Category Archives: Championships

Championships, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, USEF

Brown, Giesler Lead after Cross-Country Phase of Eventing at the Adequan/FEI NAJYRC

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CCI** leader Devon Brown. Brant Gamma Photography

Lexington, KY – After dressage in the CCI**, Area III’s Devon Brown and Dynamic Image sat atop the leaderboard – and Brown refused to relinquish her lead Saturday at the USEA North American Junior and Young Rider Eventing Championship at the 2011 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North.

Brown piloted Donna Miller’s flashy grey Irish Sport Horse gelding through the cross-country course to a fault-free round with a time of 8:31, well within the time allowed. The clean trip around David O’Connor’s cross-country course left the pair with a two-day score of 50.5.

“The course was challenging,” Brown said. “The combinations kept at it. They didn’t stop.”

Brown said she was most concerned about the double corners and the angled huts, but she had no problems navigating the challenges.

Although some riders had challenges with slippery footing in some parts of the course, Brown didn’t think it impacted her ride.

“The footing was good,” she said. “The only time he slipped was in warm up. On course, it was little hard, but if you galloped in arrogated places it was good.”

Continue reading Brown, Giesler Lead after Cross-Country Phase of Eventing at the Adequan/FEI NAJYRC →

Championships, Competitions, Events, USEF, Western/Reining

Double U.S. Reining Wins at SmartPak Individual Reining Championships

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Will Letner wins Gold. Photo: Waltenberry

Lexington, KY – Will Letner knew the bar was set high when fellow U.S. rider Laura Sumrall went out first into the Alltech Arena on Saturday – and came out with an impressive score of 217.5. Sumrall pumped her fists in the air, shouting, “Yes, yes!” at her first SmartPak Individual Reining Championships at the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North.

Letner’s thought: “Well, where do I go from here?” And he’d have to wait for 18 more riders to go before him to find out.

As it turns out, the best was saved for last. The 20-year-old from Harris, MO, topped Sumrall by a whole point, earning 218.5 from the judges – a number that left his cowboy hat flying into the air, the crowd cheering, and Letner with a Gold medal.

“He was great,” Letner said of his 12-year-old Paint, A Genuine Diamond, owned by Dr. Larry Letner. “I couldn’t have asked for more horse today. He doesn’t really have a bad day and today was the best day he’s ever had.”

Sumrall, who won the Silver medal, knew she could do better than she did at Thursday night’s Team Reining Championships, also held at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Alltech Arena. Her horse, Einsteins Fancy Pine (aka “Smartie”) spooked and “I nearly fell off,” Sumrall said. Choking back tears, she walked off with a zero score.

Continue reading Double U.S. Reining Wins at SmartPak Individual Reining Championships →

Championships, Competitions, Endurance Riding, Events, USEF

Team USA Takes Double Golds in First-Ever North American Young Rider Endurance Championship

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Endurance photo finish on a hot Kentucky summer day. Photo: SusanJStickle.com.

Lexington, KY – For first time in the event’s history, the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North played host to the North American Young Rider Endurance Championship. The competition included both CEI2* and CEI4* divisions which were completed yesterday, and team medals were presented today in both divisions.

CEI4*
In the CEI4* divisions, Team USA took home the Gold medal after accruing a collective ride time of 25 hours, 25 minutes, and 31 seconds. The team was made up of Lindsay Bean and Tektonic, Devan Horn and DJB Sameill, Kyle Gibbon and Missu Koran, and Kelsey Russell and My Wild Irish Gold, who successfully negotiated the 75-mile track despite the intense heat and humidity of the Kentucky summer.

Individually in the CEI4*, Russell took home the Gold, Bean the Silver, and Gibbon the Bronze.

“I just took it slow and easy,” Florida-resident Russell said. “I tried to let the horse pace themselves because they’re good at knowing how fast they can go.

“They were really nice trails, really well marked,” she said, adding that although the grass was “a little slippery,” she used a combination of Renegade boots and mud nails to gain traction.

Continue reading Team USA Takes Double Golds in First-Ever North American Young Rider Endurance Championship →

Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Dressage, Endurance Riding, Eventing/H.T., Events, USEF

Area VII’s Florence Miller Leads the Pack of Junior Three-day Eventers after Phase 1 Dressage

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Area VII's Florence Miller sits atop the CCI*. Photo: Diana De Rosa.

Lexington, KY – The 2011 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North continued today at the Kentucky Horse Park with Junior competitors completing the dressage phase of the USEA North America Junior Eventing Championship.

Topping the leader board of the CCI* event is Florence Miller of Area VII who ended her dressage test with only 47.3 penalty points aboard her horse, Tuscan Sun.

Area V representative Alyssa Philips and Sundance Bay are a little more than four points behind Miller while Sable Giesler and Evil Munchkin of Team Ontario are sitting comfortably in third.

“My horse is doing pretty nicely in dressage right now,” said the Montana-based Miller of her 8-year-old Thoroughbred. “It’s one of his stronger phases, and he had a really nice test today.”

For Philips, the score may have represented a personal best. “Sundance had a really nice test today, Generally he’s good all around, in each phase, but today he was very good. I think this is one of the best tests that we’ve had at the one-star level.”

The cross-country phase kicks off at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, and the top Juniors have already walked course.

“I think it’s really fair,” said Giesler. “It has a few tricky questions, like the corners, but it should ride well.”

If only it would rain.

Continue reading Area VII’s Florence Miller Leads the Pack of Junior Three-day Eventers after Phase 1 Dressage →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, Show Jumping, USEF, USHJA

Team Show Jumpers Take the Stage at the 2011 Adequan/FEI NAJYRC

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Junior Gold Medal Jumping Team, U.S. Zone 4. Photo by Sportfot.

Lexington, KY – It was a clean sweep for the U.S. when Junior and Young Rider Show Jumping Teams vied in the USHJA North American Show Jumping Championships today.

In the Junior division, the team from U.S. Zone 4 led the victory gallop with their Gold medal in tow while the U.S. Zone 2 carried the Silver, and U.S. combined Zones 1/6 took the Bronze.

Michael Hughes and Shockwave, Hayley Barnhill aboard Toucan Tango, Hasbrouck Donovan on Delilah, and Frances Land with Merlin earned the first-ever Gold for Zone 4 with a team total of only 12 faults after two grueling rounds in the Rolex stadium.

While a steady four on the outside line and a difficult water jump caused rails to come down for many, the Zone 4 team persevered. Barnhill, aboard the 9-year-old Tango, went clear for both rounds, one of only six to do so.

“It feels amazing,” said the 18-year-old Barnhill. “Zone 4 has never won a gold medal here, and it’s just awesome to be the first ones to do it.”

Team Chef Kim Land (Frances Land’s mother) could not have been more excited. “I’m really proud of them, with how they helped each other,” she said. “They’ve had their ups and downs this week and today everybody just came together and got better and better.”

Continue reading Team Show Jumpers Take the Stage at the 2011 Adequan/FEI NAJYRC →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Events, USEF, Western/Reining

Team Canada Defends the Gold, Mexico’s Maiden Voyage Silver, Long Haul for Bronze

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Canada's YR Reining Gold team, l-r: Lisa Hiebert, Kylie Wasiuta, Jessica Green, Nancy Pratch. Photo: Diana De Rosa.

Lexington, KY – High-quality runs and terrific scores from a field of top-quality reining horses and the continent’s most elite junior and young rider athletes made for a spectacular night at the 2011 SmartPak Reining Team Championships at the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North.

Canada reclaimed the top of the podium at Thursday night’s team competition, this time with its Alberta/Manitoba team earning a score of 623. All three counting scores on the Gold medal team came in above the 200 point mark. Team members Jessica Green (201), Lisa Hiebert (206.5), Nancy Pratch (215.5), and Kylie Wasiuta (194) powered through the competition with determination and heart and their efforts paid off in a big way. Defending the Gold medal on behalf of Canada was a top priority for the team, and seasoned team veterans Pratch and Wasiuta knew just what it would take.

“The horses were great and we had very nice, consistent runs that helped us stay on top,” said Pratch. “It is a huge honor and we are super proud to represent Canada at such an important competition.”

Pratch wins her third FEI Gold medal in two years, as she was the anchor rider for the Gold medal Canadian team at the Adequan North American Junior & Young Rider Championships last year and won the Individual Gold medal in 2010. All eyes turn now to see if Pratch will also defend her Individual Gold on Saturday morning in the final round of championship FEI reining.

Continue reading Team Canada Defends the Gold, Mexico’s Maiden Voyage Silver, Long Haul for Bronze →

Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Dressage, Events, USEF

Leibler and Lahey Take the Gold in Individual Dressage at the 2011 NAJYRC

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Young Rider Devon Brown leads after the dressage phase. Photo by Brant Gamma Photos.

Lexington, KY – The competitive action jumped into high gear on Day Two of the 2011 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North, which got underway at the Kentucky Horse Park yesterday and will continue through Sunday.

In the Rolex Stadium, it was a quest for Individual Gold for dressage competitors, then, later in the day the show jumpers took the course for phase one of the Individual qualifiers. Across the compound, three-day eventers took part in the dressage portion of their eventing championship, and in the Alltech Arena, the Team Reining finals wrapped up the day.

In all, 34 Young Riders vied in the USDF/Platinum Performance Dressage Championship Individual tests today, but it was Region 8 representative Isabelle Leibler aboard Watson 108 who earned the Gold. Team Gold medalist Brandi Roenick (Region 5) and Pretty Lady took Silver while Chase Hickok (Region 1) and Palermo captured the Bronze.

Kelli McLean Newton and Luciano (Region 7) sat at the top of the leader board for a good part of the day with a 64.526, but soon after the lunch break the scores just kept growing higher. But it was Leibler, a Team Bronze medalist, who turned in the winning performance that scored a 67.289.

In the end, less than half a point separated the top three riders.

Continue reading Leibler and Lahey Take the Gold in Individual Dressage at the 2011 NAJYRC →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Western/Reining

FEI European Reining Championships 2011, Wiener Neustadt (AUT)

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IT’S ALL GOLD FOR UNTOUCHABLE ITALIANS by Louise Parkes

Giovanni Masi won Junior Team and Individual gold at the FEI European Reining Championships 2011 at Wiener Neustadt, Austria where Italy reigned supreme at all levels. Photo: FEI/Christian Kellner.

Lausanne (SUI), 29 JULY 2011 – Italian riders swept all before them at the FEI European Reining Championships 2011, which came to a close at Wiener Neustadt, Austria yesterday.  In an extraordinary run of form they claimed gold in all three team championships, and took both gold and silver in each of the individual divisions.

Competitors from 10 countries were in action throughout the week, but the remaining nine had to bow to the supremacy of the Italian performers who out-rode all others.  They began with success for their Junior Team on Tuesday, and they never looked back.

JUNIORS
A total of 30 riders lined out in the Junior Team Championship in which the combined score of 643 points provided Italy with a clear victory over Germany in silver medal position while The Netherlands took bronze.  Germany’s Alisa Muller and Sparkling Cielo produced one of the highest early scores with 211 on the board, but it was Italy’s Giovanni Masi and his American Quarter Horse stallion Remins Remedy who produced the best result of the day. Rewarded with a mark of 220 it helped secure the ultimate honour for Masi and his team-mates Sara Ambrosini (Maxplease), Lara Lorengo (BH Shot O Lon) and Nicolo Boretti (Sun Olenas Red Chicka).

“I’m so glad about our success,” said Italian coach Filippo Masi.  “I knew I had four good riders on the team but, with the exception of Giovanni, they had no experience at this level.  Also Germany had a strong team,” he added.  Trainer Kay Wienrich was happy with the achievement of the German side.  “They all did a great job and I’m especially glad as we had three young and inexperienced riders in the team – and all four have qualified for the individual final.”

Continue reading FEI European Reining Championships 2011, Wiener Neustadt (AUT) →

Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, FEI, USDF, USEF

Region 5 and Region 1 Take the Team Dressage Gold Medals at the 2011 Adequan/FEI NAJYRC

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Region 5 claimed the Gold medal in the Young Rider competition. Photo by SusanJStickle.com

Lexington, KY – Temperatures soared, but dressage competitors managed to keep their cool as the 2011 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North kicked off today at the Kentucky Horse Park.

This is the third year the championships have been held at the Kentucky venue, which was the site of the 2010 Alltech/FEI World Equestrian Games last fall.

The day began with Junior and Young Rider dressage competitors vying side-by-side in the USDF/Platinum Performance Dressage Championship Team tests and ended with the pomp and pageantry of the official opening ceremonies.

Competitors started early in the Young Rider Team dressage event, but late in the day when the dust cleared from the center line it was U.S. Region 5 standing on the Gold-medal podium for the second year in a row.

Brandi Roenick, aboard Pretty Lady, Madeleine Birch on Uoeri, Catherine Chamberline on Verdicci, and Aylin Corapcioglu aboard Ruhmann captured the top spot with a combined Team score of 198.104.

“It’s just great to be a double Gold medalist!” gushed Birch, 20, who was part of the 2010 Gold-medal-winning Young Rider Team, “especially coming back here with my own horse,” she added.

Continue reading Region 5 and Region 1 Take the Team Dressage Gold Medals at the 2011 Adequan/FEI NAJYRC →

Associations/Breeds, Championships, Competitions, Events, USEF, Western/Reining

Gentile Wins NRHA Intercollegiate Reining Championship

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Oklahoma City, OK – Twelve college-age riders competed in the 2011 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Collegiate Reining Championship during the recent NRHA Derby Show in Oklahoma City, OK. Jesse Gentile of The Ohio State University won the championship title and NRHA Lawson trophy with a score of 218.

When asked what advice he would give young reiners, Gentile who rode Out Dun the Son from Gary Sanders of Steele, MO, said, “Have fun, and even though it’s (reining) is a lot of work, it is worth it.” Paige Monfore of Auburn University, who rode Dunit Pistol Pete from Katheen Ray of Aubrey, TX, and Mckenzie Lantz of the University of Georgia who rode Playgun Chic Olena from Teresa Wynn of Benton, KY, tied for reserve with scores of 215.5.

NRHA selected four riders from a pool of collegiate NRHA members to participate in the championship. The individuals who competed on behalf of NRHA are Jenna Blumer, Oklahoma State University; Jesse Gentile, The Ohio State University; McKenzie Lantz, University of Georgia; and Austin Griffith, The Ohio State University.

Four individuals were selected to represent NCAA Varsity Equestrian competitors in the class. The riders selected to compete on behalf of Varsity Equestrian were: Page Monfore, Auburn University; Rachel Houchin, Oklahoma State University; Kristen Hansen, Auburn University; Becca Haaland, University of Georgia.

Continue reading Gentile Wins NRHA Intercollegiate Reining Championship →