Old Mill Creek, IL—August 11, 2004—The Maui Jim North American Young Riders’ Championships (NAYRC), presented by CN, officially began on Wednesday, August 11 with the first of two days of competition in the Dressage Team Championship at Tempel Farms in Old Mill Creek, IL.

More than 150 of the nation’s finest horses and young riders are on hand to compete in this world-class competition featuring show jumping, dressage, and eventing. Competition at this year’s NAYRC continues through Sunday, August 15.

At the end of the first half of the Dressage Team Championship, Veronique Lavalle of St. Lazare, Quebec led the way riding Pryme Tyme, owned by Evi Strasser and Good Tyme Stables, with a score of 64.622%. Alison Bush of Elmhurst, IL, placed second on Entheos, owned by Kathy Klammer, scoring 64.489%. Caitlin Masiel of Danville, CA, riding Melvina, owned by Melvin Sousa, and Lauren Sprieser of Chicago, IL, aboard her horse Bellinger, tied for third with a score of 63.600%. The remaining dressage riders compete for the Team Championship on Thursday, beginning at 8:00 a.m.

Many top international and Olympic riders got their start at the NAYRC including Olympic Silver Medalists Greg Best and Karen O'Connor, as well as Megan Johnstone, Elise Haas, Buck Davidson, Chris Kappler, Lauren Hough, Nicole Shahinian Simpson, Ray Texel, Lisa Carlsen Lubitz, Mara DePuy, and Julie Gomena.

The NAYRC 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. Tempel Farms has hosted the Championship 12 times since 1985.

The North American Young Riders’ Championships is the premier equestrian competition in North America for young riders, age 16-21. Young equestrians come from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean Islands to vie for team and individual Championships in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of show jumping, dressage, and eventing. The NAYRC is an official USA Junior Olympic-Equestrian event.

Tempel Farms, site of the 2004 NAYRC, is home to the world's largest private herd of Lipizzan Horses. It is widely considered to be one of the finest equestrian locations in North America with extraordinary facilities, excellent footing, and a challenging CCI** cross-country course.

The State Line Tack show jumping division at this year’s NAYRC will get underway on Thursday at 9:00 a.m. The dressage phase of the eventing competition will begin Friday. Additionally, the NAYRC will host The Mills Team Challenge, a dressage competition for young riders with disabilities who range from 16-25 years of age. The competition will be coordinated by the National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA), the national governing body for equestrian sports for riders with disabilities.

Admission is free on Thursday and tickets for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are available at the gate at a cost of $7.00 per day. For more information, including a complete competition schedule, please call (847) 244- 4231 or visit www.youngriders.org.