Oct. 18, 2014

University of South Carolina sophomore Courtney Allen won the AQHA Youth (15-18) Showmanship championship on Thursday at the 48th All American Quarter Horse Congress.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – University of South Carolina sophomore Courtney Allen won the AQHA Youth Showmanship (15-18) championship on Saturday at the 48th All American Quarter Horse Congress, held at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio.

Showing Good as Expected, Allen won her third career Congress championship. She trains with Windy and Jeff Allen, Michael Colvin, and Clint Ainsworth.

“We’re very proud to have two of our riders win Congress championships in just three days,” South Carolina head coach Boo Major said. “Courtney is one of those competitors that always seems to perform well at the big shows, and today was certainly no different. She’s been a great addition to our horsemanship lineup this season.”

Allen is the fifth Gamecock in the history of the program to win a Congress championship while still on the active roster. Freshman Paige Stopperich won the AQHA Youth Hunt Seat Equitation (15-18) title on Thursday, placing first in a field of 83 competitors. Last year, then-senior Johnna Letchworth won the AQHA Amateur Western Horsemanship championship, topping a field of 96 competitors. Senior Layla Choate won the NRHA Youth Reining (14-18) Championship in 2011 as a freshman. And Allison Bradley won the Horsemanship championship in 2005, her sophomore season.

The Gamecocks return to action on Oct. 31, when South Carolina hosts Texas A&M at 2 p.m. in Blythewood. Admission is free to all Gamecock equestrian events, and the Oct. 31 meet will be South Carolina’s final home competition until January.