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USEF Announcement

 

 

August 02, 2008

By Joanie Morris

Parker, CO - Despite another very busy day of competition at the 2008 CN FEI North American Junior/Young Ride Championships at the Colorado Horse Park presented by Gotham North, only one medal was decided.

The North American Individual Young Rider Gold Medalist Katie Johnson rode a stellar test on Millenium to take top honors on a score of 69.050%. The 19-year-old rider from El Cajon, CA was a member of the Region 7 Gold medal winning team but when she came to the Championships her goal was a top 10 individual finish.

She achieved her goal, but never expected to win.

“It hasn't sunk in yet,” said Johnson. “It is spectacularly amazing. I came here hoping to make the top 10 and I'm a total disbelief - complete disbelief. It’s insane.”

Johnson leased Millenium from Pam Schachter three months ago with the specific goal of qualifying for NAJYRC. The lease runs out in August, so this win was particularly emotional for Johnson.



“I just love him,” she said about the 14-year-old Dutch gelding. “He's very special and he works so hard. He's so honest and he loves to work and loves to please. I couldn't be happier. This is a very special horse.”

19-year-old Brianna Dutton made her first trip to the NAJYRC with a very green horse very successful. Johnson's Gold medal winning teammate rode Tibet, an 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood to an Individual Silver medal on a score of 68.450%. The Tracy, CA rider has had Tibet for two years and was proud of how much he has achieved.

“His attitude is all there,” she said of Tibet. “He has a great work ethic. To come here for the first time with a green horse… I just wanted to make it through to the freestyle, so to be a medalist is unbelievable.”

Dutton is planning to attend St. Mary's College in California and study biology.

Chelsea Pedersen was impressed with her Bronze medal winning H.S. With Honors picking up a score of 67.900%. The 9-year-old Hungarian Warmblood is reasonably inexperienced but rose to the occasion for his 20-year-old rider.

“I'm so glad to be here,” said Pedersen. “This is my last year and I'm starting school full time this fall.”

Pedersen and H.S. With Honors traveled from Gig Harbor, WA to NAJYRC. A partnership formed five years ago, Pedersen forgot the rein back in her individual test picking up an error.

“It was just one movement,” she said of a test that was otherwise very accurate and confident. “But he was amazing, it was amazing to make it here and be able to hold our own.”

The Freestyles kick-off tomorrow at 7.30 am.

Brannigan Widens Lead in Young Rider Eventing Championship; Lux Remains on Top in Junior Eventing Championship

Jennie Brannigan put on another impressive performance today, remaining atop the leaderboard in the CCI** on 36.3, adding nothing to her dressage score with Cooper. The 21-year-old San Diego rider has been nearly invincible all year, leading the USEA Adequan Gold Cup Series at the Intermediate level. Just My Style ridden by Karen Shull lie second on a score 47.7 and Clifton Peekachu and Kaitlyn McMorris are third with 51.1.

Brannigan skipped around David O'Connor's cross-country track on her 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. Following Brannigan's lead, Area VI widened their lead in the team portion of the competition. With a two-day score of 154.4, the California team of Brannigan, Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister, David Koss and Candy lead the combined team of Areas I,IV&V who have a two-day total of 175.5.

Area VIII&X round out the top three Team placings on 267.0.
Jessica Lux and 14-year-old Irish Thoroughbred Car Tanga were tied for the lead after the dressage, but broke the tie by adding nothing to their dressage score of 43.1. Like Brannigan, the Orono, MN rider also leads the Gold medal winning effort by her Team from Area IV.

Area IV (Lux and Car Tanga, Callie Judy and Irish Odyssey, Hannah Ross and Fantasia and Edith Lee and Ballycormac Petrocelli) has less than one rail in hand going into the show jumping tomorrow over the team from British Columbia and Ontario. Area IV is on 137.4 and the Canadian team is on 141.0. The combined team from Area VIII&X are third on 154.6.

The Final Horse Inspection takes place at 7.30 am.

Wins in Jumping Farewell Classes Head North and South

In the Jumping Farewell Classes the countries North and South of the borders took home the honors. Young Rider Brie Etcheverry rode Capitan in 1.40 class to head north to Alberta with the victory.

The Junior honors head south to Mexico with Miguel Angel Iglesias and his horse Vida Loca. They were the only double clear in 1.30 class.

The individual jumping championships will be decided tomorrow morning at 7.30 am.
The first-ever Individual Reining medals will also be decided tomorrow morning. The sliding starts at 10.00 am.

July 31, 2008

 

USEF Announcement

 

Region 5 Dressage Riders are First Champions Crowned at 2008 FEI CN North American Junior and Young Rider Championships at the Colorado Horse Park Presented By Gotham North

Release: July 30 2008

By Joanie Morris

Parker, CO - After all the dressage horses sailed through the first horse inspection on Tuesday, Wednesday brought the first championship day at the 2008 FEI CN North American Junior and Young Rider Championships at the Colorado Horse Park Presented By Gotham North. The junior dressage riders led the way and their division showcased stylish performances throughout the junior team test.

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 presented by Platinum Performance and the United States Dressage Federation (USDF).

“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's 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.”

The Reining, Show Jumping and Eventing horses all had their respective horse inspections Wednesday, and the jumpers jumped two training rounds at 1.30m and 1.35m to stretch their legs. The competition continues Thursday with the second dressage team championship, the Young Riders Team Test. The eventers do their dressage for the CCI**, the jumpers do the first individual qualifiers for both the Juniors and the Young Riders and the reiners do their Welcome Class. The Opening Ceremonies welcomed everyone to the Colorado Horse Park when the competition day was completed and the action kicks off tomorrow morning at 8 a.m.

Additional sponsors of the 2008 CN North American Junior and Young Rider Championships at the Colorado Horse Park Presented By Gotham North include: Howard and Martha Simpson, Robert and Deborah Bennett, A Bit of Tack, Absorbine, American Horse Trials Foundation, Arista Equestrian, Arcadia Equine Rehabilitation, Ariat, Centurion Systems, Collecting Gaits Farm, Colorado Hunter/Jumper Association, County Saddlery, CWD, Dressage Today, Devoucoux, EMO Agency, Eponashoe, Equifit, Equine Canada, Equisure, F.I.T.S, Great American Insurance Company, GumBits, Inc., Gus Hoof Dressing, Harmony Sporthorses, High Prairie International Polo Club, Hodges Badge Company, Horse.dk, Horses Unlimited, Langer Equestrian Group, Indiana Dressage Society, Iron Spring Farm, Littleton Equine Medical Center, McElvain Family, Mosaic Foundation, Moxie Equestrian, North Carolina Dressage and Combined Training Association, Northern Ohio Dressage Association, Palm Beach Equine Medical Centers, Practical Horseman, Purina Mills, Rebecca Farm, Rider's Closet, Sandstone America Ranch, Serenity Farm, Somewhere Farms, Spy Coast Farm, Starr Vaughn Equestrian, Inc., Tennessee Valley Dressage & CT Association, Thatcher Family, The Clothes Horse, Tredennick Family, United States Dressage Federation/Platinum Performance, United States Eventing Association, United States Equestrian Federation, United States Hunter/Jumper Association, Vet-Stem, Inc., WaterJumpsUSA.com, Zone 8 Jumpers.

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.

 

 08/03/08 - NAJYRC Update from Sara Patrick, USDF Region 4 Director

 Emily Wagner and Wagnus scored a 63.8% (unofficial) in the young rider freestyles, placing them in 12th place! 

 

08/03/08 - NAJYRC Update from Sara Patrick, USDF Region 4 Director
 Nancy Gorton just called from the competition and shared the unofficial results of the junior freestyles.  She said scores were quite clustered, with many places being only a .1% apart.  Lauren Gorton earned 6th place overall with a 68.100% and Hans Baertsch earned 7th place with a 68.000%. I believe the high score in the junior freestyles was a 71.9%.  She said the young rider freestyles had just begun and Emily Wagner will ride hers at 10:40 a.m. (Mountain Time).
 
She added that the Region 4 teams opted to have a pizza party last night and relaxed and enjoyed that together.  People are starting to get tired from the length of the competition and heat, but all are in good spirits.  They will start packing after Emily's ride.  No one can leave the grounds (with horses, that is) until after the awards ceremony, which will have the top 3 riders of each country mounted (in Olympic fashion).  Tiredly but happily they will head home afterward and the 2008 NAJYRC will be completed.
 
 

7/31/08 - NAJYRC Update from Sara Patrick, USDF Region 4 Director

Our Region 4 JR team took the SILVER MEDAL!  Region 5 took gold ( Canada ) and Region 3 ( Fla ) took bronze.  Lauren Gorton had the second highest ride score of the day with an amazing 67%!!! The highest ride score was 67.9%.  All of our team scored in the 60s!!!!  The top team scores were 199, 196, and 194 so you can see just how competitive it was!  Out of 11 teams, it is VERY impressive to have our team win silver with such a high score.

  

 

07/30/08 - NAJYRC Update from Sara Patrick, USDF Region 4 Director

 Today the junior teams start off the NAJYRC dressage competition!  I just got off the phone with Nancy Gorton and she excitedly shared that Layne Sandercott/Cedrick (MN) scored a 63.950% (first rider out for our team; 2nd one down centerline in the whole competition and a higher score than her average in qualifying!) and Amy Hacker/Discoverer (MO) earned a 60.650% (no points for the 5 added one-tempis at one part of the test, but a very nice recovery and refocus by Amy).  This is Amy and Layne's first time at this international competition so we are very proud of how they have done!  Hans Baertsch/Rubinstar GB (MN) rides at 12:39 (Mountain time) and Lauren Gorton/Don Perry (MO) rides at 2:50 p.m..  Both have previous experience at this competition and both are PUMPED!  The junior team is currently standing in 3rd place, though half the riders have yet to go . . ..
 
Tonight the competition holds its' opening event, with a parade of athletes and a BBQ follows (and, of course, team meetings).
 
Tomorrow's ride times for our Young Rider team are:
Emily Wagner (KS)/Wagnus: 8:45 a.m.
Krissy Wang (NE)/Belladiva:  10:53
Meredith Kenyon (NE)/Rambunctious:  12:57 p.m.
Elise Mann (KS, training in TX)/Charisma:  3:18 p.m.
 
In terms of the general flow at the competition, the organizers are still working out a few things.  I guess the draw of team order of go last night was not independently observed.  Exercise time for the horses (under saddle) is extremely limited compared to when the competition was held at other facilities and only in the Eventing warm up ring (9:30 - 10:30 a.m., 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. and 8:30 - 10:00 p.m.).  Parents were not given wrist bands (necessary to get into the barn areas), so that has caused some problems.  The teams are trying to convince the organizers to please allow wrist bands for the parents. 
 
There has been one judge substitution, with Linda Zang needing to step in as the FEI steward due to illness of the previously hired person.  Michael Poulin flew out to complete the judging panel and the judge from Mexico is the senior judge (at 'C').
 
Weather conditions are warm, with lots of sun.  Nancy mentioned they would be taking a bucket of ice water out to the warm up arena to sponge down the horses this afternoon.
 
The Region 4 parents are doing a great job working together and supporting all the riders (but not hovering).  The Kenyons (who professionally coach people in their business and personal lives) gave a very good team coaching session last night that was much appreciated.  The coaches are all very professional and working well with their riders and together for the team.  My thanks to them!!
 
Two ADDITIONAL Bronze Level sponsors have stepped up to help the Region 4 teams.  Please help me thank Cerner (Neil Patterson, owner) and Georgia Walker Equine Insurance (both located in the Kansas City area).
 
Thank you again for YOUR support and for cheering on the teams from afar!  If you have any 'well wishes' to send the team, just let me know and I will make sure the rider/horse/ team/parent gets the message you wish to send!
 
Go Region 4!