NAJYRC Dressage in Kentucky

By Cynthia Grisolia July 29, 2011

Region 5 – including locals from Kentucky – nabbed the team gold dressage prize opening day at the 2011 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships, July 27-31 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Silver went to Canada, and bronze to the west’s Region 8.

Ascending to the podium to accept gold for the second year in a row were Young Riders for the Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio region: Brandi Roenick (Pretty Lady), Madeleine Birch (Uoeri), Catherine Chamberline (Verdicci) and Aylin Corapcioglu (Ruhmann). Their combined score for the USDF/Platinum Performance Dressage Championship: 198.104.

Close on their heels, with a score of 197.027, the Silver medal team represented the combined Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Quebec City – Mathilde Blaise (Michaelangelo), Anne Mylai Messier (Marzipan), Esmee Ingham (Norseman) and Emily Fownes (Frapuccino). Riding for the third-place Region 8 – Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah – was Isabelle Leibler (Watson 108), Marlee O’ Neill (Leonardo), Alexandra Potasky (Chackomo M) and Madeleine Van Vleet (Top), for a score of 196.132.

The next day, it was less than half a point that separated the top three riders in the individual medal competition, but it was Region 8’s Leibler who waltzed off with the individual gold on July 28. Region 5’s Roenick won individual silver, while Chase Hickok and Palermo captured bronze, topping a field of 34.

“The competition was very tough in the final five,” confirmed Leibler. “We just rode our hearts out for every point we could get. These ladies rode absolutely amazing,” she added of her fellow medalists. “But good competition is when it’s close, and you have to get down and dirty for every point. It’s very exciting.” “It’s just great to be a double Gold medalist, especially coming back here with my own horse!” gushed Birch, 20, who was part of the 2010 Gold-medal-winning Young Rider Team.

Ingham, who won a team gold as a Junior last year, noted that “this year the Canadian spirit has been especially high. Since British Columbia is on the West Coast and Quebec City is so far east, for us to come together as a team having never met and medal is really incredible.”

In the Junior team competition, it was the Region 1 (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont) that ruled the day – Kyra Endreson (Pik L), Julia Burtt (Aaron VI) and Dominique Cassavetis – racked up an impressive team score of 199.189 despite having only three members and no low score to drop.

In the Silver position was Region 5 – Taylor Lindsten (Raoul), Talia Hershaft (Westfalica), Brook Santiangelo (Daylight) and Devon Wycoff (Power Play) – with a combined score of 195.865. “I had kind of given up on my dream to even qualify,” first-timer Young Rider Wycoff said. “But my parents said this was my last year as a Junior, and they wanted to make it happen. We went to California to try Player. I got him in March and we started qualifying ever since.”

The Bronze went to Region 8, and teammates Katelyn Kok (Morgan Enshoj), Rachel Chowanec (Embrujado), Jannike Gray (Maestro) and Ciara Cummisky (Queen’s Delilah) earned a total score of 194.297. Over in the Junior ring, Region 6’s Sadie Lahey and Up to Date were the last to go but the first to pocket the gold with a dazzling score of 67.868 ― the highest of the day in both divisions.

“I came last year, and I was the drop score for my team, so I’m very excited to be where I am,” Lahey chuckled. Silver went to Canada’s Sarah Loewen aboard Ricardo, while bronze went to fellow Canadian Monica Houweling and Stentano. The impressive procession of all of this year’s Junior and Young Riders were the highlight of the opening ceremonies.

Teams and riders were introduced in Olympic fashion while equestrian dignitaries, including United States Equestrian Federation president David O’Connor, delivered welcoming words. The vaulting team, which joined the NAJYRC competition for the first time this year in the non-championship category, capped things off with a bravura demonstration. The NAJYRC showcases North America’s finest 14-21 year-old riders in dressage, eventing, jumping, reining, and endurance. A complete breakdown of Zones follows.

Zone 1
Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

Zone 2
New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania

Zone 3
Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia

Zone 4
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee

Zone 5
Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio

Zone 6
Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin

Zone 7
Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas

Zone 8
Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah

Zone 9
Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming

Zone 10
California, Nevada

Zone 11
Hawaii

Zone 12
Alaska

For more information about the NAJYRC, visit www.youngriders.org

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