The Area III Championships have been run and won again at Poplar Place in Hamilton Georgia this past weekend and as usual were a great success. With around 300 horses competing it was as always a busy weekend for riders, officials and ground staff.

In the Championships Mike Winter took out the Prelim Horse division on Unsteelable after trading places in stadium with his other ride Zoe. Winter had previous success on Unsteelable at Fence NC earlier in the year and was previously ridden by Mike's wife Emma. The Prelim Rider division went to Sarah Kamensky on Royal Venture after clawing her way back from 8th after dressage they finished on that score of 37.5 to take first place. Royal Venture is former mount of Kim Severson has been with Sarah for a while now and their partnership seems to be a great success for the young rider.

In Training Rider Ruthie Harbison on Moet II took first place on her dressage score of 30.5 after her clear stadium round just tipped out YR Danielle Ditching on Tops. The everygreen Sonny Little took out the Training Rider division coming from 7th after dressage with two clear rounds on Abdullah's Atticus to just nudge out Samantha Bielawski on Captain Trotski. Sonny had previously won on his mount at Pine Top in April and showed consistency can be a great leveler in any sport.

In a huge field of near 40 entries in the Novice Rider division Haley Gresham and Olympic Brumby were victorious finishing on their leading dressage score of 27.9. Olympic Brumby had been a winner for Haley at Pine Mountain in April and they continued their great partnership this weekend. In the Novice Horse division Debi Crowley streeted the field with one of the lowest dressage scores of the weekend of 23.2 on Master Manipulator and they never looked back. With wins at Ft Rucker and Pine Top this year it was a sweet reward for a lot of hard work for the pair.

In the huge Beginner Novice Rider division it was Joanna Haynes and Oban who were successful. After a solid dressage of 25.5 the pair had clear jumping rounds to add to their already impressive wins at Ft Rucker and Pine Top earlier in 2007.

See all the results of the Area III 2007 Championships here.