Saratoga News

Sports

Benjamin wins national horse vaulting title

By Kevin Sparrer

Despite a busy schedule that takes her halfway around the world for horse vaulting training, Saratoga's Megan Benjamin found time to win yet another championship.

On Aug. 8, Benjamin took time away from her training in Germany to return to Industry, Calif., where, in spite of some strong competition, she won her third consecutive title in the National Equestrian Vaulting Championships.

Benjamin competes in the sport, which is a type of gymnastics on horseback, for Saratoga's Mt. Eden Vaulting Club.

The 18-year-old Benjamin returned to the U.S. for only a week only to compete in the national championships, then boarded an airplane to travel back to Munich where she continues her training for the World Equestrian Games which will be held later this month.

The Mt. Eden Vaulting Club took home six titles, including Benjamin's.

In the "A" team division, Mt. Eden won with a team made up of four of its club members and three others from the Southern California FACE team. The composite team took first place in the national championships and also took first in an international competition in Munich just before the nationals. After winning at the nationals, the team of seven vaulters also returned to Germany to train for the World Equestrian Games.

The Mt. Eden team members include Benjamin, who is the only American vaulter competing in both the team and individual divisions at the World Equestrian Games, 10-year-old Elizabeth Ioannou, 16-year-old Rosey Ross and 19-year-old Katie Richie.

Along with the other titles, Mt. Eden also won the "B" Team National Championship, the Trot Team National Championship, the Women's Copper National Championship with Merina Rainville and the Men's Trot National Championship with Joey Gadd.

For more information on vaulting, visit www.americanvaulting.org or www.mtedenvaulting.org.