Las Vegas, NV – November 16, 2024 – Paige Walkenbach has made a point to contest the West Coast Equestrian Junior/Amateur Medal Final, presented by the California Professional Horsemen’s Association (CPHA) Foundation, at the Las Vegas National for the past several years. Each time, the 17-year-old from Paradise Valley, AZ, has moved up the ranks, finishing third, then second, and on Saturday, November 16, 2024, taking home the win.
Paige Walkenbach and Bigtalu G Z. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
“I come back every year to do this class, and it’s just always a great way to close out the year,” said Walkenbach, who will now have her name added to the Barbara Worth Oakford Trophy and the prestigious list of winners before her. “The CPHA [Foundation] does a great job. [The awards] are always amazing, and they always know how to make you feel special.”
The three-phase WCE Medal Final kicked off on Friday at the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa with a power-and-speed format jumper course, judged on equitation. From there, the 27 entries that completed the opening course returned on Saturday to jump round two, before the field was narrowed down to the top 10 for a final, deciding round.
At the conclusion of the first two rounds, Walkenbach and Bigtalu G Z sat in second place with a first-round score of 86.75 and a second-round score of 82.5 for a 169.25 total. Holding the lead was amateur rider Jayme Omand, who sat on a cumulative score of 171.5 with Edesa’s Donovan.
Paige Walkenbach and Bigtalu G Z. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
As one-by-one the top 10 riders returned in reverse order of their standings for the final, jump-off style course, numerous rails fell throughout the course. So, Walkenbach set her sights on keeping the jumps up and maintaining a nice, fluid ride.
“The courses were definitely difficult,” said Walkenbach, who trains with James Hagman of Elvenstar. “Everyone definitely had to step up to the challenge. It was a lot like the stadium round at Washington Finals. So, it was nice kind of comparing what I did there to here. I just wanted to make sure I had a nice flow in the work-off and make sure I kept the rails up, and I think that really helped get me to have the win.”
With a smooth, clear round for Walkenbach and a rail down on Omand’s course, judges Patricia Griffith and Stacia Madden ultimately awarded Walkenbach the win and moved Omand to second place. Finishing in third was Brooke O’Malley aboard Quijote, and Alexandra Lipacis finished in fourth aboard Go For It B.
Second place went to Jayme Omand on Odesa’s Donovan. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Walkenbach’s winning mount for the class, Bigtalu G Z, is a new ride for her, as she just recently acquired the 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding.
“I showed him last week at Desert Horse Park; I did a couple classes to get to know him, and then just thought, I might as well get to know him here!” said Walkenbach.
The pair looked every bit a veteran partnership as Walkenbach rode to the win. For that top honor, she was presented with a wide assortment of awards, including a pair of DeNiro Salento Boots boots, provided by Outdoor Outfitters; a CPHA Foundation travel bag; a carnation wreath; cupcakes; a cooler, courtesy of DaMoor’s Tack & Feed; and more.
As the runner-up, Omand took home the Highest-Placing Amateur Award. For full results of the class, click here.
Competition at the 2024 Las Vegas National Horse Show, host to the Marshall + Sterling/USHJA National Championships, will conclude on Sunday, November 17. To learn more about all competition’s managed by the Desert International Horse Park, visit deserthorsepark.com.