Lexington, VA—July 29, 2005—Zone 2 continued its dominance of Young Riders’ team show jumping by winning the team Gold Medal for a record seventh time at the 2005 CN North American Young Riders’ Championships (NAYRC) presented by Adequan. The 2005 NAYRC are being held at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA, the Championships’ first appearance in the mid-Atlantic region.

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 features select riders from outside North America.

Zone 2, coached by chef d’equipe Ralph Caristo, had a score of 8 faults for the two rounds where each team counts its three best scores. Brianne Goutal of New York City rode clear twice in her two rounds on Onira; Blythe Marano of Bedminster, NJ scored 4 and 0 on River; Addison Phillips of New York City scored 4 and 0 on Flight; and Sarah Segal of New York City scored 4 and 8 on True Love. “I actually felt a little less pressure than last year,” said Goutal who the individual Gold in last year’s championships. “The experience helped. The event is so great that I definitely wanted to come back. Ralph and Holly (Caristo) make you believe that you can do it and we’re thrilled that we did it for them.” Zone 6/7/8 placed second with a team total of 32 faults and Mexico was third with 36.

Friday also featured the team championship for the Junior/Young Rider* division that was also won by Zone 2. The team of Gabby Slome of Riverdale, NY on Salsa, Hillary Dobbs of Sussex, NJ on VDL Lotus Excel, Miasha Fisher of New York City on Kitty 41 and Whitney Goulart of Mendham, NJ on Eclat finished with a two-round total of 2 faults to claim the win. Ontario placed second with 17 faults and Zone 10 was third with 38.

“This was the first time that Zone 2 has sent a B team and they really rose to the occasion,” said Caristo of his riders, all of whom were making their first Young Riders appearance. “I look for them to move up to the A team next year.”

In eventing, the CCI** Young Rider championship division got under way with dressage and Area III took the early lead. Area V’s Jessica Pye, whose team stands second, leads individually with a score of 47.3 penalties on Carte Blanche. Area II teammates Laine Ashker with 48.5 penalties on Frodo Baggins and Ashley Adams with 49.2 penalties on Vaunted, are second and third respectively.

The CCI J/Y*, a non-championship division for juniors and young riders, had its cross country test and Team Canada leads with a team total of 185.9 penalties. Area II is second with a score of 203.5 followed by Area III with 215.7. The individual leader is Canada’s Jessica Di Genova with a score of 51.9 on Upolo. She is followed by Matthew Fine of Area IX/VI with 52.9 on Harwood II and Sarah Shade of Area I with 53.9 on Musntuchit. The two championship divisions, the CCI* for juniors and the CCI** for young riders, have their cross country tests on Saturday.

Friday’s dressage competition was the Prix St. Georges (PSG) that served as the second round of the individual competition. Winning the PSG and holding the overall lead going into Sunday’s individual final was Catherine Malone of Coatesville, PA and Region 1. Malone rode Michigan to a score of 69.95% and leads with a two-round score of 138.928. She was followed by Dani Judy of El Cajon, CA and Region 7 who scored 69.50% on Antaeus and is second overall with 137.672. Third was Anna Wood of Boulder, CO and Region 5 who finished with 69.30% on Novarredo and is also third overall with 136.189. 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.

“These championships are so significant for many of these Young Riders who benefit from the experience on their way to someday riding for their countries in international competition,” said NAYRC event director Penny Ross. “For those whose careers culminate with this experience, it is meaningful in a very different way. We feel it is important that everyone goes home having gained a valuable experience whether they win medals or not.”

The NAYRC is supported by its Title Sponsor, CN, and by its Presenting Sponsor, Adequan. The NAYRC is 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 include 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 include 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 include 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 .