|
Articles: Press Release
Junior and Young Riders Set to Compete for Team and Individual Medals at
the
2006 CN North American Junior and Young Riders' Championships
Contact:
Beth Gold (508) 698-6810,
classic.pr@verizon.net
Lexington, VA-August 1, 2006-Top Junior and
Young Riders from all across North America are set to compete for team
and individual medals as the 2006 CN North American Junior and Young
Riders' Championships (NAJYRC) get underway.
The NAJYRC is being held the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA, for
the second straight year, bringing together more than 200 young
equestrians from across North America to compete in the three Olympic
equestrian disciplines of dressage, eventing, and show jumping. This
year marks the first time that a full schedule of recognized
Championships for Junior riders (age 14-18) is being held alongside that
for Young Riders (age 16-21).
For many competitors, the NAJYRC is their first experience riding on a
team, as well as their first time competing under the rules of the
Fedration Equestre Internationale (FEI), the international
governing body for equestrian sport.
Tuesday, August 1 marks the official start of this year's NAJYRC
with veterinary inspections of all horses and opening day briefings.
For both the Junior and Young Riders' Championships, the actual
mounted competitions begin on Wednesday, August 2. Show jumpers will
compete in warm-up rounds, eventers will begin their dressage phase and
dressage riders will hold their Young Riders team championship.
Competition in the Show Jumping Division continues on Thursday with
individual classes that lead up to Friday's Nations'
Cup-style competition that determines the team medals. Saturday
features individual consolation rounds and Sunday brings the completion
of the Show Jumping Division with competitors riding for individual
medals in both the Junior and Young Riders' Championships.
Dressage holds its Junior team championship on Thursday and then moves
on to the individual aspects of competition. On Friday, individual
tests will determine those qualified to ride in Sunday's
individual finals. Consolation rides are on Saturday.
The Championships' eventing division includes a CCI**
Championship for young riders and a CCI* Championship for junior riders
as well as a CCI* non-championship competition. Both of the
Championships will be run under the Olympic, or modified, format.
The eventing championships include dressage tests on Thursday and
Friday, followed by cross country on Saturday. All competitors then
ride in the final show jumping phase on Sunday when both team and
individual medals are awarded. In the Non-Championship division,
cross-country will be on Friday followed by show jumping on Saturday.
"We're thrilled to be able to host full championships
in all three disciplines for junior riders along with the Young
Riders' Championships this year," said Event Director
Penny Ross. "This will serve to further enhance the
unparalleled experience that these young equestrians receive at the
NAJYRC and set the benchmark to which all future events are
held."
The 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. This year's addition of
Junior Championships in all three disciplines marks the first NAJYRC.
The 2006 NAJYRC is supported by its Title Sponsor, CN, and is also
supported by this year's Platinum Sponsors - Howard and Martha
Simpson. Gold Medal Sponsors are the United States Equestrian
Federation, Equine Canada and Zone 4.
Other sponsors for the 2006 NAJYRC include Silver Medal
Sponsors Devoucoux, Rebecca Broussard, Blue Ridge Farm Center, Practical
Horseman, Horsecity.com, The s, Waterjumps.us, Southeast
Equine, United States Dressage Federation, Antare
Dressage Today, Ariat and The Mosaic Foundation; and Bronze Medal
Sponsors Becker College, Dover Saddlery, Virginia Dressage Association,
Stewart Title, The Jefferson Florist, Larry and Marnye Langer,
Thornhill, U.S. Hunter-Jumper Association, and Der-Dau.
Blue Ribbon Sponsors include Rambo Blankets, VTO Saddlery,
Mary Phelps-a Markel Equine Insurance specialist,
Kelly's Ford Equestrian Center, Beval, and Cynron Saddlery &
Footwear. Other sponsors are American Horse Trials Foundation, Starr
Vaughn Equestrian, Inc., Harmony Sporthorses, EMO Insurance, Flame
Treating Systems, Inc., Foxden Equine, Mead Associates, North Carolina
Dressage and Combined Training Association, Southern States/Triple
Crown, Virginia Golf Cars and Tennessee Valley Dressage & Combined
Training Association.
Additional donors include Cowboy Magic, Dermafas, Mrs.
Pastures Cookies for Horses, Southern States/Triple Crown, Absorbine,
Red Ridge Tack, Green Mountain Coffee, Janet Crawford, Charles Owen,
Brandy, Straight Arrow, Royal Riders, Sunbelt, Intervet, Hamilton
Products, Davis Boots, Cavalia, Best Shot Equine, Horse Tech, Inc.,
Flair Nasal Strips, Summit Dynamics, Ladysmith Chaps, Equus Entries,
Shenandoah Connection, The Clothes Horse, Exhibitor Labs, Nutramax Labs,
Hadfields, Fortiflex and Omega Fields.
For full results and further information on the 2006 CN North American
Junior and Young Riders' Championships, please visit
www.youngriders.org
|