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5/17/2006 - LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL EQUESTRIAN TEAM 4TH IN THE NATION
Beckett Run Equestrian Team had to travel only a few miles up I-71 to beat teams from all over the nation and stake claim to the award for the 4th Place team at the High School National Championship Horse Show, April 28-30. The Interscholastic Equestrian Association held its 4th Annual National Championship at the Roberts Arena complex near Wilmington, Ohio.
The Beckett Run team is a club team comprised of students from all around the Cincinnati area, coached by former Miami University and Ohio State University Equestrian coaches, Jim and Gwen Arrigon, at their Beckett Run Farm in Hanover Township, Butler County. Jim Arrigon said that he and his wife formed the high school club team three years ago to develop talent for their college teams. “It’s like creating your own recruits,” Arrigon said. “If we can start working with kids at 9th graders or earlier, they’ll be way ahead of the game when they show up as college freshmen.”
The highlight of the weekend came with Meredith Finch’s win in the Intermediate Hunter Equitation over Fences division. Following an outstanding performance over jumps, Finch was named the 2006 National Champion in her division. Finch is the daughter of Dr. Byron Finch and Kim Suella of Oxford-Middletown Road, Oxford. She is a freshman at Talawanda High School, and has trained with Arrigon for two years. She is also leading in the current point standings for Intermediate Jumper division in the Ohio Hunter Jumper Division.
Ali Horton, a junior from Mars High Academy in Mason, won Reserve National Champion in her division – Intermediate Equitation on the Flat – with her 2nd Place finish.
The Beckett Run team finished in a three-way tie for the 3rd Place ribbon. Melissa Kowalchik, senior from Loveland High School, was chosen to ride the tie-breaker class against the Ethel Walker School of Boston, Massachusetts, and West Licking Equestrian of Pataskala, Ohio. Kowalchik earned Beckett Run 2nd in the tiebreaker, which placed the team 4th overall.
Brittany Voss, a freshman at Lakota West High School, earned Reserve National Champion in two classes, Intermediate Western Horsemanship, and Intermediate Reining. Carrie Ehlers, a senior at Ross High School, placed 4th in Intermediate Reining and 6th in Intermediate Western Horsemanship.
Other riders performing for Beckett Run at the National Championships included Kelsey Barker and Paige Hauser, both of Lakota West High School; and Michelle Prushing of Edgewood High School.
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