Lexington, VA—August 4, 2006—Zone 1 captured the Young Riders’ team show jumping Gold Medal at the 2006 CN North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships (NAJYRC) at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA. The team Gold in the Junior division went to the combined Zone 2 and Zone 5 team.

In the Young Riders’ division, Zone 1 had seven fault-free scores for the two rounds where each team counts its three best scores. Maggie McAlary of Amherst, New Hampshire, on Pedro; Julie Welles of West Simsbury, Connecticut, on Felix Des Noues and Natalie Johnson of Greenwich, Connecticut on Crocket 16 all had fault free rides in both rounds. Cody Auer of Fairfield, Connecticut, had one rail in the second round for a dropped score of four penalties on Okido.

Maggie McAlary was first in the order to ride in both rounds, "I had to ride first and I really didn't want to let the team down," she said. "We had a lot of motivation to win." "It was so nice to finally pull it off," said Cody Auer, a first-time rider at the NAYRC. "We have been teammates a few times for other competitions, and we are always second. This was great!" Coach John Brennan was pleased for his team. "These are great riders. They have been riding on teams together now the last couple of years and they have been consistent. I told them all we needed was a little luck today. Let's fight for this and they did."

A rare exciting battle for silver culminated in a jump-off between the teams from Zone 2 and Mexico North, who each accumulated scores of four faults. Three clear jump-off rounds by Zone 2 riders Hillary Dobbs of Sussex, New Jersey, riding VDL Lotus Excel, Carolyn Kelly of New York, New York, on Omona A.W., and Miasha Fisher of New York, New York, riding Kitty 41 clenched the silver medal. Fourth rider Addison Phillips of New York, New York, did not need to jump-off because of the perfect rounds executed by her teammates.

Putting on the pressure was the team from Mexico North. Team riders Alfredo Miguel of Puebla, Mexico was clear in the jump-off on Accolino, Jose Alberto Martinez of Guadalajara, Mexico, had four faults on Leonard, and Miguel Torres Hernandez of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, had four faults on Libero giving the team the Bronze Medal. Fourth rider Javier Berganza of Tulancingo, Mexico on HBC Haume Des Malais did not jump-off as the competition was decided by the third rider on course.

Friday also featured the team championship for the Junior division that was won by a combination of riders from Zone 2 and Zone 5. The team of Nicole Lakin of Reading, PA on Alaska, Clementine Goutal of New York, NY on Rastalla, Hilary Vijan of Westerville, OH on Gandalf, and Catie Boone of Lexington, KY on Naleida, finished with a two-round total of four faults to claim the win. Zone 10 placed second with eight faults and the combined team from Ontario and Quebec was third with 16 faults.

In eventing, the CCI* Junior championship division got under way with dressage and the team representing Area IV took the early lead. Area IV's Katlyn McMorris of Barrington Hills, Illinois, leads individually with a score of 40.7 penalties on Clifton Peekachu.

The CCI* J/Y, a non-championship division for juniors and young riders, had its cross country test and Team Ontario leads with a team total of 168.6 penalties. Area II is second with a score of 191.1 followed by Area IV with 198.4. The individual leader is Kendal Lehari of Uxbridge, Ontario, with a score of 40 penalties on Lehari, followed by Jamie Marlewski of Area IV with 53.8 penalties on Sprint Tech and Andrea Leatherman of Rock Hill, South Carolina, with 53.9 on Mensa. The two championship divisions, the CCI* for juniors and the CCI** for young riders, have their cross country tests on Saturday.

Friday’s dressage competition featured the second round of the individual competition for Young Riders. Winning on Friday was Pia Fortmuller of Vancouver, British Columbia, who scored 69.5% on Donagna. Bobbie McKee of Phoenix, Arizona, was second on Jamalone with a score of 69.4. Caroline Roffman of Wellington, Florida, placed third on Electra, scoring 68.15% The second round of individual competition for juniors is on Saturday and both individual finals are on Sunday.

Competitors, supporters, officials and sponsors were treated Thursday evening to an exciting demonstration of reining and vaulting. Junior champion reiner Ian Barnard was joined by junior reiners TJ MacKennan, and sisters, Christin and Nichole Grant for a sampling of reining movements, including a bridleless demonstation by Ian. The Friendship Team, the American Vaulting Association's traveling junior team, put on a talented display of vaulting. Both sports are part of the Federation Equestre International (FEI) and have active junior/young rider programs.

The NAJYRC is the premier equestrian competition in North America for junior and young riders. Young equestrians come from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean Islands to vie for team and individual medals in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of show jumping, dressage, and eventing. This year marks the first time that fully-recognized Championships for Junior riders (age 14-18) are being held along with those for Young Riders (age 16-21).

The 2006 NAJYRC is supported by its Title Sponsor, CN, and is also supported by this year’s Platinum Sponsors - Howard and Martha Simpson. Gold Medal Sponsors are the United States Equestrian Federation, Equine Canada and Zone 4.

Other sponsors for the 2006 NAJYRC include Silver Medal Sponsors Devoucoux, Rebecca Broussard, Blue Ridge Farm Center, Practical Horseman, Horsecity.com, The United States Dressage Federation, Antares, Waterjumps.us, Southeast Equine, Dressage Today, Ariat and The Mosaic Foundation; and Bronze Medal Sponsors Becker College, Dover Saddlery, Virginia Dressage Association, Stewart Title, The Jefferson Florist, Larry and Marnye Langer, Thornhill, U.S. Hunter-Jumper Association, and Der-Dau.

Blue Ribbon Sponsors include Rambo Blankets, VTO Saddlery, Mary Phelps—a Markel Equine Insurance specialist, Kelly’s Ford Equestrian Center, Beval, and Cynron Saddlery & Footwear. Other sponsors are American Horse Trials Foundation, Starr Vaughn Equestrian, Inc., Harmony Sporthorses, EMO Insurance, Flame Treating Systems, Inc., Foxden Equine, Mead Associates, North Carolina Dressage and Combined Training Association, Southern States/Triple Crown, Virginia Golf Cars and Tennessee Valley Dressage & Combined Training Association.

Additional donors include Cowboy Magic, Dermafas, Mrs. Pastures Cookies for Horses, Southern States/Triple Crown, Absorbine, Red Ridge Tack, Green Mountain Coffee, Janet Crawford, Charles Owen, Brandy, Straight Arrow, Royal Riders, Sunbelt, Intervet, Hamilton Products, Davis Boots, Cavalia, Best Shot Equine, Horse Tech, Inc., Flair Nasal Strips, Summit Dynamics, Ladysmith Chaps, Equus Entries, Shenandoah Connection, The Clothes Horse, Exhibitor Labs, Nutramax Labs, Hadfields, Fortiflex and Omega Fields.

For full results and further information on the 2006 CN North American Young Riders’ Championships, please visit www.youngriders.org.