Wadsworth, IL - August 11, 2001 -William Coleman of Charlottesville, VA (USA Area 2) completed the cross country phase with no penalties to maintain his lead in the race for the eventing Gold Medal at the 2001 North American Young Riders’ Championships (NAYRC), Presented by State Line Tack, at Tempel Farms in Wadsworth, IL.

Coleman, who is trained by Olympic medalists David and Karen O’Connor, took the lead with a score of 51.00 penalties in the opening dressage phase and then maintained that score with a clean cross-country ride on Ratzi, a 9-year-old, Holsteiner/Thoroughbred cross that he has been riding for just three months.

“I thought the course rode better than it walked,” Coleman said, “It was a real test of the rider.

“I came here with humble expectations,” continued the first-time NAYRC participant, “but everyone gets lucky sometimes.” Standing second is Jessica Heidemann of Bellingham, WA (USA Area 7/9) who also finished with a clean cross-country ride and has a score of 61.00 penalties on French Twist. Although competing in her first official NAYRC, Heidemann has ridden in the one-star event at Young Riders and won two Gold Medals-individual in 1998 and team in 2000.

Coleman’s USA Area 2 squad leads the race for team Gold with a team total of 192.0 penalties. Coleman’s teammates are Skyeler Icke on Savannah, Jennifer Libby on Resolute and Laine Ashker on Eight Saint James Place. USA Area 5 is second with 237.4 penalties.

In other action, Chanel Crevier of Canada-Quebec won the Junior-Young Rider show jumping championship on Romanoff. She completed the three-phase competition with a score of 2.48 penalties. Second place went to Travis Lubow of USA Zone 10 with a score of 6.74 on Kamelia and third went to Lubow ’s teammate, Matthew Sereni with a score of 7.44 on Charon.

Ashlee Bond of USA Zone 10 rode Fabius to victory in the show jumping Non-Championship Farewell Competition. Bond topped a field of 17 entries by completing the first round and jump-off without penalty and having the fastest jump-off time of 39.10 seconds. Brian Walker of Canada-Quebec placed second on Leroy with two clean rounds and a jump-off time of 39.58 seconds. Third place went to Ashley Baker of USA Zone 1 with two clean rounds and a jump-off time of 40.61 seconds on El Paso. Amanda Johnson of USA Region 4 won the dressage individual consolation class on Glissade. Johnson received a score of 61.72% to top the field of 13 entries that did not qualify for Sunday’s individual championship. Placing second was Lindsey Stroh of Canada-Alberta who scored 60.78% on Clearly Canadian. Third place went to Ashley Smith of USA Region 7 with a score of 59.06% on Al Cantra.

Christopher Lipe rode Romulus to a score of 65.23% and first place in the Supracor Team Challenge for riders with disabilities. Jenni Rowe was second with a score of 63.57% on Rafferty. The NAYRC is the premier competition for young riders, age 16 through 21, in the Olympic equestrian disciplines of show jumping, dressage, and eventing. Many Olympic veterans such as Karen O’Connor, Mara Depuy and Greg Best began their international careers at the NAYRC. The NAYRC is recognized as a USA Junior Olympic- Equestrian event.

The broad range of nationalities and fierce competitors that attend the Championships produce an Olympic-type atmosphere throughout the competition week. For many riders, it is their first competition under Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) rules, and their initial experience of intense international competition.

The North American Young Riders’ Championships began in 1974 in Jokers Hill, Newmarket, Ontario as an eventing challenge between the United States and Canada. In 1985, the competition was held at Tempel Farms for the first time. It has returned there 12 times since.

Tickets are available at the gate for Sunday’s championship finals at a cost of $7.00. For further information, please call (847) 244-9207.

Full results of all disciplines are available at the North American Young Riders’ Championships website at www.youngriders.org or at www.Saddletude.com which also features interviews and video highlights.