Old Mill Creek, IL – August 10, 2002 – US Area 2 leads the CCI** Event going into the final day of competition at the North American Young Riders’ Championships (NAYRC), presented by State Line Tack, at Tempel Farms in Old Mill Creek, IL with a combined score of 189.82 penalties. The Area 2 team consists of Kathleen Dingus riding Springcroft tia Maria, Stephanie Butts and Bungee, Maisy Grassie on Heyday and Erin Freedman on Captain Hook.

Second in the team CCI** standings following the cross country phase is the combined Area1/5 team with a total score of 206.80 penalties and third so far is Team Canada – Ontario with 209.81 penalties.

Individually, Brittany Kart of US Area 3/4/7 is on top riding Semper Fidelis with a score of 56.00 penalties. Kathleen Dingus is second and Stephanie Butts is third.

In Show Jumping, the Junior division concluded on Saturday. The individual Gold Medal winner was Natalie Rhoades of US Zone 10 on Alamein. Danielle Grice of US Zone 6 on Good Karma took the silver and local rider Elizabeth Sanden riding Zero Gravity took the bronze.

The gold medal winners of team competition, which was held on Friday, was US Zone 10 with Jennifer Matthews on Ballymore Clover, Natalie Rhoades and Alamein, Jamie Taylor and Cassiopeia and Shelby Walter on Xstatic. Team Canada BC were the silver medal winners and US Zone 7 won the bronze.

Jennifer Urioste and Riccochet of US Zone 4 won the Non-Championship Jump-off class held for horses not competing in the official show jumping championship. Daniela Jaramillo and Filatow of Canada BC won the CSI-Junior division of Show Jumping.

The Freestyle dressage competition in the Mills Team Challenge was also held on Saturday. Rebecca Hart riding Miss Jane Marple finished on top with a final score of 69.630%. Keith Newerla and Atticus came in a close second with 69.537% and Christopher Lipe and Rafferty were third with 69.318%. The Mills Team Challenge is a dressage competition for riders with physical disabilities who range from 16-25 years of age. They are teamed up with able-bodied riders also competing at the NAYRC. The Challenge Champions will be named on Sunday. The competition is run under the auspices of the National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA), the national governing body for equestrian sports for riders with disabilities.

On Sunday, show jumping action will be featured with the Young Riders individual medal competition. The Individual Dressage Champion will also be named on Sunday. Jacqueline Paxton and Sangmelima are currently on top going into the musical Freestyle competition that will feature the top fifteen from the first two rounds.

The NAYRC is the premier competition for young riders in the three Olympic disciplines of show jumping, dressage, and three-day eventing. Riders, ages 16 through 21 are eligible to compete in this USA Junior Olympic – Equestrian event.

The North American Young Riders’ Championships began in 1974 as an eventing challenge between the United States and Canada in Jokers Hill, Ontario. Canada swept all three team medals in the competition that was then known as the North American Junior Team Championships. A dressage championship was added in 1981, and since that year the Championships have been recognized by the FEI and are conducted in accordance with FEI General Regulations. Show jumping made its’ debut in 1982 in British Columbia, when the first complete Championships were held. In 1985, the competition landed at Tempel Farms in Old Mill Creek, Illinois, setting the stage for their continuing support of the Championships.

NAYRC competition continues through Sunday. Admission is $7.00 a day. Tickets for the final day of competition on Sunday are available at the gate. The NAYRC will be televised on Outdoor Life Network (OLN) on September 7 at 4:30 PM Eastern. For further information, please call (847) 244-9207 or visit the website at: www.youngriders.org .