August 6, 2007 — The awarding of individual medals in dressage, eventing and show jumping highlighted a successful conclusion August 5 of the 2007 CN North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships (NAJYRC), presented by Gotham North and UlcerGard, at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Va.
Also, the combined team of Areas III and X won the team gold in eventing’s CCI** for young riders and Area IX won the gold in the CCI* for junior riders. Earlier in the week Region 7 won the young riders team gold in dressage with Canada winning the gold for juniors, and Zone 10 won show jumping team gold in both young riders and juniors.
Young equestrians came to this year’s championships from the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as a South American rider from Argentina, to vie for team and individual medals in show jumping, dressage, and eventing. For many, the NAJYRC for juniors (age 14-18) and young riders (age 16-21) is their first experience riding on a team, as well as their first time competing under the rules of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the international governing body for equestrian sport.
In the USHJA show jumping division, Karl Cook of Woodside, Calif., continued Zone 10’s week of dominance when he rode Uno de Laubry to a five-round score 4.06 faults to clinch the young riders individual gold. Laura Teodori of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Zone 8 scored 6.84 faults on Kasaar D’Uselles to win the silver, and Aurora Griffin of Westlake Village, Calif., scored 12 faults on Tucker to win the bronze.
The junior gold medal went to Katherine Newman of Upperville, Va., with a five-round score of only 4 faults on Costa Sur.
“I was really proud of myself, and I felt that I could really do it,” she said. “The competition was really exciting but really tiring. This is the biggest win of my career.”
David Arcand of Montreal, Canada, won the silver with a score of 16 faults on Santos Utopia, and Reba McIver of Anna, Ontario, Canada, won the bronze with a score of 17 faults on Fileepe.
In the USEA eventing young riders’ division, Jessica DiGenova of Norval, Ontario, Canada, led the competition from start to finish and had a fault free performance in show jumping for a three-phase total of 50.4 on Upolu. The silver went to Nate Chambers of Upperville, Va., with a three-phase score of 62.2 on Rolling Stone II, and the bronze went to Kirsten Selvig with 63.6 penalties on Ruse du Guerre.
In the team competition, where each team counts its three best scores, the combined team of Area II and X won the gold with 209.8 penalties, followed by Area VIII with 253.4 and Canada Ontario/Alberta with 254.0.
In the junior division, Anisa Tracy of Parker, Colo., and Area IX had an overall score of 48.9 penalties for the gold on Tigger VIII. The silver went to Cassidy Lundmark of Barrington Hills, Ill., and Area IV with a score of 52.3 on What’s Shakin. The bronze was won by Kendyl Tracy, sister of the gold medalist with 54.0 penalties on Mr. Incredible.
In the team competition, the Tracy sisters’ Area IX won the gold with 167.4 penalties, followed by Area IV who took the silver with 173.4, and Area VIII who won the bronze with 203.0.
The USDF/Platinum Performance Dressage Division saw Canada sweeping the medals in the young riders freestyle with the individual gold going to Alexandra Duncan of West Vancouver, British Columbia, who scored 72.950 on Elektra. The silver went to Leah Wilson of Orangeville, Ontario, who rode Westside Lady to a score of 70.990. The bronze went to Julie Watchorn of Schomberg, Ontario, with a score of 70.200 on Dobble Tyme.
In the junior freestyle, individual gold went to Jade Deter who scored 73.400 on Mastermind. The silver went to Kristen Becker, who rode Ramses to a score of 70.100, and the bronze went to Mackinzie Pooley with a score of 69.550 on Jonkara.
Full results and further information on the 2007 CN North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships, presented by Gotham North and UlcerGard, are available at www.youngriders.org.
