Old Mill Creek, IL—August 20, 2004—Young riders with physical disabilities demonstrated their equestrian ability in the Mills Team Challenge at the 2004 Maui Jim North American Young Riders’ Championships (NAYRC), presented by CN, at Tempel Farms in Old Mill Creek, IL, August 10-15.

Sponsored by The Mills Corporation, the Mills Team Challenge is run under the auspices of the National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA), the national coordinating agency for equestrian sports for riders with physical disabilities. These riders, ranging from 16-25 years of age, are teamed with able-bodied young riders who are also competing at the NAYRC.

Each team in the Challenge included riders who competed in the Championships’ regular competitions in the Olympic disciplines of dressage, eventing and show jumping teamed with a rider with a disability who competed in dressage. Overall placings in the Mills Team Challenge were based on each team’s combined scores after their respective events.

Riders with disabilities at the NAYRC took part in an International Paralympic Equestrian Committee (IPEC) Championship, featuring an IPEC grade class and a musical freestyle. These scores were calculated together with those of their able-bodied teammates to determine the Mills Team Challenge winners.

Keith Newerla of Seaford, NY, rode Pluto IV Sabadilla to a two-round final score of 137.056% to win the IPEC Championship. Following Newerla in second place was Rebecca Hart of Erie, PA, riding Lego, with a score of 135.593%. Third place went to Dax Adam of Scarborough, Ontario, who piloted Copper Rose to a total score of 134.411%. In fourth place was Erin Waddell of South Lyon, MI, who earned a score of 122.153% aboard Don Giavanni. Newerla, Hart, and Adam are all qualified to travel to Athens for the 2004 Paralympic Games.

The Gold Medal in the 2004 Mills Team Challenge was won by the Cobalt Crew, a team featuring Rebecca Hart with Veronique Lavalle (Canada-East, Dressage); Kristine Lyons (Zone 1, Jumping *); Brianne Goutal (Zone 2, Jumping **); John Michael Durr (Area 6, Eventing *); and Athena Arnot-Copenhaver (Area 6, Eventing **).

“It’s really great here and we had a lot of fun,” said Hart, who has previously competed at the NAYRC three times. “The freestyle, for me, was the most unforgettable part of this year’s competition because it was my last competition with Lego, my Athens qualifying horse. It was pretty emotional because he’s been so wonderful, helping me to become first alternate for the Paralympic team. We won the freestyle, so it was a great final competition with him.”

She added, “Alan Renkis and Thermoclad have generously donated Lego to me for competitions for a while now, and even though I’m kind of sad I that won’t be riding him anymore, I’m really thankful for the time we’ve had together.”

The Silver Medal went to the Charismatic Centaurs team, featuring Dax Adam with Christina Jahl (Region 8, Dressage); Alexandra Zavayna (Area 2, Eventing *); Cayla Kitayama (Area 6, Eventing **); Katherine Brandes (Zone 10, Jumping *); and Kim Farlinger (Ontario, Jumping **).

“This has been a great competition!” said Adam, who will be representing Canada at the Paralympic Games in Athens. “It was fun, a good preparation for the Paralympics. I really enjoyed hanging out with my fellow Canadians, too, while I’ve been here.”

The Bronze Medal was awarded to the Keith’s Caravan team, featuring two-time NDSA Champion Keith Newerla with Christina Beal (Region 7, Dressage); Kathryn Schiess (Area 4, Eventing *); Preston Wofford (Area 3, Eventing **); Jennifer O’Neill (Quebec, Jumping *); and Kelly Soleau (Zone 1, Jumping **).

“It’ll be great to take the riding skills I’ve gained at events like the NAYRC with me when I’m overseas,” said Newerla, who will also be heading to Athens to compete in the Paralympics, “but it’s tough when you don’t know what your horse will be like until you get there. There’s only so much preparation you can do before you go. The NAYRC was good because it’s the same quality of competition, so that will definitely help.”

Riders with disabilities often ride borrowed horses at events such as the NAYRC. It can be difficult to prepare when they are given only a short time before competition. But they never complain.

“I have to thank Lauren Sprieser [one of the NAYRC riders] for loaning Don Giavanni to me for this competition,” said Waddell. “Don got better and better every day. It’s hard and frustrating sometimes because you only get those few hours combined over a couple of days, but it’s always fun to see how you can do.”

The riders felt special appreciation for all of the help and support they have received before and during competition at the NAYRC — horse owners like Sprieser and Ann Leslie, who donated their horses for use in the competition; Mills Team Challenge Chef d’Equipe John Stevenson, and Carrie and Jerry Schwartz (Mills Team Challenge Organizer and Dressage Organizer, respectively), who work tirelessly to train and assist the riders; NAYRC Director Howard Simpson, who not only hosts the event, but also puts the athletes first in everything, greeting each one with a high five and a friendly smile; and Steve Jacobson of The Mills Corporation, who generously sponsors the Mills Team Challenge.

“We can’t thank them enough,” said the riders. “Without their help, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. They’ve joined in our jokes and they’ve constantly pushed us to get better and better. They told us that seeing all of us growing and riding better this year at the NAYRC was really great.”

NDSA is the National Coordinating Agency for equestrian competition for riders with disabilities. NDSA works closely with the US Equestrian Federation and other organizations to provide opportunities for riders with disabilities within the “able-bodied” community.

NDSA is a CBO (Community Based Organization) member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).

For more information on NDSA or the Mills Team Challenge, please contact Denise Avolio, NDSA Equestrian Sports Manager, at (914) 949-8166, or email diavolio@ndsaonline.org, or visit www.ndsaequestrian.org.