Joseph Gavin Mesalam, riding Crystal Blue Boon, scored 223 points on Tuesday, March 12, to win the 2019 NCHA Eastern National $15,000 Amateur championship. Tyler Grace Green claimed the reserve title with 219 points aboard Charm Checks, while Chase Lackey and Scott Skinkis tied with 216.5 points to split third and fourth riding Cowgirl Catsanova and Lil Pep In Time, respectively.
Joseph Gavin Mesalam, Versailles, Ky., is the NCHA earner of $3,177, and this is his second time to show in the NCHA Eastern Nationals. Last year the NYCHA competitor placed third in the Junior Youth and eleventh in the $2,000 Limited Rider, on Stylish Import LTE $50,864, by Lizzys Gotta Player. Crystal Blue Boon LTE $55,675, his 2019 mount, is a 16-year-old gelding by Pepto Jack out of Crystal Acre, by Christys Acre.
This is the fifth year for Tyler Grace Green, an NYCHA competitor from Bishop, Ga., and the NCHA earner of $19,856, to show in the NCHA Eastern Nationals. Last year, she placed in the finals of the $35,000 Non-Pro and the Senior Youth riding Smart Widow LTE $29,678, by Widows Freckles. Her 2019 mount, 10-year-old Charm Checks, LTE $10,343, by Im Countin Checks, also carried her as a finalist in the 2017 Eastern Nationals $15,000 Amateur and the Senior Youth.
Chase Lackey, Burlington, N.C., the NCHA earner of $26,729, placed in the Augusta Futurity 5/6 Classic Amateur Limited and Amateur Intermediate earlier this year, showing Streyght Drive LTE $9,047, by Hydrive Cat. Last year, Lackey was an NCHA Eastern Nationals $15,000 Amateur finalist riding Stellas Lil Scoot LTE $107,286, by Smart Lil Scoot. Cowgirl Catsanova LTE $32,495, Lackey’s 2019 Eastern Nationals entry, is a 10-year-old daughter of Cowboy Cattylac.
Scott Skinkis LTE $1,751, Brillion, Wis., the NCHA earner of $1,751 and a first-time NCHA Eastern Nationals finalist, rode the 10-year-old One Time Pepto daughter Lil Pep In Time LTE $111,016, who had been a successful Non-Pro and Amateur limited-age event competitor with Wade Smith.
The 2019 NCHA Eastern National Championships continue through Saturday, March 14.