Thursday, July 28. 2005

USA Region 2 Leads Team Dressage as Competition Begins at 2005 CN North American Young Riders’ Championships, Presented by Adequan

Lexington, VA—July 27, 2005—USA Region 2 held the lead after the first half of the dressage team championship that highlighted the first day of competition at the 2005 CN North American Young Riders’ Championships (NAYRC) presented by Adequan. The 2005 NAYRC are being held at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA, the Championships’ first appearance in the mid-Atlantic region.

The NAYRC is the premier equestrian competition in North America for young riders, age 16-21. Young equestrians come from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean Islands to vie for team and individual medals in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of show jumping, dressage, and eventing. This year also features select riders from outside North America.

Leading the way after the first day of competition in the dressage were Region 2 teammates Kaitlyn Hamilton of Oxford, MI, who scored 67.111% on Noviembre, and Allie Nichols of Cincinnati, OH, who scored 65.600% on Lexington. Sitting in third individually is Alycia Mondavi of St. Helena, CA who scored 64.667% on Hestergards Disney. Mondavi’s Region 7 team holds second place.

The team dressage medals will be awarded on Thursday following the remaining rides. Each team’s score is based on the team’s best three (of four) rides. Teams with three riders must count all three scores.

For many competitors, the NAYRC 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.

“These championships are so significant for many of these Young Riders who benefit from the experience on their way to someday riding for their countries in international competition,” said NAYRC event director Penny Ross. “For those whose careers culminate with this experience, it is meaningful in a very different way. We feel it is important that everyone goes home having had a wonderful time and having gained a valuable experience whether they win medals or not.”

The NAYRC is supported by its Title Sponsor, CN, and by its Presenting Sponsor, Adequan. The NAYRC is also supported by this year’s Gold Medal Sponsors - Howard and Martha Simpson, the United States Equestrian Federation, Equine Canada and the Mosaic Foundation.

Other sponsors for the 2005 NAYRC include Silver Medal Sponsors Devoucoux, Rebecca Broussard, Practical Horseman, Bel Cavallo Bronze, Horsecity.com, United States Dressage Federation Inc., Southeast Equine, Dressage Today and Horse ’n Around; Bronze Medal Sponsors Equifit Inc., www.horse.dk, The Jefferson Florist and Garden, Larry and Marnye Langer, Vita Flex and Thornhill.

Blue Ribbon Sponsors include Mary Phelps, a Markel Equine Insurance Specialist, Rambo Blankets, VTO Saddlery, United States Eventing Association, The Equine Marketer, Schleese Saddlery Service, Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, Ecogold and the Virginia Jumper Association.

Other sponsors are American Horse Trials Foundation, Zone 3, SWVHJA (South West Virginia Hunter Jumper association), US Hunter Jumper Association, Virginia Horse Journal, Southern Inn Restaurant and the FEI.

Additional donors include Cowboy Magic, Dermafas, Wild Horsefeathers, Mrs. Pastures Cookies for Horses, Devoucoux, Absorbine and Mane ‘n Tail.

The North American Young Riders’ Championships began in 1974 as an eventing challenge between the United States and Canada. A Dressage Championship was added in 1981, and Show Jumping debuted in 1982. The first complete NAYRC was held in British Columbia, Canada in 1982.

Many top international and Olympic riders are veterans of the NAYRC, including Olympic Silver Medalists Greg Best, Chris Kappler, McLain Ward and Karen O'Connor, as well as Buck Davidson, Mara DePuy, Alison Firestone, Julie Gomena, Elise Haas, Lauren Hough, Megan Johnstone, Tiffani Loudon, Lisa Carlsen Lubitz, Abigail Lufkin, Heather Mason, Chris Pratt, Kathleen Raine, Nicole Shahinian Simpson, Ray Texel, and David Wilson.

For full results and further information on the 2005 CN North American Young Riders’ Championships, presented by Adequan, please visit www.youngriders.org.

Related Links
HorsesDaily "On the Scene" at the 2005 NAYRC
PhelpsPhotos.com>Search by Show>North American Young Riders’ Championships, 2005.