Skyllar Beckel and Lyons Creek Action Win The NAL Children’s Jumper Final – Al Cook – www.alcookphoto.com

Seven horses out of a starting field of 30 made it through a difficult first round course to contest over the jump off round.  Course designer Michel Vaillancourt peppered the courses with questions for the Children’s Jumper riders to try to answer. 

Beckel was the last to enter the ring with Lyons Creek Action, after already going on her other horse Charmeur Van De Begunakker. She exited the ring with a clear round in a time of 35,701 seconds, answering every question placed in her path, to take home the victory.

“The course was pretty good for me,” said a very happy Beckel.  “I think because I had already done it I knew where to turn and because I know Action so well I have more confidence with him.  The turn to the skinny fence was tricky because when you made the turn the fence was right there and it had a scary plank.   So riding before, I knew that. He had a problem with water that my trainer David [Biesel] helped me through so the Liverpool wasn’t a problem.”

“I’ve had him for two years, and this year we went to Florida and I really thing that the experience we gained in Florida really helped my confidence.  I want to ride in college and make it in the big jumpers one day.” Beckel said with a modest smile.

Second place in the $10,000 NAL Children’s Jumper Final was Mary Elizabeth Cordia aboard Coritano, owned by Robert Jornayvaz, who also turned in double clear rounds.  Her time of 38.760 seconds was not fast enough to hold off Beckel. 

The NAL hosts National Finals at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg and West Coast Finals at the Las Vegas National Horse Show. The NAL offers a great opportunity for competitors across the country to compete in five divisions: Adult Hunter; Children’s Hunter; Adult Jumper Presented by SmartPak; Children’s Jumper Presented by EquiFit; and Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Presented by UltrOZ. The qualifying season for the NAL runs from September 1 through August 31. Anyone can compete in NAL qualifying classes, but only current members are awarded points. Joining the NAL is the best way for riders to get the points necessary to make it to the Finals. Annual memberships are only $40 per rider.

For more information regarding the North American League series please call (717) 867-5643, email to NAL@Ryegate.com or visit www.ryegate.com. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NALFinals.  Compete results from this class can be found by using the following link:  http://ryegate.com/SHOWS/PNHS/results.php?class=226