Kimberly McCormack Wins Both Medal & Maclay Championships At Indoors
Equestrian News Release

Warren, VT – November 4, 2007 - Kimberly McCormack of Clermont, New Jersey was awarded the blue ribbon at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament riding Sundance in the ASPCA Maclay Championship on Sunday, November 4th. This follows her victory in the Hunter Seat Equitation Medal Finals at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. To top this off, the young equestrian who trains with Missy Clark and John Brennan of North Run and her sister Kristy McCormack, ended the season as the Bates Saddles Equitation Rankings Year-End gold medal winner.

“I just said what I have said in many years past,” stated Clark after McCormak’s victory. “I reminded her that the flat phase was worth 50 %, and she could move up nicely along he way. Coming back where she sat in fifth place, you’re always within striking distance if you can perform a beautiful, smooth consistent round, and she did… I’m so proud of her and excited.”

The Mcclay course was designed by judges George H. Morris and Linda Hough, and caused difficulties for many riders. It had unusual jumps such as a leaf-covered wall with no standards and an arch jump. There were 153 riders in the opening round, with 30 riders asked to return for the flat phase. They were split into groups of ten. After this, the judges hose 18 riders to return for a second jumping round. Following this round, the judges decided not to have any more testing and named Kimberly McCormack as this year’s national champion. “What I liked best,” said Morris, “was her confidence and her follow-through on the top of the jumps. She had a nice, soft feel. She’s got a classic position. She came in the ring fighting for the top. She didn’t come in riding backwards. She came in relaxed and the horse performed beautifully. It was one of those moments that just happened. It was beautiful to be a part of it, and I’m happy it worked out the way it did. She stood the test of the whole day.”

A consistent performer all year, McCormack’s Medal finals win vaulted her over Maria Schaub who had held the top spot in previous weeks. McCormack managed to finish first even without the benefit of her win in Maclay yesterday as the Bates Rankings year ended the day before.

As the gold medal winner, McCormack received a Bates Caprilli Close Contact saddle and will join the participants in the George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session, hosted by Bates Saddles and Stadium Jumping. The training sessions, which will take place in Wellington, Florida from January 21 – 26, 2008, aim to help create complete “horsemasters” and a pipeline of riders for future U.S. teams. The sessions are supported by United States Equestrian Federation and the USET Foundation along with Bates Saddles, Stadium Jumping, Purina Mills, Practical Horseman and the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament.


PHOTO: Kimberly McCormack at the presentation with North Run trainers Missy Clark and John Brennan. Photo taken by Randi Muster. Permission to use this photo was granted by The Penn. National Press office.