The novice and training level divisions wound up today, Saturday, Sept. 18, at the inaugural American Eventing Championships, being held at the Carolina Horse Park in Raeford, N.C.

Sher Swhwartz, winner of the novice championship, was almost overwhelmed with the $5,000 check she received. “That’s almost as much as she cost!” exclaimed Schwartz to her husband, Elliot, referring to her horse Jamocean. Sher is a clinical psychologist and Elliot is a financial advisor. They and their son, Drew, who also events, live in Waverly Hall, Ga.

Sher also finished seventh on Nothing Spared, on whom she led the 76-horse division until he lowered a rail in show jumping. Sher said it was the first time Jamocean, a 7-year-old Thoroughbred mare, had ever beaten Nothing Spared in competition.

Sher, 53, trains with Mike and Emma Winter. Mike is leading the preliminary horse division on another horse Sher owns, Wonderful Will. Winter is also second in that division on Kingpin and seventh on Daybreak.

The training championship division had to be decided by which of two riders finished closest to the optimum time on yesterday’s cross-country course. Rachael Lincoln of Southern Pines, N.C., and Jennifer Simmons of Upperville, Va., finished with the identical score (33.75) but Lincoln’s time of 5:07 was right on the optimum time, while Simmons finished in 5:03.

Lincoln achieved that time despite being stopped on course at fence 13 during yesterday’s downpour. The courses at all levels have been very tightly measured by technical delegate Gretchen Butts and course designer John Williams. “I just ran, ran, ran, ran, ran, ran, ran” to make the time, said Lincoln.

Lincoln has owned and ridden Kilburn, 16, four 4 years. She owns her own gourmet catering and take-out business in Southern Pines, called “Sweet Feed.” Simmons is a professional trainer and was a last-minute substitute for owner Lysa Hlavinka, who broke her collarbone falling from Everybody Loves Brumby at the Loudoun Horse Trials (Va.) three weeks ago.

Adrienne Classen and Rafferty’s Rules won the novice horse championship; Claire Williams and Top American Paint won the novice junior/young rider championship; D.C. McBroom and Woodbine won the novice amateur championship; Karen O’Connor and A Phar Cry won the training horse championship; and Amanda Glueck and Kabor won the training junior/young rider championship.

Young rider Nate Chambers and Rolling Stone II are leading the preliminary championship division. Susan Berrill and Welton Hvala are leading the intermediate championship, and Nathalie Bouckaert and West Farthing are leading the advanced championship. Those three divisions show jump tomorrow.

The day’s only serious accident didn’t occur on course. Olympic silver medalist Kim Severson had to be transported to a hospital by ambulance after she was thrown just after mounting in the stable area, before this morning’s training level show jumping. She is reported to have no broken bones or serious injuries, but all her horses were scratched today.

Molly McMillen was taken by ambulance after falling on the preliminary cross-country course but is reported to have no serious injuries.