North American Junior and Young Rider Championships: 29 July - 3 August, Colorado (USA)

The North American Junior and Young Rider Championships at the Colorado Horse Park are the premier equestrian event in North America for riders age 14-21.  Run in a format similar to the Olympic Games, the Championships feature riders competing for team and individual medals in the three Olympic disciplines of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, as well as the Reining, which was added to the programme this year.  

The NAJYRC began in 1974 as an eventing challenge between Canada and the United States.  A Dressage Championship was added in 1981 and, with the addition of Jumping, the first complete Championship with all three Olympic disciplines was held in British Columbia, Canada in 1982.  A championship division for juniors was added to the schedule in 2006 and reining, a fourth discipline, joined the schedule in 2008.

Many of North America's best equestrians got their start at the NAJYRC including Olympic medallists Greg Best, Karen Lende O'Connor, Chris Kappler and McLain Ward, as well as Alison Firestone, Nicole Shahinian Simpson, Ray Texel, Chris Pratt, Frankie Chesler, Lisa Carlsen, Harold Chopping, Martina Pracht, Kathleen Raine, Heather Mason, David Wilson, Gwyneth MacPherson, Tiffani Loudon, Buck Davidson, Abigail Lufkin, Missy Ransehousen, Mara DePuy, Molly Bliss, and Julie Gomena. 

Region 7 Wins Young Riders Dressage Team Gold
The Region 7 team won the Gold with a score of 4417 points and a percentage of 65.437, followed by Region 8 with a score of 4395 points and 65.111% and Canada-Ontario who received a score of 4374 points and 64.800%. Each team counts its three best scores. 

Region 7, whose riders were all competing in their first Young Riders Championship, was led by Katie Johnson of El Cajon, CA who scored 66.356% on Millenium. Region 7 also got scores of 65.778% from Brianna Dutton of Tracy, CA on Tibet, 64.178% from Christine Stephenson of Mission Viejo, CA on Charly 285, and 60.933% from Thomas Walker of Nipomo, CA on Grundsteins Legacy.

"This is something you dream about but certainly don't expect," said Dutton.  "Even just to place is like a dream come true, but to win the Gold is unbelievable!" 

Region 7 chef d'equipe Elizabeth Hendrix wasn't sure what to expect of her team before arriving at the Colorado Horse Park.  "I hadn't seen a lot of the riders and I knew my team consisted of all first timers," she said.  "When I saw them warm up though, I started to realise that this could be a really good team."

All four of the riders were enjoying the first experience at the NAJYRC even before becoming gold medallists.  "It's often hard to get people to understand how we feel about our sport," Johnson said.  "It's really fun to be with so many others our age who have the same passion for horses that we do." 

Region 5 Junior Dressage Riders are First Champions Crowned 
Region 5 prevailed in a close battle that came down to the last rotation of riders. Brandi Roenick and Pretty Lady, who won the Junior National Dressage Championships at the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions in June, scored 67.9% to lead Region 5 to the Junior Championship.  

"I was very satisfied with my ride," said Roenick from Scottsdale, AZ. "I had a little bobble in one change. I will be a lot more confident on Friday because this is a spooky ring and on Friday I hope I will have a much better ride."

Teammates, Morgan Heinrichs (riding Orlando), Cassy Fitch (Kilroy) and Brittney Klasic (Wadi Draa), all put in impressive performances with a combined average of 66.467% to stay clear of Region 4, which finished with a combined average of 65.567% for the Silver and Region 7 which finished on 64.767% for the Bronze.

Fitch and Roenick have known each other since they were three years old. Overall my horse was pretty good," Fitch said of her 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding's effort. "I had a few bobbles but I tried my hardest." 

Heinrichs had one of the shortest trips to the NAJYRC with her 12-year-old Dutch gelding, Orlando. Hailing from Longmont, CO she made her 1.5 hour trip worth the effort with her first Gold medal. "I'm really happy," said Heinrichs after scoring 65.950%. "I only got my horse in February so we had to bond through the qualifying process. I had one mistake when he broke in the canter." 

Another Arizona rider, Klasic, rounded out the foursome. Riding the 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Wadi Draa, Klasic was pleased with how her test ended. "I thought my ride was pretty good," said Klasic. "I had a few bobbles but I thought I finished pretty good." 

The enthusiasm at the NAJYRC proved to be infectious throughout the first day of competition and worth every mile on the journey for all the teams, who traveled from all over the US, Mexico and Canada.

The Silver medal team from Region 4 (upper Midwest) of Hans Baertsch (on Rubinstar GB), Lauren Gorton (on Kilroy), Amy Hacker (Discoverer) and Layne Sandercott (Cedrick) gave Region 5 a run for their money but came up just short. 

"It has been an incredibly long process to get here," said Sandercott. "So it is really fun to be here now." Baertsch was here for his second trip to the NAJYRC and was happy to have improved since his last appearance. "It's exciting," he said. "There is good atmosphere and I did better this year than last year, so it is really rewarding."

The Californians from Region 7 appeared pleased with their Bronze medal effort despite NAJYRC veteran Mackinzie Pooley declaring that it wasn't easier the second time at the Championships.

Pooley rode Jonkara, Ari Lopez rode Corlander to the highest score on the team (66.750%), Samantha Billings rode Lauris and Courtney Blaine rounded out the team on Oletty is Dutch Treat. "My horse was actually really good," said Lopez of her inexperienced Rhiendlander gelding. "He's only seven and he can be really naughty, but he kept it together and I'm really proud of him."

Reining
Earlier in the day, Carlie Thompson of Dublin, OH rode Paid By Corona to win in the USEF Reining Division's Welcome Competition, the first official reining competition ever held at the NAJYRC.   

Further information and results from the 2008 CN North American Junior and Young Rider Championships at the Colorado Horse Park, Presented by Gotham North is available on line at www.youngriders.org.