U.S. Zone 2 Wins Show Jumping Team Gold Medal at Maui Jim North American Young Riders’ Championships, Presented by CN

Old Mill Creek, IL—August 13, 2004—The riders of U.S. Zone 2 won the Show Jumping Team Gold Medal at the 2004 Maui Jim North American Young Riders’ Championships, Presented by CN, at Tempel Farms in Old Mill Creek, IL, on Friday, August 13.

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

In the exciting State Line Tack show jumping division team competition, where the lead rotated between three competitive teams, the final placings came down to the last rider over the last fence. For the sixth time, Zone 2 captured the Team Gold with a team of rookies.

Leigh Healey of Lumberton, NJ; Brianne Goutal of New York, NY; Caitlyn Shiels of Sheffield, MA; and Katrina Woods of Bronxville, NY; have never been to the NAYRC, but they are all veteran competitors. They credit much of their success to the support they receive back home.

“We get an incredible amount of support from our Zone 2 Committee,” said Zone 2 Chef d’Equipe Ralph Caristo. “We love Zone 2,” chorused the girls.

Competition was so close between Zone 2, Mexico – North, and Zone 10 that the standings took a bit longer than usual to calculate. “We knew we were really close,” said Shiels, who is also the current leader in the Individual competition, “but things kept changing.” When the team heard they were the Gold Medalists, a huge cheer erupted.

“It is all so exciting,” said Woods. “I don’t think it has hit yet,” added anchor rider Goutal. “I was so nervous, but my horse was great.”

Less than a rail separated the Mexico - North team from the lead. They clinched the Silver, and Zone 10 took the Bronze Medal.

The top twenty riders from the Team Championship will move on to the final round of Show Jumping for the Individual Medals on Sunday. Scores from qualifiers on Thursday and Friday will be added to Sunday’s competition to determine the placings.