Zone 10 NAJYRC

By Staff Report July 6, 2011

The United States Equestrian Federation’s selection process for Zone 10’s Adequan FEI North American Young Rider and Junior Rider Championship show jumping teams concluded at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano last month.

The two teams will represent California and Nevada at the only Fédération Équestre Internationale championship held annually on U.S. soil, when riders from the U.S., Mexico and Canada convene at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington July 27-31.

The Zone 10 finals took place June 10 and 12, over courses designed by Linda Allen. Points earned were tallied from this and previous shows, with the Young Riders jumping 1.45m (4’9”) and the Junior Riders 1.40m (4’7”).

The North American Junior and Young Rider Championships represent an important step in our young athletes’ careers,” functioning as a kind of stepping stone from the junior leagues to grand prix, USEF managing director of show jumping Sally Ike said. Recent “graduates” Lucy Fisher, Ricky Neal and Karl Cook have spent the past year making their mark at the grand prix level, more than capably representing the West Coast in national and international competition.

The Class of 2011 represents a changing of the guard. “It’s such a new group of kids representing Zone 10 this year,” Zone 10 coordinator Sally Hudson said. “The others either aged-out or started grand prix or went off to school. Some wanted to compete in Europe this summer.”

“Every so often you have to rebuild a little bit,” Zone 10 jumper chairman Larry Langer said. “I think the competition keeps getting tougher, and in a rebuilding year like this year it may be possible that we’re going to have to really struggle to win, but Zone 10 has proven itself very capable for many years. For the past 15 years that I’ve been attending the finals, either the Junior or the Young Riders have won something.” “Zone 10 has a strong record in each event,” Ike concurred from her front-row seat at the highest level of the sport.

The NAJYRC Finals has historically seen teens competing in the three Olympic disciplines: jumping, dressage and eventing. This year, the USEF has added championships for reining and endurance. “With the addition of endurance, we will be utilizing a new part of the Kentucky Horse Park, the Endurance Base Camp will set up on Walt Robertson Way, across from the Secretariat Center,” said the USEF’s Joanie Morris. “The rest of the venue is looking really good, having benefited from the overhaul which corresponded with last fall’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.”

Zone 10 Young Rider Jumper Team

Sage Flynn (Hot Pants); Trainer: Hap Hansen

Danielle Korsh (San Diego); Trainer: Everardo Hegewisch

Cayla Richards (Faustino); Trainer: Ilan Ferder

Kendall Skreden (Esperanto); Trainer: Kelly Van Vleck

Alternate: Jocelyn Neff (Gaja 20); Trainer: Karen Healey

Zone 10 Junior Jumper Team

Hannah Warde (Canasucre); Trainer: Richard Carvin

Madison Bradshaw (Corralino): Trainer: Hope Glynn

Killian McGrath (Ashtin’s Obsession); Trainer: Leslie Steel

Brittany Albrecq (Union Jack); Trainer: Jenni Martin McAllister

Alternate: Viva Hallinan (Pomme D’Api); Trainer: Helen Mattias Ekeroth

Kelly Van Vleck will serve as the chef d’equipe, but as Langer – who also serves as a judge at the event – points out, “A lot of the trainers are going to Kentucky with their kids. As the only FEI Championship in this country, it’s a very big deal. If you’re a trainer and your student is going, you’d better get there!”

For the NAJYRC schedule, click here.

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