Parker, CO - August 1, 2008- California's Zone 10 impressively swept the two Team Jumping Championships at the 2008 FEI CN North American Junior and Young Rider Championships at the Colorado Horse Park presented by Gotham North. The juniors got the ball rolling and jumped to the top of the Junior Jumping Team Championship with three impressive clears in the second round to move up from third. The team, made up of Savannah Carr (Quiana), Annie Cook (Tucker), Lucy Davis (Mister Mind) and Alec Lawler (Toyster Gold) summed up their first experience at NAJYRC in four words.

"Amazing," said Carr after winning the Team Gold medal.
"Hot," said Cook of the record 100 degree temperatures.
"Exciting," said Davis.
"Fun," said Lawler to round out the group.

The four Junior riders lay third after Round 1 with 16 faults, they then added nothing (with the three clear rounds) to head a truly international trio as Canada won Silver and Mexico North won Bronze.

"We were in third after the first round," said Davis. "We knew we had to do better." The group rose to their own challenge with Davis, Carr and Cook jumping clear. Davis went last and was the only rider to jump two clear rounds. Zone 10 finished with a two round total of 16 faults.

"I've never been on a team before," said Davis. "So it was really nerve-wracking." "When Lucy went," said Cook of the team's anchor rider, "We were all really nervous." The Canadians were, like the Americans, all riding at NAJYRC for the first time. Stephanie Lewis (Tanuki), Braden James (Starlet), Taylor Bland (Swanky) and Rachel Schunurr (Magic Jumper) thrived in the team environment and have enjoyed watching and supporting the other Canadian riders in the different disciplines. Martin Guerra (Latino 125) and his three teammates Raul Gonzalez (Corint 2), Paulina Pastrana (Cobra Stanford) and Miguel Angel Iglesias (Vida Loca) gave their Northern neighbors a run for the money but settled for third.

"We wanted Gold," said Gonzalez. "But California took it."

Not to be outdone, the Young Rider Team Championship followed the Juniors and Olaf Petersen Jr.'s courses continued to ride tough. California continued their assault on the medals at the NAJYRC with Zone 10 picking up another Team Gold medal. They finished ahead of Mexico North (who scored the highest finish for a Mexican team since 1996) and the combined team of Zones 7&9.

The defending Team and Individual Gold medalist from 2007, 17-year-old Karl Cook, led Zone 10 to another victory with Notories Utopia. The Woodside, CA rider has tied a record of winning three Gold Medals in Show Jumping at NAJYRC. No one has won four, and Cook lays third going into Sunday's final.

"It feels really good to be back," said Cook of his third Gold Medal. "We went into the second round only three points ahead of Mexico North, and for us to get around the course which was really, really hard is really gratifying." 19-year-old Hannah Selleck (Bauer), 17-year-old Paige Dotson (Friponnier II CH) and 18-year-old Sophie Benjamin (Marga) rounded out the team, and all the riders put in very professional performances to defend their medal. They finished on a final score of 16, well clear of Mexico North who had 45 after two rounds. "I'm so proud of my horse," said Dotson. "We're all proud of our horses." The track proved challenging, especially the triple combination which proved particularly troublesome.

"The second part of the triple was really big and wide," explained Dotson. "The whole course had a lot of different questions," said Selleck. The Individual Show Jumping Medals will be awarded on Sunday after the Individual portion of the Competition; the farewell competition will take place tomorrow morning.

US Reiners Make History as First Ever Gold Medalists at NAJYRC The Reiners from the United States were bestowed the honor of being the first Reining Team in history to be crowned Gold Medalists at the CN FEI North American Junior and Young Riders Championships at the Colorado Horse Park presented by Gotham North. The four member team of Lakshami Mahajan (Backcinch), Jason Kvols (Sunny Spotacular), Lacey Vernon (Duncans Dun It) and Carlie Thompson (Paid By Corona) put in exciting rides throughout the morning in front of a very enthusiastic crowd, many of whom were seeing reining for the first time.

"It's surreal," said Lacey Vernon of her first trip to the NAJYRC. "To be the first ones (to win Reining Gold) is pretty amazing."

Each Reiner performed the same pattern before a panel of three judges, and the US (640.000) prevailed over Canada (622.500). Carlie Thompson, from Dublin OH, led the US charge with an individual score of 215.5 despite a bobble in her ride on Paid By Corona.

The 6-year-old Quarter Horse stumbled coming out of an impressive spin and knuckled over, Paid By Corona and Thompson, 21, both made a classy recovery. "My first concern was that he stand up," said Thompson. "But I really wanted to make sure he was ok. I walked a few steps and I just wanted to make sure he wasn't hurt. He was fine."

The enthusiasm at the NAJYRC was certainly not lost on the Reiners who were surprised by the camaraderie and team spirit amongst themselves. "What's really cool is the vibes on this team," said Kvols, who lives in Steamboat Springs, CO. "It is so cool and everyone is really supportive." The US Reiners all qualified for the NAJYRC at the NRHA Derby in June. Guy Vernon, who served as the Chef d'Equipe for the US was impressed with his team and hopes that the competition will only continue to grow.

"It was amazing," said Vernon. "Not knowing what to expect, I didn't know that much about it. We were excited coming here but these kids exceeded my expectations as horse people and as people. This is a great bunch of kids."

The Canadian Team combined riders from Alberta and Ontario. Darcy Williams (Miss Cielo Chex), Kylie Wasiuta (Watch Tiger Jack), Kelly Trusdale (Slide Over Hollywood) and Stephanie Gruhle (Great Captain Jac) were equally impressed with their first trip to the NAJYRC.

"It's a dream come true," they all echoed. John Snobelen served as the president of the Ground Jury and was impressed by what he saw in the development of the US Reining Program through NAJYRC. "This is a wonderful opportunity," said Snobelen. "I'm standing on the shoulders of those who built this sport and these kids are the best ambassadors within the sport."

The Individual Medals in reining will be decided on Sunday after the individual portion of the competition.

Roenick Rocks in Junior Individual Dressage Championship presened by Platinum Performance and the USDF Brandi Roenick of Scottsdale, AZ, and Pretty Lady picked up their second Gold medal, adding individual honors to the Team Gold medal they won on Wednesday. The 13-year-old rider is the youngest Gold Medalist at the NAJYRC ever. Roenick's birthday is in October - under FEI rules she rides as a 14-year-old. Roenick impressed all the judges ending on a score of 69.900% to finish one point clear of 17-year-old Silver medalist Ari Lopez from Pleasant Hill, CA.

"It's really fun competing against the other prominent riders," said Roenick who also won the 2008 USEF Junior National Championship at the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions at San Juan Capistrano, CA. "I had a lot of confidence going to San Juan," said Roenick. "And coming here I was feeling confident, I was really excited to win Team Gold for the first time and I was really confident."

Lopez finished on a score of 68.90% with Corlander II, a Rhinelander gelding that she used to event.

"This has been really great," said Lopez. "You get to meet all those people that you hear about." 15-year-old Mckenzie Jenkins riding Tsarina Bint RII won the Individual Bronze medal with a score of 66.800%. The Thoroughbred/Polish Arab cross is unique in her line of work.

"Everyone is really excited," she said. "It is a lot of fun and I have a lot of support. There isn't much competition in Tennessee."

Eventers get ready for Cross Country, Strini and Lux Tied in the CCI*, Jennie Brannigan and Californians Leads CCI** Betina Strini (Cameron Creek) and Jesse Lux (Car Tanga) are tied for the lead in the CCI* Junior Eventing Championship on a score of 43.1. Riding for Area II and Area IV (who is leading in the Team portion) respectively, both riders put in polished performances.

Jennie Brannigan, 21, who has been on fire all year with Cooper, has a commanding lead in the CCI** Young Rider Eventing Championship on a score of 36.3. Teammates Tiana Coudray (Ringwood Magister) lie second with a score of 39.0, and Max McNamamy (Beacon Hill) is third on a score of 46.3 to lead Area VI to a convincing lead in the Team portion of the competition.

Cross country begins tomorrow morning at 8 a.m.

Endurance Riders Premiere in CEIY3* Jessica DiCamillo, 15, of Las Cruces, New Mexico and her horse Crestwood Premiere, an 8-year-old Arabian Mare, finished the 75 mile course in Parker, Colorado in 7 hours and 48 minutes. In a race to the finish, Crestwood Premiere just nosed out CHF Adios, ridden by Caitlin Massman. Finishing third was Jennifer Stevens riding RSA Count LaQuen.

The competition was held in conjunction with the 2008 NAJYRC. Enduring high temperatures, eight of the 10 Young Riders completed the course and their horses passed the five Veterinary inspections during and after the race.

DiCamillo made it a clean sweep with her horse "Woody" by then winning the coveted Best Condition Award

Order of Overall Finish

Rider/Horse/Age/Home/Ride Time

Jessica DiCamillo/Crestwood Premiere/15/Las Cruces, NM/7:48:30

Caitlin Massman/CHF Adios/17/Dubuque, IA/7:48:32

Jennifer Stevens/Phil/17/Ashland, MT/8:14:42

Heather Stevens/RSA Count LaQuen/20/Ashland, MT/8:14:46

Kirsten Kimbler/Junior CAHR/19/Aberdeen, SD/8:29:44

Jordan Fleege/RCF Blade Runner/17/Dubuque, IA/8:37:55

Elizabeth Russell/DJB Double Trouble/17/Kingwood, TX/9:21:41

Frances Chase-Dunn/Dixie Love/18/Riverside, CA/9:21:43

Eliminations:

Morgan Conner/Whistleddinn/16/Litchfield, AZ/Lameness

Ashlee Van Raalte/Serloki/21/Scales Mound, IL/Lameness

Don't foget to check out all the action on Courtney Barnett's blog at: http://www.usef.org/ContentPage2.aspx?id=intreining

and her and Lisa Owens' video journal at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5eSZuyQ-9o.

Additional sponsors of the 2008 CN North American Junior and Young Rider Championships at the Colorado Horse Park Presented By Gotham North include: Howard and Martha Simpson, Robert and Deborah Bennett, A Bit of Tack, Absorbine, American Horse Trials Foundation, Arista Equestrian, Arcadia Equine Rehabilitation, Ariat, Centurion Systems, Collecting Gaits Farm, Colorado Hunter/Jumper Association, County Saddlery, CWD, Dressage Today, Devoucoux, EMO Agency, Eponashoe, Equifit, Equine Canada, Equisure, F.I.T.S, Great American Insurance Company, GumBits, Inc., Gus Hoof Dressing, Harmony Sporthorses, High Prairie International Polo Club, Hodges Badge Company, Horse.dk, Horses Unlimited, Langer Equestrian Group, Indiana Dressage Society, Iron Spring Farm, Littleton Equine Medical Center, McElvain Family, Mosaic Foundation, Moxie Equestrian, North Carolina Dressage and Combined Training Association, Northern Ohio Dressage Association, Palm Beach Equine Medical Centers, Practical Horseman, Purina Mills, Rebecca Farm, Rider's Closet, Sandstone America Ranch, Serenity Farm, Somewhere Farms, Spy Coast Farm, Starr Vaughn Equestrian, Inc., Tennessee Valley Dressage & CT Association, Thatcher Family, The Clothes Horse, Tredennick Family, United States Dressage Federation/Platinum Performance, United States Eventing Association, United States Equestrian Federation, United States Hunter/Jumper Association, Vet-Stem, Inc., WaterJumpsUSA.com, Zone 8 Jumpers.

Further information on the 2008 CN North American Junior and Young Rider Championships at the Colorado Horse Park, Presented by Gotham North is available on line at www.youngriders.org.