Traverse City, MI – September 4, 2025—Matthew Le Master and Princeton MK took the first title of the $100,000 USHJA Young Jumper Championship, presented by North Star, in the 4-Year-Old Final on Thursday during Traverse City Horse Shows’ (TCHS) Tournament of Champions (TOC).

(Photo:  Matthew Le Master and Princeton MK 2025. Photo © Megan Giese Media_TCHS)

Finishing on top for the second day in a row, Princeton MK—a U.S. bred Emerald van’t Ruytershof gelding—took the championship for owner/breeder Kristina Photakis.

“Championships like these [in North America] are great advertisement for breeding programs and for the people developing horses,” said Le Master, who brought Princeton MK along himself from a foal to the gelding’s first jumps. “We’ve been super happy with the facility here. Everything has been fantastic for us.”

So Easy To Deal With

The week is a family affair for Le Master, who is also competing Princeton MK’s dam, Maeberry, in the 1.40m ranks in Traverse City. “We foaled this horse out ourselves and brought him along—he’s been so easy to deal with.

“We focus on our own breeding operation, and to make it a business sometimes they sell as babies, but some we’re able to keep a little longer and get them going,” continued Le Master on the opportunity to begin competing Princeton MK.

Le Master was also third in the 4-Year-Old Final with Tum Tum van’t Reevediep Z (Tic-Tac du Seigneur) for owner Cathy Kubacak of Lubbock, TX, while Taylor Flury took second riding Firestone 2000 Z, a For Pleasure son owned by Aliboo Farm out of Columbia Falls, MT.

Continuing championship action, Hunter Holloway of Topeka, KS, piloted Bo Rouge to win the CWD 6-Year-Old Qualifier. The Zangersheide gelding by Chat Botte du Ruisseau Z is owned by S.T. Rugglin, LLC, based in Whitefish, MT, and was bred in the Netherlands by J&M Driessen.

In the North Star 7-Year-Old Qualifier, Charlotte Jacobs of Wellington, FL, rode North Star’s own Nadim Il Faut to victory. The Comme Il Faut sired Dutch Warmblood stallion was bred by Dutch breeder D. de Jong.

Finally, the 8-Year-Old Qualifier win went to Caroline van der Merwe of Littleton, CO, riding Silvester Van’t Ameldonk Z for owner VDM Sport Horses. The Zangersheide stallion by Solid Gold Z was bred by Judy Anne Melchior and Ameldonk BVBA in Belgium.

Matthew Le Master and Princeton MK (left to right) Megan Thiel, USHJA Technical Director, Matt Calderwood of North Star, and owner_breeder Kristina Photakis. Photo © Megan Giese Media TCHS.

Up And Coming Talent

The $100,000 USHJA Young Jumper Championships, presented by North Star, welcomes equine athletes aged four to eight to a series of finals that celebrate North America’s up-and-coming talent at TCHS. More than 60 young horses will be showcased throughout the week with finals for 5-, 6-, 7-, and 8-year-olds presented by North Star and CWD, being showcased in the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring on Saturday.

For complete results from the $100,000 USHJA Young Jumper Championships, presented by North Star, click HERE.