Katie and David Oberkircher enjoy a day of domination

The Oberkircher family of Fort Washington dominated the Local Hunter division at the Devon Horse Show yesterday, taking the championship in one section, the reserve championship in two other sections, and the Local Hunter Grand Championship.

Katie Oberkircher rode her own Cover Girl to the championship in Section A and, with 26 points, also won the Local Hunter Grand Championship.

With 124 horses entered in the division, horse show management divided the classes into three sections.

David Oberkircher rode his mother Kathleen's Loretta to the reserve championship in Section B, won by champion Mr. Roberts, owned and ridden by Suzanne J. Smith of Milford. Oberkircher also rode his sister Margaret's Jukebox Hero to reserve in Section C, under champion Hidden Agenda, owned by Shannon Muldoon of Malvern and ridden by John Muldoon.

Both Katie, 16, and David Oberkircher, 13, attend Germantown Academy.

"I've had Cover Girl since last November," Katie Oberkircher said. "She's really nice. She's easy and very honest. I show at least twice a month, all in [Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York]. This is my fourth year showing in the Local division at Devon, but this is by far the biggest thing I've ever won."

"This means a lot to me. It gives me confidence to go on showing," she added.

Organizers said Devon enjoyed record attendance at the horse show and fair, with more than 105,000 spectators in paid attendance.

The fair also realized a record income, although final figures were not available because all expenses were not in.

"It was a record year in all categories," said Wade L. McDevitt, president of the horse show and fair.