Champions Crowned at the North American Young Riders’ Championships Presented by State Line Tack

Old Mill Creek, IL – August 11, 2002

In the eventing championship, Brittany Kart of US Area 3/4/7 remained on top although she knocked down a rail in Stadium Jumping, still capturing the gold medal riding Semper Fidelis with a score of 60.00 penalties.

“It was great,” said Kart. “I knew I had a couple of rails in hand going into stadium jumping, but I was still extremely nervous. Last year was a good experience, but this year was even better.”

Sara Hansel of US Area 1/5 won the silver with 63.80 penalties and Katie Evans of CAN - Ontario received the bronze with the score of 66.40 penalties aboard Forest Glen.

In the CCI** team championship, the medal race was extremely close with the Team from US Area 2 snagging the gold by less than one penalty to win with an overall score of 237.82 penalties. The four riders on the team champions were Stephanie Butts aboard Bungee, Kathleen Dingus and Springcroft tia Maria, Erin Freedman on Captain Hook and Maisy Grassie riding Heyday.

The silver medal team of US Area 1/5 had 238.80 penalties. The team included Sara Hansel on G & R, Prudence Ruzicka and Giselle, Julian Stiller riding Market Mover and Meredith Robins aboard Kid Gloves.

The spirited team from Brazil won the bronze with a score of 264.02 penalties. The four from South America were Ricky Candi and Justiceiro, Rafael Mauridio Gouveia, Jr. riding Ava, Paulo Eduardo Limongi Pacheco on Planetarius J. Men and Jesper Sigfrid martendal aboard Nijord.

In the CCI*, the Team gold medal went to US Area 1 with a score of 159.97. Courtenay Brines on Which One’s That, Alexandra Small and Azlan, Hillary Moses on Madox and Charlotte Merle-Smith riding Sportsfield Twist made up the winning team.

The silver medal went to US Area 3 with Rebecca Huy riding Fancy Solo Flight, Megan McGregor on Sunday Surprise, Andrea Leatherman on Yoshi and Elizabeth B. Barron aboard Corna’s Courageous with a score of 173.55. The US Area 2 team took the bronze with Lucia Strini and Stella, Valerie Vizcarrando on Bumbershoot, Jennifer Morse and Mt. Colebrook and Daniel Clasing and Yardley with a score of 176.93.

Individually, in the CCI* Young Rider division, Charlotte Merle-Smith of US Area 1 stayed on top to win the gold medal going clean in cross-country and in stadium jumping with a score of 42.18 penalties. Ashely Dalton took the silver with 50.97 penalties and Alexandra Small received the bronze with a score of 53.79 penalties.

In the CCI* Junior division, Jessica Pye clinched the gold medal riding Carte Blanche with a clean Stadium Jumping round to finish with a score of 54.14 penalties. Rachel Zoller and Ben Starr took the silver with a score of 54.87. Megan McGregor and Sunday Surprise took the bronze with a score of 58.14 penalties.

The Mills Team Challenge was won by the Triangle Gold team featuring NDSA rider Rebecca Hart with dressage rider Lindsey Anderson, CCI** event rider Maisy Grassie, CCI* event rider Kurt Martin, junior show jumper Ashleigh Robin and young rider show jumper Raymond Butterfield of Bermuda. The Mills Team Challenge is a competition for riders with physical disabilities who range from 16-25 years of age. They are teamed with able-bodied riders who are also competing at the NAYRC. 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.