Old Mill Creek, IL—August 12, 2004—The riders of U.S. Region 7 won the Dressage Team Gold Medal today at the 2004 Maui Jim North American Young Riders’ Championships, Presented by CN, 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 the Olympic disciplines of show jumping, dressage, and eventing. Competition at this year’s NAYRC continues through Sunday, August 15.

Christina Beal of Fallbrook, CA, riding Ray Ace, Stephanie Hamar of Visalia, CA, aboard Jasper, Dani Judy of El Cajon, CA, with Antaeus, and Caitlin Masiel of Danville, CA, on Melvina comprised the Gold Medal Dressage Team.

The Region 7 team won convincingly with a total score of 199.244%, nearly 4% higher than Silver Medal team Canada–East. The Bronze Medal went to U.S. Region 6 with a total team score of 191.344%.

Beal helped her team win the Gold by turning in the highest individual score in the team competition, a 68.711%. Riders’ individual scores will count toward the Dressage Individual Championship tomorrow at the NAYRC.

Action in the State Line Tack show jumping division got underway today, and in the first Young Rider Individual Qualifier, Maggie Jayne (Zone 5) of Elgin, IL, took the top prize aboard Jubulent. The Zone 2 team looks strong as all five of their riders finished among the top 12, with Leigh Healey of Lumberton, NJ, and Laurin finishing second. Abigail Carpenter of Greenwich, CT, took third aboard Rosanne Van de Witheove.

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 Maui Jim North American Young Riders’ Championships, Presented by CN, 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 Eventing Championship competition at this year’s NAYRC begins with the dressage phase on Friday, August 13 at 8:00 a.m. 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.

Tickets 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.