Maui Jim North American Young Riders’ Championships, Presented by CN, Welcomes 2004 Sponsors

Old Mill Creek, IL—May 28, 2004—The Maui Jim North American Young Riders’ Championships (NAYRC), presented by CN, wishes to express its heartfelt appreciation to this year’s family of sponsors. The 2004 NAYRC will take place August 10-15 at Tempel Farms in Old Mill Creek, IL.

The NAYRC wishes to thank its title sponsor, Maui Jim, its presenting sponsor, CN, and its Jumping Championship sponsor, State Line Tack, for their gracious support of this year’s event. The NAYRC also wishes to thank the Broussard family, Dressage Today, Equisearch.com, Practical Horseman, Tempel Farms, and the Tempel Steel Company.

Other sponsors for the 2004 NAYRC include Rebecca Broussard, E.B.R. Foundation, Equine Canada, the Gurnee Mills Mall, HDO Productions, Fred A. Krehbiel, Larry Langer, Mariani Landscape, the Mosaic Foundation (of R. and P. Heydon), Mrs. Pastures Cookies for Horses, Marvin and Linda Raymond, the Tempel Lippizans, the U.S. Equestrian Federation, Wendy Wares-Cooke, William Wrigley, Jr, and Nancy Corwith Hamill Winter.

Additional donors include Natalie C. Culley, Martin and Karen Domitrovich, Jane D. Eberly, John and Gloria McArdle, Edmund and Patricia O'Connor, Thomas and Jane O'Neil, and Noel Shinkunas.

“Without the strong foundation of support provided by our sponsors, the North American Young Riders’ Championships would not be possible,” said NAYRC event director Howard Simpson. “This is such a wonderful and indispensable event – many of these Young Riders will use the experience they gain from riding on a NAYRC team if they go on to represent their respective countries at international equestrian competitions. It’s a great feeling to know that so many people value this important event as much as we do.”

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.

For many competitors, the NAYRC is their first experience riding on a team, as well as competing under the rules of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the international governing body for equestrian sport.

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 Buck Davidson, Mara DePuy, Alison Firestone, Julie Gomena, Elise Haas, Lauren Hough, Megan Johnstone, Chris Kappler, Tiffani Loudon, Lisa Carlsen Lubitz, Abigail Lufkin, Heather Mason, Chris Pratt, Kathleen Raine, Nicole Shahinian Simpson, Ray Texel, and David Wilson. In 2001, Karen O’Connor and her husband, Olympic Gold Medalist David O’Connor, returned to make a presentation during the opening reception which offered a great inspiration to the audience of Olympic hopefuls.

The North American Young Riders’ Championships 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 more than any other location, 13 times since 1985.

For more information on the 2004 Maui Jim North American Young Riders’ Championships, presented by CN, please call (847) 295-3285 or visit www.youngriders.org.