NAJYRC Begins with Dressage Young Riders Reaching Medal Podium on First Day of Competition

The medal presentation ceremony for the 2016 NAJYRC Dressage Young Rider Team Test featuring the Gold, Silver, and Bronze medal winning teams alongside Katherine Robertson, USDF Education Department Manager; Hannah Niebielski, USEF Director of Dressage National Programs; Michael Stone, President of The Colorado Horse Park; Leslie Steele, Chef d'Equipe of the Canadian Team; Jennie Loriston-Clarke, Foreign Technical Delegate; Allyn Mann of Adequan®; and judge Cesar Torrente (COL). (Photo: ©SusanJStickle)

Parker, CO - The 2016 Adequan®/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North saw the USDF North American Junior & Young Rider Dressage Championships Young Rider Team medals awarded today at The Colorado Horse Park (CHP), as three teams received the first round of medals presented during the weeklong competition.

The Region 1 Young Riders took to the top podium, earning the Gold medal, while the combined team from Canada, composed of riders from Ontario, Manitoba, and Alberta, took the Silver medal. The team of three individuals representing Region 4/5/7 for the U.S. received the Bronze medal.

The Young Rider division saw the Gold and Silver medal positions only separated by a slim margin as the Region 1 team earned a total score of 200.605 and the combined Canadian team totaled 200.210 to end the competition. The Bronze medal team, composed of riders from Regions 4/5/7, finished with a total score of 196.421.

Nicholas Hansen of Catawissa, PA, and his mount Ritter Benno, earned the highest score of the class and anchored the Region 1 team with score of 72.263%. Hansen, who is competing at NAJYRC for the third time in his career, commented on the importance and impact of the competition, as well as how it has molded him as a rider.

Nicholas Hansen and Ritter Benno on their way to securing the highest score of the class with a 72.263%. (Photo: ©SusanJStickle)

"I think that this competition is invaluable. When you have an opportunity to compete against people who are riding at your level, but then have a chance to ride against people from different countries at the same time, you form bonds that you have for the rest of your life," said Hansen. "To have the ability to say that you went to NAJYRC, and when you're able to put that on your resume, I think that's something not many people are able to do and it's a huge accomplishment."

"It's great to be here and the connections you make with the other riders are so important. This experience is priceless," added teammate Chambers, who piloted Urithmic to a score of 64.474%.

The Gold medal winning team of Region 1 earned their total score of 200.605 in part to the solid and consistent riding displayed by each of the four members composing the team:

Nicholas Hansen (21, Catawissa, PA) and Ritter Benno 72.263%
Mallory Chambers (21, Flanders, NJ) and Urithmic 64.474%
Elizabeth Bortuzzo (20, Annandale, NJ) and Macao 63.868%
Lian Wolfe (21, New Hope, PA) and Zimba 62.026%

Canada's combined team featuring riders from Ontario, Manitoba, and Alberta, collected the Silver Medal for the Young Riders Team division with a total score of 200.210:

Alexandra Meghji (18,Toronto, ON) and Rigo 67.868%
Elexis Ortlieb (20, Leduc, AB) and Verida 66.658%
Emily Ferguson (21, Winnepeg, MB) and Wrazzmatazz 65.684%
Nachelle Forde (21, Winnepeg, MB) and File Della Caccia 62.395%

Allyn Mann of Adequan® with the Gold medal winning Region 1 team from the U.S. including Nicholas Hansen, Elizabeth Bortuzzo, Mallory Chambers, and Lian Wolf. (Photo: ©SusanJStickle)

"I think the special part of this competition is that you have fun and that's my goal," said Ferguson. "That is what makes this show so unique. It's about setting goals, having fun, but also having positive experiences in the ring and that's what's so special about this competition."

"We really want to keep this good vibe going with good rides. I think each of us want to have a clean test and that in itself is so worth it at this competition," commented Forde, when discussing her ride this afternoon aboard File Della Caccia and what she's looking forward to for the remainder of the week.

The Bronze medal team combined three horse and rider combinations representing three different states including California, Kansas, and Colorado. The team featured two riders who have previously competed at NAJYRC, and one rider who is competing for the first time at the competition. Each of the three riders were proud to represent their own respective regions in a combined team setting, scoring well throughout the morning and ending the day thrilled with their podium debut.

The Bronze medal team earned a total score of 196.421 for their efforts on the first day of competition:

Codi Harrison (20, Augusta, KS) Katholts Bossco 67.921%
Lexy Donaldson (19, Littleton, CO) Power Play 67.211%
Katharine Cassidy (20, Rancho Santa Fe, CA) Welt Erbe 61.289%

Codi Harrison and Katholts Bossco (Photo: ©SusanJStickle)

"It's been a really fun experience to now have a team and actually be able to bond with our combination region. It's really wonderful and it's something that we don't have in any other aspect of the sport at this level," explained Harrison. "It's really helpful to and encouraging to be on a team with people who support you and want you to do well."

Competition at The Colorado Horse Park continues tomorrow with the second day of the 2016 Adequan®/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North featuring competition for each of the three disciplines.The USDF North American Junior & Young Rider Dressage Championships Junior Team competition will begin at 8:00 a.m, while the USHJA North American Junior & Young Rider Championship Junior Rider First Round Individual Qualifier and Young Rider Team competition will both take place in the International Ring starting at 8:30 a.m. The USEA North American Junior & Young Rider Eventing Championships will commence with competition tomorrow, welcoming the CIC 2* dressage portion of competition.

For more information on NAJYRC and to see a full list of results please visit www.youngriders.org or www.coloradohorsepark.com.