August 20, 2015–The country’s young dressage talent will descend upon Wayne, Ill. this week for the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp. This annual competition, running Friday, August 20 through Sunday, August 23 at the Lamplight Equestrian Center, will include three days of top notch competition across four divisions. These championships include the USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Championship presented by Dressage Today, the AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship, the AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship, and the USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship.
USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Championship presented by Dressage Today
A field of 10 combinations will line-up on Friday to contest the FEI Young Rider Grand Prix 16-25 Test which will account for 50% of their final score. A champion will be named following the FEI Intermediaire II Test on Sunday. Chase Hickock (Wellington, Fla.) and Hyperion Farm, Inc’s Sagacious HF currently sit on top of the Young Adult ranking list as they enter their first USEF ‘Young Adult’ Brentina Cup National Championship. The pair is fresh off a summer in Europe where they trained and competed as part of the USEF Developing Dressage Program and looks to feed off the success gained earlier this spring when they collected 10 consecutive wins in CDIU25 competition. Hickock will face a strong field that includes veteran Young Rider graduates including, Catherine Chamberlain and her own Verdicci. Chamberlain also spent the summer in Europe as part of the USEF Dressage Young Rider European Tour.
AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship
Eight of the nation’s best young riders will be tested as they go head-to-head for the AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship title. They begin Friday with the FEI Young Rider Team Test and finish Saturday with the FEI Young Rider Individual Test. With nearly a full field of new riders to the Young Rider National Championship, top-ranked Natalie Pai (Wellington, Fla.) and Melanie Pai’s Fritz San Tino will face stiff competition from a field that includes multiple accomplished combinations. Contesting the title will also be Lindsey Holleger (Whigham, Ga.), with Dayle and Lindsey Holleger’s Friedenfurst, the 2013 Junior Individual Gold medalists at the Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC) and four-time NAJYRC Gold medalist Catherine Chamberlain (Murrieta, Calif.) with Kimberly Pribble’s Avesto van Weltevreden.
AGCO/USEF Junior Dressage National Championship
Eleven of the top junior dressage athletes will go down centerline on Friday in the FEI Junior Team Test as they battle it out for the chance to win the AGCO/USEF Junior National Championship. They will conclude on Saturday with the FEI Junior Individual Test. Top-ranked Mickayla Frederick (Johnston, Iowa), the 2013 USEF Dressage Seat Medal Final 14-18 Champion, and her and Robert Susa’s Wrainier Q will face tough competition from the field that includes three former Pony Riders: Kristen Counterman (Ashburn, Va.) and Caroline Stephens’ Three Times, Madelyn Guthrie (Westmont, Ill.) and Alison Lee Bush and Lael Laning’s Tannehauser, and Asia Ondaatje Rupert and her own Twelfth Night.
USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship
The USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship will begin on Saturday with the FEI Pony Team Test featuring eight combinations. They will wrap up on Sunday with the FEI Pony Individual Test. Top-ranked Allison Nemeth (Flemington, N.J.) is out to claim victory with her own Pablo S. In addition to performing in the Junior Rider Championship, Counterman will compete in this Championship as well with her own Esperanza.
The USEF Network will provide live and on-demand coverage of the 2015 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp. beginning Friday. More information about the championships can be found at USEF.org.
The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members. Without the support of these organizations and individuals, it would not be possible to support our athletes. The USEF is especially grateful to individuals who give generously of their time and money to support the equestrian teams.
