished clear and penalty free to secure the win.
Degner was happy to know that her score would contribute to her Intercollegiate Eventing Team Challenge squad’s standing for the weekend. She hopes to return to the CCI1* level next year, including returning to Galway Downs for the added attraction of the USEA’s Fall Intercollegiate Championships set to debut here Nov. 4-7 of 2027.
Rylin Clarke and Nehoa were Reserve Champion on a 25, and Amanda Topacik and American Quest were 3rd on a 26.8.
Junior Training Rider Championships – Georgia Myers & Maudlin’s Miss America
Fourteen-year-old Georgia Myers edged out her twin sister Molly by just .1 penalty, and both were thrilled with their weekend. Taking the title on a 29.6 with her 14-year-old Connemara mare, Maudlin’s Miss America, Georgia admitted her happy surprise. “I didn’t come here expecting to win!”
A former broodmare, Miss America had not evented before joining the Myer family 18 months ago. “I knew she loved to jump and that she had some talent, so we tried her at Novice last fall.” The mare loves cross-country, where they were faultless, and Georgia took full responsibility for their one rail in show jumping.
Molly Myers and Highly Likely finished on their 27.7 dressage score. They started their partnership at Novice, at Galway this past spring. They have a Modified completion from Ram Tap in October and used that experience for a solid finish at Training.
The Myers girls have always had horses – and Connemara ponies – in their life. They keep them at home, working on their own and with their mother Melissa Myer. They’re coached by Allyson (Hartenburg) Pucccinelli at shows and contributed good scores to the trainer’s Interscholastic Equestrian League Team Challenge squad.
Training Novice Champion – Amber Birtcil & Viking Viko Van De Dreef
Northern California professional Amber Birtcil rode into the winners circle yet again, with Viking Vido Van De Dreef, a 5-year-old Belgian Warmblood. They held their 24.1 dressage with all clear jumping to land the title.
Natalie Deitcher and FE Uncle Ben are Reserve Champions on a 28.9, followed by Olga Londa and Rassan ES Pacino in 3rd on a 36.1.
Beginner Novice Champion – Laura Bentley & Atreides
Laura Bentley and the 8-year-old Friesian Atreides earned this title by adding very little to their dressage score through the weekend. They moved up from 3rd after dressage to win on a 27.4.
Nicole Dwork and Million Dollar Dulceria are Reserve Champions on a 28.7. Arizona professional Cassadra Majeski and Aristeia are third on a 31.8.
Senior Novice Rider Championships – Christine Eckhaus & Barony
Christine Eckhaus has come a long way since asking professional Helen Alliston, “What is eventing?” about three years ago. Eckhaus had just returned from an African safari that made her experiences in the hunter/jumper realm seem too tame.
Alliston found Eckhaus “the perfect partner” in Barony, a 17-year-old Wurttemburg gelding. “He’s a good, kind teacher and enough of a challenge that I’m never bored,” said the eventing convert who works in the tech industry. After competing in Beginner Novice last year at the Eventing Championships at Galway Downs, Eckhaus saw the Area VI Championships and put them on her goal sheet for 2026. Eckhaus and Barony took the title on their 29.4 dressage effort.
Libby Porzig and Vespers at Eight are reserve champions on a 31.8 thanks to going fault and penalty free all weekend. Alex Green and Excel Star Shannon were third.
Junior Novice Rider Championships – Lacey LoPiccolo & Diego
Pink-coated 13-year-old Lacey LoPiccolo crossed the show jumping finish line thrilled to stay on a 26.8 dressage score with Diego. That phase has been a big focus in her year-long partnership with the 18-year-old Dutch Warmblood. They both consider cross-country their favorite phase and breezed over it yesterday.
“I felt a little bit of pressure coming into show jumping with the lead, but I just wanted Diego to have fun and let him do his job.” Mission accomplished – hence the well-deserved finish line fist pump. Adding a great score to the LLE Interscholastic Team Challenge is icing on the cake for the daughter of Northern California professional Lauren LoPiccolo.
Emily Langfus and Royal Nick are Reserve Champions, with a 33.1, and Kaitlyn Favero and Hallelujah DF are third on a 33.4.
Senior Beginning Novice Rider Champion – Ronnie Cruz & Duble H
Ronnie Cruz started out in the hunter/jumper world and is thrilled to have “found this corner of the eventing world,” said the 22-year-old working student for Gina Economou’s Pepperwood Stables.
He loved the sport right away and even more so since finding his 6-year-old Westphalian gelding. Imported as a show jumper, Duble H took to eventing immediately. “I was the first person to take him cross-country when I tried him and he didn’t look at anything,” Cruz said. “He’s such a wonderful animal.”
Cruz and Duble H added nothing to their 24.1 dressage score and the rider is excited about their future together. “I think he has a lot of scope and ability, so whatever he feels like doing, we’ll do it.”
A student at Los Angeles Mission Community College, Cruz is targeting UC Davis Veterinary School to become an equine veterinarian.
Cassandra Majeski and Sovereign also finished on their dressage score – a 25 – as Reserve Champions. Rylee Runyon and Borgobythesea are 3rd on a 38.4.
Beginning Junior Novice Rider Champion – Savvy Clayton & Tell Me More
Savvy Clayton started out quite thrilled about the 31.4 dressage effort with Tell Me More, the 14-year-old Percheron she’s been riding for eight months. “We started off together a little muddy because we were still figuring each other out,” said the 14-year-old student of Sabrina Miller’s Riding Academy in Northern California. “But this show and the last, we’ve been getting better and more confident.”
They entered the show jumping phase in 2nd position, and having just watched Savvy’s sister Sierra get eliminated in the same class after a third refusal at the colorful, but apparently scary “snail” oxer. Nerves are an issue in all three phases, Savvy acknowledged, and watching her sister have a rough round didn’t help. But they overcame all that for the win.
Camille Popham and BFF Penny Royale are Reserve Champions, finishing on their 33.8 dressage start.
Beginner Novice/Starter Champion – Katy Purmort & Diamiro M
Katy Purmort & Diamiro M, an 8-year-old Westphalian gelding, finished on their 25.8 dressage score for the win. Cassandra Majeski and Winx are Reserve Champion, also adding nothing to their dressage performance – they finished on a 29.7. Hana Sumac and Dojo Cat got off to a great start with a 22 in dressage, but two rails in show jumping knocked them to 3rd on a 35.4.
Junior Starter Champion – Audrey Meleady and Banana Split
At 11, Audrey Meleady is the youngest rider in Sabrina Miller’s Riding Academy program in Salinas. At 25, the pinto-colored Welsh pony Banana Split is the oldest equine in the wonderful eventing pipeline program’s stable. Meleady has been riding Banana Split for about a year and had targeted the Area VI Championships in what will likely be the pony’s final big show. “I’m so happy that we won since it may be his last show, and I’m so proud of how he did,” she said.
The pair led from the beginning with a 28.1 dressage score. They added nothing to it in their mutual favorite phase, cross-country. Meleady admitted to feeling some pressure to ensure Banana Split finished on a high note as they entered the Grand Prix Arena this afternoon. With a cherry body-clipped on his haunches, Banana Split easily left all the rails up under his young pilot’s steady hand.
Mackenzie Orlebeck and Everyday’s A Holiday are Reserve Champions on a 32.8 and Charlotte Wilsey and #Iwokeuplikethis are third on a 33.8.
Senior Starter Champion – Lauren Ferrigni & Over Easy
Thank you Sponsors
Presenting Sponsors: CWD, Devoucoux, Adequan
Silver Medal Sponsors: ProElite Horse Feeds, Nutrena Animal Feeds, Southern California Equestrian Sports
Bronze Medal Sponsors: Auburn Labs, Shires Equestrian, Majyk Equipe, LA Equestrian, Pyranha Animal Health, Scott Equipment, Klassen Bedding
More info:
Live Scores: EventEntries.com
