Lexington, VA—July 31, 2005—Individual Gold Medals in dressage, eventing and show jumping were awarded to highlight a successful conclusion of the 2005 CN North American Young Riders’ Championships (NAYRC) presented by Adequan at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA, the Championships’ first appearance in the mid-Atlantic region.

Also, Area V won the team Gold in eventing’s CCI** for Young Riders and Area II won the Gold in the CCI* for junior riders. Earlier in the week Region 2 won team Gold in dressage and Zone 2 won team Gold in show jumping. The NAYRC is the premier equestrian competition in North America for young riders, age 16-21. Young equestrians come from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean Islands to vie for team and individual medals in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of show jumping, dressage, and eventing. This year also featured select riders from outside North America.

In show jumping, Brianne Goutal of New York City rode clear in both of her two rounds on Onira to clinch the individual Gold to go with the team Gold she won on Friday. Her Zone 2 teammate, Addison Phillips of New York City, scored 0 and 4 on Flight to win the Silver and Laura Faulkner of Zone 1 scored 4 and 0 on ABC Fantasie to win the Bronze.

The medals by Goutal and Phillips gave Zone 2 a total of 7 medals, including all 4 Golds, in the two show jumping divisions at this year’s Young Riders’ championships.

“It’s so exciting,” Goutal said. “I was a little anxious this morning but my horse had already jumped three clean rounds and I felt that he didn’t owe me a thing. It was up to me to put him in the right place to jump and I’m so excited that it all worked out.”

In dressage, Catherine Malone of Coatesville, PA and Region 1 rode Michigan to a score of 70.050% in the freestyle for a three-round score of 208.978 to win the Gold. She was followed by Dani Judy of El Cajon, CA and Region 7 who won the freestyle with a score of 70.875% to take the Silver with a score of 208.547 on Antaeus. The Bronze went to Anna Wood of Boulder, CO and Region 5 who finished with 206.989 on Novarredo after her freestyle score of 70.800.

“I was nervous but I was more exhausted than anything,” said Malone explaining that Michigan is a very hot horse who had to be worked twice each day throughout the championships. “But he is a great horse for Young Riders and he did his job very well. This is my fourth year at Young Riders and it ’s been on three different horses and I have to say that he is by far the best one.”

In the eventing CCI** for Young Riders, Jessica Pye of Lewisville, TX representing Area V won the individual Gold with a score of 51.3 penalties on Carte Blanche. Laine Ashker of Crozier, VA and Area II won the Silver with 56.9 penalties on Frodo Baggins and Julia Briskin of Radnor, PA and Area II won the Bronze with 60.6 penalties on Stina.

The team Gold went to Pye and her Area V teammates Rebecca Brown on Twinkle Toes, Bonnie Carpenter on Acapulco Jazz and Ashley Bailey-Classen on Ballynoe Rum. Area II won the team Silver and Area III won the Bronze.

“This was going to be his last event no matter what,” said an emotional Pye of her 16-year-old mount. “I’ve ridden him since beginner novice level and he’s taken me all the way to three star. It’s just so wonderful to have him go out like this!”

In the CCI* for junior riders, Nate Chambers of Vienna, VA and Area II won the individual Gold Medal on Rolling Stone II. Chambers, who finished with a score of 49.7 penalties, also led Area II to the team Gold. Joining him on the Gold Medal team were Madeline Blackman of Flemington, NJ on Meadow Sparrow, Julia Ward of The Plains, VA on Squeesable Softly, and Alexandra Zavoyna of Unionville, PA on Merloch.

Winning the individual Silver Medal was Katlyn McMorris of Area IV who had 52.3 penalties on Clifton Peekachu. The Bronze went to Paige Hewlett of Area V, the Silver Medal team, who scored 56.1 on Steely Dan. The team Bronze went to Area VIII.

“My stomach was in a knot this morning I was so nervous,” said Chambers. “But just before I went in the ring, David O’Connor came over and told me that no matter what happened, I would still be the same person. It really helped to relax me.”

All medals, including those won earlier in the championships, were awarded in moving closing ceremonies inside the beautiful Anderson Coliseum at the Virginia Horse Center.

For many competitors, the NAYRC is their first experience riding on a team, as well as their first time competing under the rules of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the international governing body for equestrian sport.

“Brian and I are thrilled with how these championships turned out,” said NAYRC event director Penny Ross, speaking for her husband and herself. “We so wanted to maintain the high standard set by Howard Simpson at Tempel Farms and because of the efforts of so many wonderful people, they turned out just great. We are so proud to have been part of it.”

The 2005 NAYRC was supported by its Title Sponsor, CN, and by its Presenting Sponsor, Adequan. The NAYRC was also supported by this year’s Gold Medal Sponsors - Howard and Martha Simpson, the United States Equestrian Federation, Equine Canada and the Mosaic Foundation.

Other sponsors for the 2005 NAYRC included Silver Medal Sponsors Devoucoux, Rebecca Broussard, Practical Horseman, Bel Cavallo Bronze, Horsecity.com, United States Dressage Federation Inc., Southeast Equine, Dressage Today and Horse ’n Around; Bronze Medal Sponsors Equifit Inc., www.horse.dk, The Jefferson Florist and Garden, Larry and Marnye Langer, Vita Flex and Thornhill.

Blue Ribbon Sponsors included Rambo Blankets, VTO Saddlery, United States Eventing Association, The Equine Marketer, Mary Phelps—a Markel Equine Insurance specialist, Schleese Saddlery Service, Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, Ecogold and the Virginia Jumper Association. Other sponsors are American Horse Trials Foundation, Zone 3, SWVHJA (South West Virginia Hunter Jumper association), US Hunter Jumper Association, Virginia Horse Journal, Southern Inn Restaurant and the FEI.

Additional donors included Cowboy Magic, Dermafas, Wild Horsefeathers, Mrs. Pastures Cookies for Horses, Devoucoux, Absorbine and Mane ‘n Tail.

The North American Young Riders’ Championships began in 1974 as an eventing challenge between the United States and Canada. A Dressage Championship was added in 1981, and Show Jumping debuted in 1982. The first complete NAYRC was held in British Columbia, Canada in 1982.

Many top international and Olympic riders are veterans of the NAYRC, including Olympic Silver Medalists Greg Best, Chris Kappler, McLain Ward and Karen O'Connor, as well as Buck Davidson, Mara DePuy, Alison Firestone, Julie Gomena, Elise Haas, Lauren Hough, Megan Johnstone, Tiffani Loudon, Lisa Carlsen Lubitz, Abigail Lufkin, Heather Mason, Chris Pratt, Kathleen Raine, Nicole Shahinian Simpson, Ray Texel, and David Wilson.

For full results and further information on the 2005 CN North American Young Riders’ Championships, presented by Adequan, please visit www.youngriders.org .