10/14/98 For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Heather Augustyn
(312) 573-4646

Local Student Kent Farrington Wins Coveted A.H.S.A. National Championship

Chicago - On October 11, 1998, Kent Farrington, a senior at The Latin School of Chicago, won the American Horse Show Association National Championship by beating 217 other contestants who qualified for the tournament. Kent competed in the tournament which was held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and was judged on such criteria as style of riding, accuracy of jumping, and form.

By winning this prestigious award, Kent has better prepared himself to achieve his goal of competing at the Olympic level. " I plan to be ready for the Olympics by the year 2004," says Kent, who balances his rigorous training and tournament schedule with his academic life. Kent trains six days a week, many times traveling out of town for weeks at a time, and still maintains over a 3.0 grade point average. He has been riding and jumping horses for the past 7 1/2 years.

Kent became interested in equestrian sports when he was only seven years old and saw a picture of his mother riding a pony. He then began to ride horses and soon his sister also took an interest in the sport. Kent's sister, Kim, won the North American League Children's Hunter Finals the same day as Kent won his award.

Kent trains with local trainer Nancy Whitehead of North Hill Farm in Spring Grove, Illinois, and New York trainers Andre Dignelli and his assistant Kate Stoffel of Heritage Farm.

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