Exclusively for Junior riders aged 14 to 18 and Young riders aged 16 to 21, the NAJYR Championships gives up-and-coming riders the opportunity to represent their country in international competition.
Canada’s dressage riders dominated the individual competition, winning double gold medals at the 2007 CN North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships (NAJYRC), held July 31 to August 5 in Lexington, USA.
In the Young Riders’ division, Alexandra Duncan of West Vancouver, BC, was the individual silver medalist, paired with her 12-year-old Holsteiner mare Elektra.
Having scored 67.778% to help the Canada Coast-to-Coast team take fourth place earlier in the week, Duncan was standing in fifth place heading into the individual final, where she scored 68.800% for the silver medal.
“This year Elektra was more relaxed. I felt I could push her in the ring,” explained Duncan, who was also awarded the Pursuit of Excellence Fiona Baan Memorial Trophy for achieving the highest percentage average score from the Young Riders’ team and individual classes.
“I was delighted to win an individual medal. It was a great achievement for Elektra and I as the competition was tough.”
Duncan closed out the 2007 NAJYRC on a high note, taking gold in the Young Riders’ Freestyle competition. Her performance to a mix of world fusion and Middle Eastern music, choreographed by Karen Robinson of Applause Dressage earned her a score of 72.950%.
“It was an exhilarating feeling to share the experience with my team mates Julie and Leah,” said Duncan. “Before the freestyle at sound check, Leah had said, ‘okay Alex, you can have the gold, I want the silver,’ and I said ‘okay let’s go for it.’ It was fun to have it turn out with that happening.”
Jade Deter of Kemptville, ON, also finished at the top of the podium, and made history when she became the first Canadian rider to win three gold medals at the Championships.
Riding her 10-year-old Westphalian gelding Mastermind, Deter led the Junior dressage team to a gold medal finish on a score of 69.750%, before scoring 69.550% to take the individual final. She continued her winning streak, and added another gold medal to her growing collection in the Junior Dressage Freestyle, where she rode Mastermind to score 73.400%.
“The individual went really well. My horse was just as consistent as he was in the team competition, and if anything he felt even steadier and we had no mistakes.
“I was so happy and excited to win gold,” stated Deter, explaining that it has been her goal to compete at NAJYRC since she bought Mastermind in October of 2006. “I was also thrilled with the Freestyle. My music is slow to match how steady Mastermind is, and it all flows together really well.”
Other Canadians in the individual final standings included Leah Wilson of Orangeville, ON, who scored 67.550% with Susan Platz’s 12-year-old Hannoverian mare Westside Lady in the Young Riders’ division to finish in fifth place. Wilson was also a member of the Ontario Young Riders’ Team, who earned a fifth place finish. Junior Rider Jaimie Holland of Caledon, ON finished eighth individually on a score of 65.550%, partnered with her nine-year-old Westphalian mare Fleurina.
In addition, Duncan’s teammates helped Canada dominate the Young Riders’ Freestyle, with Wilson scored 70.900% with Westside Lady to take silver, while Julie Watchorn of Schomberg, ON rode her 11-year-old Hannoverian gelding Dobble Tyme to a score of 70.200% for bronze.
In addition, Canada’s Junior Dressage Team won the team gold medal on August 2. The team reached the top of the standings with a total score of 204.450, with great scores being contributed by Lindsay Seidel-Wassenaar of Bluffton, AB; Sara Regehr of Vernon, BC; as well as Jade Deter of Kemptville, ON; and Jaimie Holland of Caledon, ON.
Leading the team for the win was Deter, who scored 69.750% aboard her 10-year-old Westphalian gelding Mastermind.
“I’m really happy with my performance and with my horse. He’s been amazing this whole season, and he kept up his performance here,” said Deter, who at 16-years-old is competing in her first year at the FEI Junior Level after enjoying great success at the FEI Childrens level. “The team really pulled through and did an awesome job.”
Her fellow team members also put in stellar performances, with Holland scoring 67.800% paired with her nine-year-old Westphalian mare Fleurina, to help secure the team gold and put her in third place individually.
The final two team members earned very close scores, with Regehr piloting Beth Regehr’s nine-year-old Canadian Sport Horse Danika to a score of 66.900%, while Seidel-Wassenaar received 66.750% with her 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Oslo.
“The Junior Team did such a great job, and they are so excited,” commented Chef d’equipe Tina Busse-Irwin. “All four riders are in their first Junior year with some representing Canada for the first time, but they put in great tests and didn’t crack under pressure.”
The USA Region 2 were the silver medalists, with USA Region 1 taking bronze.
Exclusively for Junior riders, aged 14 – 18, and Young Riders, 16-21, the NAJYRC gives up and coming riders the opportunity to experience representing their country as a team, and prepares them for future international competition.
Featuring the three Olympic disciplines of dressage, eventing and show jumping, the 2007 NAJYRC features competitors from the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Argentina.
“It’s been really exciting, and it was great to meet the two girls on the team from out west,” explained Deter. “It’s been a really good experience, and I would love to come again next year and try for gold again.”
Exclusively for Junior riders, aged 14 – 18, and Young Riders, 16-21, the NAJYRC gives up-and-coming riders the opportunity to experience representing their country as a team, and prepares them for future international competition.
Featuring the three Olympic disciplines of dressage, eventing and show jumping, the 2007 NAJYRC hosted competitors from the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Argentina.
“The Championships were really fun, and I learned so much,” commented Deter. “The team support was great, everyone pitched in to help each other, and it was a really good experience.”
The Canadian Eventing Young Riders’ Team took the bronze medal, while team member Jessica Di Genova won individual gold at the 2007 CN North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships (NAJYRC), held July 31 to August 5 in Lexington, Virginia USA.
The Alberta/Ontario Young Riders’ Team, made up of Alberta riders Kathryn Duke of Calgary and Danielle Ziehlke of Sherwood Park, as well as Ontario residents Jessica Di Genova of Norval and Robyn Miller of Milverton, worked together to finish with a team total score of 254, just 0.6 points off the silver-medal position.
Di Genova led the team, and was at the top of the individual standings throughout the competition partnered with her 17-year-old Canadian bred Dutch Warmblood/Thoroughbred cross mare Upolu. Di Genova’s domination of the Young Riders’ CCI 2* division began in dressage test were she scored 46.4 for an early lead.
No jumping and just four time faults over FEI Level ‘I’ Course Designer David O’Connor’s challenging cross-country course, which saw many jumping faults throughout the day, set the pair up for a great finish on day three, where a faultless show jumping performance resulted in final score of 50.4, and the individual gold medal.
“It was amazing to win, and it was very emotional for me because this was my last event with Upolu. She’s now retiring from competition and is going to be a broodmare,” said Di Genova, who will add her 2007 medals to a growing collection, having earned individual bronze and team bronze at the 2006 NAJYRC. “She gave me her all, and was pure heart during cross-country and show jumping.”
Duke scored 60.2 in dressage, before moving on to cross-country, where she added 20 jumping and 3.2 time faults partnered with Patricia Duke’s 15-year-old Selle Francaise gelding Eliot III. The pair had four rails in show jumping for 12 faults, making their final score 95.4, and a ninth place finish individually.
Miller and Don J. Good’s 18-year-old Canadian Sport Horse gelding T’Jean received a score of 57.8 in dressage, which put them in third place individually. Despite adding 20 jumping and 30.4 time faults cross-country, the pair came back strong on the third day with a fault free show jumping performance earning them a final score of 108.2, and an individual placing of 12th.
Ziehlke got off to a strong start with her 11-year-old Canadian Thoroughbred mare, Glasgow Dancer, scoring 58 in dressage to stand in fourth place individually, but unfortunately were eliminated in the cross-country phase.
“I am really happy for the team, they were very goal oriented and had great team spirit,” said Alberta/Ontario Team Chef d’Equipe Jennifer Campbell. “They worked really hard for their final result, and I am so proud of them.”
The US Area III & X team won gold, while the US Area VIII team took silver. Nate Chambers of the US was the individual silver medalist, with fellow American Kirsten Selvig earning individual bronze.
Canada’s Junior eventing team was also successful, with the Quebec/Ontario team finishing in fourth place in the Junior One Star Championship division. Team members Emily Daigneault of Gatineau, QC, Erica Koczi of Ayers Cliff, QC, Ali Kraushaar of Waterloo, ON and Sophie Laframboise of Montreal, QC, achieved a final score of 206.8, just 3.8 points off the bronze medal.
Koczi put in great performances with Colleen Loach’s 19-year-old Canadian Thoroughbred gelding Dare to Compare. They earned a dressage score of 61.4 before moving on to complete a faultless cross-country round, and lowered just one rail in the show jumping for four faults.
They finished on a final score of 65.4, which put them in 13th place individually. Daigneault had a final score of 65.9 to finish 14th individually. Her performance was highlighted by a clear cross-country performance aboard her 12-year-old Canadian bred Morgan gelding Misty Vale Bacardi.
Laframboise also rode a fault free cross country round and finished with a final score of 75.5 riding her 17-year-old Appaloosa/Thoroughbred cross gelding Fleet Makani. Krashaar scored 65.2 in the dressage phase, but unfortunately had to withdraw her 11-year-old Canadian Thoroughbred/Trakehner cross mare Romancing from the remainder of the competition.
“We had a young team this year, and it was a great experience for them,” said Campbell. “They worked hard and learned a lot.”
Historically, eventing riders have spent plenty of time on the podium at NAJYRC. In 2006, in addition to the success of the Alberta/Ontario Young Riders’ team, the Ontario Junior/Young Riders’ team defended Canada’s 2005 titles, claiming both the team and individual gold medals in the CCI* Junior/Young Rider Team Non-Championship division. Team member Kendal Lehari was the recipient of the individual gold medal.
Exclusively for Junior riders, aged 14 – 18, and Young Riders, 16-21, the NAJYRC gives up and coming riders the opportunity to experience representing their country as a team, and prepares them for future international competition. Featuring the three Olympic disciplines of dressage, eventing and show jumping, the 2007 NAJYRC hosts competitors from the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Argentina.
“I think this has been the best NAJYRC I’ve been to,” said Di Genova. “I love the facility, and it is so well organized for such a huge show. The overall organization was great this year, and they made improvements to the closing ceremonies.”
Canada’s show jumping competitors racked up two silver team medals, as well as silver and bronze individual medals at the 2007 CN North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championship (NAJYRC) held July 31 to August 5 in Lexington, VA.
The Alberta Young Riders’ team, consisting of Jaclyn Duff of Edmonton and Chris Surbey of Calgary, joined by Hayley Alfonso of St. Andrews, MB, had a total team score of 43 faults to win the silver medal.
The team competition ran in Nations’ Cup format, with each of the team riders contesting two rounds of competition and aiming for the least amount of jumping and time faults over the challenging courses set by American FEI ‘I’ level course designer Anthony D’Ambrosio.
After lowering two rails in the first round aboard Patty Alfonso’s 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Laforza, Alfonso led the team to their silver medal finish after putting in one of the few fault-free second rounds seen in the competition.
Surbey accumulated 12 jumping and two time faults over the two rounds for a total score of 14 with the 18-year-old gelding Swanky, owned by Legacy Investments Ltd. Duff had three rails come down in the first round for 12 faults, but returned to lower just one rail and incur one time fault for a two-round total score of 17 aboard her 13-year-old Westphalian gelding Pan Tau 55.
“Since there were only three on the team, they weren’t able to drop any scores, so we didn’t have any expectations to medal. They just wanted to put in good performances and represent Alberta well,” said Chef d’Equipe and former world champion Gail Greenough. “Winning the silver medal was a huge bonus and I am so proud of them.”
In the Junior Division, open to riders aged 14 to 18, the Quebec team comprised of David Arcand of Mont-Royal, Frederique Cote of St-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Billie Derouet of Bromont, and Bianca Lafontaine of Hudson earned a team silver medal with a total score of 25.
Arcand continued his success in the individual final, adding just eight jumping faults in round two. His three-day total of 16 faults earned him the individual silver medal.
“It was a great feeling to win an individual medal my first time at the Championships,” explained Arcand. “It was also great to get to know my horse a lot better since there were five classes in one week.”
Annan’s Reba McIver, who was representing Ontario as an individual in the Junior Division, had 17 faults to finish right behind Arcand and earn the individual bronze medal, partnered with Fileepe, a nine-year-old Czech Warmblood gelding owned by Gillian McIver.
“There was great camaraderie across all provinces and all disciplines,” commented Greenough. “The competitors were a lot of fun and extraordinarily enthusiastic all week long, and it was a great competition and a great stepping stone for them.”
