Wellington, FL, December 4, 2004 – Ken Berkley and Good Point outlasted a field of ten top show hunters to win the National Horse Show Open Hunter Championship on Saturday at the 121st National Horse Show in Wellington, Florida.

This was scheduled as a battle of the top twelve horses from the five rated divisions but because of the overlap of professional and junior and amateur classes, two of the top twelve elected not to compete today. They will compete instead in the National Horse Show Junior-A/O Championship on Sunday.

In Disguise scheduled to compete with Shachine Belle, will instead go with Amateur Owner, Ellen Toon. Cool Blue, originally a ride of Ken Berkley, will be shown by junior rider, Carolyn Kelly, in the Sunday Championship.

Today’s two rounds of the National Horse Show Open Hunter Championship finished out the demanding five round championship.

A panel of five judges scored the entries and the two rounds were added together to determine the winner.

The five First Year Green Working Hunters jumping at 3’6” got the late afternoon competition underway with top qualifier, Holly Shepherd and Tobasco emerging as the front runner after the first five had gone. They posted a score of 85 to lead the way.

Close behind Shepherd was Ken Smith with Noir at 84 and Rob Bielefeld aboard CC Bloom posting an 83.33. Ken Berkley and Marvel scored 74.66 and then Berkley again, this time with Truly, scoring an 81 to finish up the First Year section.

Three horses qualified as Second Year Green Working Hunters. Attache with Shachine Belle clocked in with an average of 78. Tammy Provost riding King De Coquere scored 71 and then Ken Berkley and Good Point dazzled the crowd with a score of 89.33. That score would top all the competitors in the first round.

The Regular Working Hunters, wrapping up the first round, were led by Joie Gatlin with Mandarin scoring a 78 and Ken Smith with Westcliffe registering a 75.66.

The two Regular Working Hunters turned right around and were first to return to start out the final round. The demand of five rounds of grueling competition became apparent as both Mandarin and Gatlin and Smith with Westcliffe faded to scores of 45 and 40, respectively.

The Second Year horses returned next and the attrition continued as Attache and Shachine Belle succumbed to the long day with a score of 40.

Tammy Provost with King De Coquere bucked the trend and improved on her first round score by posting an 80.33 for a two round total of 151.30.

First round leader, Ken Berkley and Good Point dropped to an 82 in round two but took over the top spot on the leader board with a total score of 171.33.

From the First Year section, Ken Berkley with Truly listed an 80.66 over the second course and totaled 161.66 for two rounds. Then, Noir and Ken Smith came up with an 82.16 to move into second place with a total of 166.16. Rob Bielefeld with CC Bloom scored an 82 for a 165.33, overall.

Berkley’s score of 82 gave him a two round total of 171.33 and left the door open for Holly Shepherd and Tobasco, who had been lighting up the scoreboard all week with scores in the high 80s and low 90s. Coming back with a score of 85 from round one, the duo would need a score of 86.4 to win.

When the five judges had posted their scores, Shepherd fell just short of the mark scoring an 85.16 and a two round scoring total of 170.16 to finish up with the red ribbon for second.

A exhausted Ken Berkley was pleased with Good Point’s effort today. “That’s a lot of jumping,” Berkley said. “He went well today considering all the jumps he’s jumped. His first round was brilliant. He really came up with it in round one. He’s really getting tired, though,” said Berkley. Good Point competes ith owner Glen Senk in the Amateur Owner hunter section, as well. “He’s been fabulous for both of us,” Berkley stated. “I couldn’t ask for a nicer horse. He’s a pleasure for me to ride and he’s wonderful for his owner too,” said Berkley.