Kaylawna Smith (Area VI) and London Callin OHF on their way to winning the CCI1* dressage (Brant Gamma Photography)

Lexington, Ky. – Dressage riders completed their tests for Individual medals today at the 2014 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC). Taking home the Gold medal in the Young Rider division of the USDF/Platinum Performance North American Junior and Young Riders’ Dressage Championship was Catherine Chamberlain (Region 7) on Verdicci. The Gold medalist in the Junior division was Camille Bergeron (Canada) riding Lowelas.

The judges for the Young Rider Dressage today were: E – Lorraine MacDonald (CAN), H – Lilo Fore (USA), C: Cesar Torrente (COL), M – Marian Cunningham (PER), B – Mercedes Campdera (MEX). In the Junior Dressage, the judges were: E – Sandy Hotz (USA), H – Cesar Lepardo Grana (ARG), C – Gabriel Armando (ARG), M – Christof Umbach (LUX), B – Adrian Hamoen (NED).

With a score of 71.789%, Catherine Chamberlain (19, Murrieta, Calif.) and Verdicci took the Gold medal in the Young Rider Individual competition. Chamberlain rides for Region 7, which includes riders from California, Hawaii, and Nevada.

Chamberlain finished several points ahead of the rest of the field, and attributed that to experienced trainers. “I just started training with David (Wightman) and Kathleen (Raine) last November, and they are so experienced,” Chamberlain said. “They’ve been to the World Equestrian Games, and all over Germany showing, so coming to their barn was a completely new experience for me. I’ve had my horse for seven years now, but there’s always so much more to learn, and working with them has been working on the fine points.”

David Ziegler (21, Beiseker, Alberta) and Peninsula Top Man won the Silver medal with a 68.289%. Ziegler is the first competitor in recent history to ride in two different disciplines in the same year at the NAJYRC, and believes his support team plays a large role in his success in such a busy week.

“I have a great team behind me, my parents, my chef d’equipes, my coaches, my grooms,” Ziegler said. “They’re all keeping me on track and making sure I’m everywhere I need to be.”

Hope Cooper (17, Concord, Mass.) and Don Diamond earned 67.263% for the Bronze medal. Cooper rides for Region 8, which includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

In the Junior division, Camille Carier Bergeron (14, Mascouche, Que.), who rides for Canada/Quebec/Alberta, and Lowelas won the Gold medal with a 70.342%.

Bergeron was very pleased with today’s test, and felt that Lowelas was in his element. “My horse had a lot of energy, but a good energy,” Bergeron said. “He was active and had really nice control. He came here last year; it was not his first time here, so he was familiar with the arena and the area.”

Molly Paris (18, Charlotte, N.C.) and Diamant Sky received 68.868% for the Silver. Paris rides for Region 1, which includes Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Eastern West Virginia.

Alexandra Meghji (16, Toronto, Ontario) and Iliado II won the Bronze medal with a 67.711%. Meghji rides for Canada/Ontario.

Eventing Riders Complete Dressage Phase

Eventing CCI1* (Junior) and CCI2* (Young Rider) riders started their journey to the medal podiums today with the dressage phase of the USEA North American Junior and Young Riders’ Eventing Championship. The CCI2* riders finished their dressage tests in the evening with Canada/Ontario jumping into the lead for Team standings on a score of 165.1 penalties. Area V/VI is second with a score of 171.9, and Area III lies in third on 175.2.

The Canada/Ontario CCI2* team consists of:
Lauren Clark (18, Uxbridge, Ontario) and Coolumn XV – 58.3
Hanna Bundy (20, Toronto, Ontario) and D’Jion – 50.7
Jamie Kellock (19, New Market, Ontario) and Don’t Blink – 57.4
April Simmonds (17, Uxbridge, Ontario) and Impressively Done – 57.0

Thinking ahead to Saturday’s cross country course, Kellock said it best about which she is most looking forward to, “the last one,” as the team from Ontario hopes to have successful runs through the finish flags.

Riding as an individual, David Ziegler (21, Beiseker, Alberta) of Canada leads CCI2* individual standings with a score of 46.3 aboard Critical Decision. Bundy of Canada/Ontario sits in second with D’Jion on a score of 50.7, while Nicole Doolittle (16, Charlotte, N.C.) of Area III and Tops are in third with a score of 53.9.

“There is a lot of galloping, but I like that,” Ziegler said of David O’Connor’s cross country course. “‘BG’ knows Kentucky and he is excited,” he added of Missy Ransenhousen’s former Rolex Kentucky CCI4* mount.

Area IV leads sits atop the leaderboard in the CCI1* Team competition with 153.7 penalties. Area V is in second with 159.6, while Areas II is in third on 161.9.

The Area IV CCI1* team consists of:
Kristine Burgess (15, Lino Lakes, Minn.) and BFF Tiara – 52.9
Rebbecca Gall (17, Saukville, Wis.) and Can Ya Dig It – 50.6
Elena Hengel (17, Woodland, Minn.) and Zipp – 57.3
Hannah Stohr (17, Lenexa, Kan.) and Hey Jude – 50.2

“I have to say that we have a really nice coach, Jon Holling, who is really good at getting us prepared the day before and getting our horses where we need to be,” Stohr said, as she credited the Area IV team coach for their success following the first phase of competition. “He’s also great at getting us in the right state mentally to go in.”

Hengel half-jokingly added that they also have lots of time to practice dressage in indoor arenas during the winter months in the upper Midwest. She also stated that the team, “is taking it one day at a time,” as they optimistically head into the cross country phase.

Individually, Kaylawna Smith (18, Murrieta, Calif.) of Area VI is leading with 45.6 penalties on London Calling OHF. Sitting in second is Alyssa Phillips (17, Fort Worth, Texas) of Area V on Bliss III, who has 47.1 penalties. Moira de Ste Croix-Laframboise (16, of Canada/Ontario) is in third with 49.2 penalties on Blue Ben.

“I couldn’t believe it when I was walking down the aisle to the Rolex Stadium; it was unbelievable,” Smith said of entering the field of play for her first NAJYRC. “It was a great feeling.”

USHJA North American Junior and Young Riders’ Show Jumping Championship

Jumpers took to the Walnut Ring on Thursday to complete the first phase of competition and take their first steps toward Individual medals. A total of 26 Young Riders and 39 Juniors went to task over Steve Stephens’ testing tracks in the Speed Leg, which utilizes the faults converted phase.

Taylor Alexander (Castle Rock, Colo.) and Alexander LLC’s G and C Flash sped to early lead in the Young Rider championship after posting a quick clear round in the afternoon session. The Zone 8 representative heads into the Friday on a championship score of zero after stopping the timers in 69.34.

Lying in second place after the first round is Zone 7’s Katie Cox (Conroe, Texas) with Kim Cox’s Twilight after producing a clear effort in 69.39 and stand on an overall total of .03.

Michael Hughes (Allendale, N.J.) and Christina Fried’s Luxina jumped a lightning fast round, but a single rail meant they would add four seconds to their time for a score of 69.80. The Zone 2 veteran stands on a total of .23 after Thursday.

Zone 2’s Lisa Deslauriers (New York, N.Y) and her own Hester produced a tidy, efficient round to stop the timers in 65.96 and carry the individual junior lead into Friday’s Nations Cup on a score of zero.

Lucas Porter (Bartonville, Texas) stands second behind Deslauriers with Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s Phineas, after producing a clear round in a time of 67.26. The Zone 7 rider now stands on a championship score of .65.

Lying in Bronze medal position after the Junior Speed Leg is Zone 10’s Peyton Warren (Rancho Murierta, Calif.) with her Lysander 99. The pair produced a clear trip in a time of 68.02 and stand on an overall total of 1.03.

Competition continues on Friday with Junior and Young Rider Nations Cups; the juniors will be first in the Rolex Stadium beginning at 8am ET.

The 14 North American Young Rider Endurance Championship competitors kicked off their championship with the Horse Inspection, where all horses were accepted. This year’s field includes Emilynn DiBassie, the number one ranked Young Rider in the FEI Rankings.

For full results or to learn more about the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North, please visit www.youngriders.org.

USEF Network presented by SmartPak will live stream the entirety of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday’s events from the Rolex Stadium during NAJYRC. Visit www.usefnetwork.com to find out more and watch!