NCEL Award Recipients

High Point Team Champion & Reserve Champion

High Point Team perpetual trophy awarded to the team accumulating the most points throughout the competition year.  From 1980 to 2018, NCEL split the team up into A & B, which is now combined into one competitive team.  This data is for historical reference, scroll down to see current year.

High Point Rider – Open, Limit, Novice

High Point Rider perpetual trophies awarded to the rider in each division (Open, Limit, and Novice) accumulating the most points throughout the competition year.  As NCEL continued to grow, the High Point Rider was broken out by Open and Restricted from 2014-2018.  In the 2018-2019 year, NCEL expanded again to award Open, Limit, and Novice categories.

Perpetual Trophy Donated by: The Dean Family

Year Rider Team Division

High Point Alternate Rider

NCEL teams utlized both Point and Alternative riders up until 2014. The points Alternates earn in the Alternate Classes do not count for Team totals, however, the Alternates show sportsmanship, and are competitively recognized as they stand ready to replace a regular team member.

Finale Meet High Point Champion

Finale Class Champion

This is awarded to the winner of the NCEL Finale Class held annually at Prince George’s Equestrian Center.

Perpetual Trophies Donated by: Oatland and Meadowood

Sportsmanship Award

Perpetual Trophy Donated by: Doug Harrison, Bay Ridge Stables

Perpetual Trophy Donated by: Jan Martin, Loftmar Stables

This trophy was donated by Jan Martin in memory of her mother Mary Loftus. Mary loved horses. She taught Jan that the first priority is the care and well being of the animal; that the respect, honesty and fairness you show to others will be returned to you; that each of us should admire and learn from others whose skills are greater than ours; and, most importantly, you should love and enjoy what you are doing. She exemplified good sportsmanship. Her love and support is very dearly missed.

Coach’s Award

Perpetual Trophies Donated by Sandra Sue Adams-Choate, Maintree

The riders of the NCEL teams recognize and honor the coaches who are teachers, mentors and friends; who inspire, challenge and are infinitely fair. Sharing one’s knowledge gained over a lifetime of experience is one of the greatest gifts that can be given. Coaches are teachers, mentors and friends who give the gift of their knowledge and experience to their students. Coaches challenge their protégées to ride to the best of their ability. They set the standards for their students in all aspects of horsemanship. They foster team spirit, promote good sportsmanship and keen, but fair competition. Coaches are hard taskmasters but infinitely fair. These awards are given annually to the Coach in each League whom the NCEL Team members recognize for their dedication to the sport.

The Willowbend NCEL Alumni Challenge Trophy

In 2004, Emily Merkel, Willowbend, a NCEL Alum, worked to establish a NCEL Alumni Group. The first event for the Alums was a Challenge Class held at the end of the 2004 A League Finale Meet. This prior annual event where NCEL Alums compete in a class over fences and in a class on the flat with the combined score of the two classes determine the winner of the Challenge Trophy generously donated by Willowbend Farm. Winners in previous years were: