Lemon Sets New Vaulting Record at 2000 National Vaulting Championships

Colorful banners and flags billowed gently in offshore breezes at the Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara, California August 24-27 during the National Championships of the American Vaulting Association (AVA). Charles Bittenbring, AVA president, proclaimed the event "the best ever". The 209 vaulters, 27 longuers, 55 horses and 27 clubs arrived from California, Minnesota, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico.

A benefit dinner was followed by top level vaulting competition on Saturday evening. Ring stewards in tuxedos and competition officials in formal attire set the tone for the final rounds of Open Pas de Deux, Gold Kur, and A Team Kur, which were viewed by hundreds of vaulting enthusiasts as well as those viewing the sport for the first time. The competition was punctuated with demonstrations from Hearts Adaptive Therapeutic Riding Program of Santa Barbara and top dressage rider, Patty Mayer, who performed her Grand Prix freestyle with her Dutch Warmblood gelding Exakt.

Erik Martonovich of Golden, Colorado and his partner, Alethea Shelton of Riner, Virginia, won the Open Pas de Deux division with their delightful jungle parody. The Barronsgate Team again edged out the competition in the team event, and Devon Maitozo took home the Men's title with a final score of 8.606. It was the women's competition that will be remembered this year. Kerith Lemon (24) of Soquel, California set a record with 9 consecutive National Championship titles. Sir Anthony Van Dyck the Thoroughbred/Shire gelding, who accompanied her to Mannheim, Germany for the 2000 World Championships, carried Lemon to victory in Santa Barbara . Following the event, Lemon was honored for her accomplishments and the enthusiastic and tearful crowd commemorated her retirement from competition. Lemon led the 18 finalists from the arena for the final time, and the crowd could only wonder which of the young women who followed behind might one day break this incredible record. Vaulting since the age of seven, Lemon holds 5 medals from World championship events, including a bronze medal recently earned at the 2000 World Championships in Mannheim, Germany. Lemon vows to stay involved in vaulting and give back to the sport which has given so much to her.

(Partial as provided)
RESULTS 2000 NATIONALS (1st - 3rd Place)

Open Pas de Deux Overall
1 Alethea Shelton/Erik Martonovich, Golden Gate 7.745
2 Crystal Pakizer/Chris Erwin, Golden Gate 7.550
3 Ginny Kaufmann/Eric Weber, Mt. Eden 7.206

Gold Overall - Women
1 Kerith Lemon, Mt. Eden 8.773
2 Mari Inouye, Sundance North 8.328
3 Crystal Pakizer, Golden Gate 7.670

Gold Overall - Men
1 Devon Maitozo, Barronsgate 8.606
2 Erik Martonovich, Golden Gate 8.101
3 Brent Dahlgren, Baronsgate 7.909

A Team Overall
1 Barronsgate 7.700
2 Sundance North 7.652
3 Woodside 7.108

Complete results available on request Media contact: Jan Weber, Vice President of Development, American Vaulting Association (805) 494-4192 Fax (805) 379-0522 Email: janaj40@aol.com

Please visit our website at www.americanvaulting.org for more information about vaulting. The American Vaulting Association is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational organization dedicated to the promotion of Vaulting, an equestrian sport in which vaulters perform gymnastic movements in harmony with their equine partner.