Champions Crowned at the North American Young Riders’ Championships Presented by State Line Tack

Old Mill Creek, IL – August 11, 2002 – Jacqueline Paxton 21, of Cincinnati, OH, Cayce Harrison, 18, of Burridge, IL and Brittany Kart, 18, of Atlanta, GA, won individual gold medals at the 2002 North American Young Riders’ Championships (NAYRC), presented by State Line Tack, at Tempel Farms in Old Mill Creek, IL on Sunday.

In the Dressage division, Paxton, riding for US Region 2, led throughout the competition and received a 71.200%, her best score ever, to win Sunday’s culminating Freestyle Championship and clinch the Gold Medal with a three-round score of 212.040. Paxton could not believe her good fortune.

“I can’t believe I did it again,” said Paxton of her high score. “I am really happy with the way things went, I am so excited.”

Leahe Webb, 19, of Region 7, moved up from fourth on the final day to win the silver medal on Hugo with an overall score of 197.800. The bronze medal went to Lindsey Anderson of Region 6 riding Intrepid with an overall score of 197.560.

In a nailbiting fight to the finish, Cayce Harrison of US Zone 5 won the individual gold medal in the Show Jumping Championship with the only double clear rounds of the day for an overall score of 10.81 faults. Going last and with not even a time fault in hand, Harrison was extremely nervous.

“I was so nervous,” said Harrison. “I never had been in that position before, knowing that I had to go clean to win. I knew my horse could do it because he is amazing.”

The silver medal went to Andrew Ramsay and Lisa of US Zone 10. Ramsay went clear in the second round, but had eight costly faults in the first that put him in second with an overall score of 11.26 faults. The bronze medal was won by Catherine Boettcher and Cordelia B, also of Zone 10, with a final score of 17.25 faults.

In the eventing championship, Brittany Kart of US Area 3/4/7 remained on top although she knocked down a rail in Stadium Jumping, still capturing the gold medal riding Semper Fidelis with a score of 60.00 penalties.

“It was great,” said Kart. “I knew I had a couple of rails in hand going into stadium jumping, but I was still extremely nervous. Last year was a good experience, but this year was even better.”

Sara Hansel of US Area 1/5 won the silver with 63.80 penalties and Katie Evans of CAN - Ontario received the bronze with the score of 66.40 penalties aboard Forest Glen.

In the CCI** team championship, the medal race was extremely close with the Team from US Area 2 snagging the gold by less than one penalty to win with an overall score of 237.82 penalties. The four riders on the team champions were Stephanie Butts aboard Bungee, Kathleen Dingus and Springcroft tia Maria, Erin Freedman on Captain Hook and Maisy Grassie riding Heyday.

The silver medal team of US Area 1/5 had 238.80 penalties. The team included Sara Hansel on G & R, Prudence Ruzicka and Giselle, Julian Stiller riding Market Mover and Meredith Robins aboard Kid Gloves.

The spirited team from Brazil won the bronze with a score of 264.02 penalties. The four from South America were Ricky Candi and Justiceiro, Rafael Mauridio Gouveia, Jr. riding Ava, Paulo Eduardo Limongi Pacheco on Planetarius J. Men and Jesper Sigfrid martendal aboard Nijord.

In the CCI*, the Team gold medal went to US Area 1 with a score of 159.97. Courtenay Brines on Which One’s That, Alexandra Small and Azlan, Hillary Moses on Madox and Charlotte Merle-Smith riding Sportsfield Twist made up the winning team.

The silver medal went to US Area 3 with Rebecca Huy riding Fancy Solo Flight, Megan McGregor on Sunday Surprise, Andrea Leatherman on Yoshi and Elizabeth B. Barron aboard Corna’s Courageous with a score of 173.55. The US Area 2 team took the bronze with Lucia Strini and Stella, Valerie Vizcarrando on Bumbershoot, Jennifer Morse and Mt. Colebrook and Daniel Clasing and Yardley with a score of 176.93.

Individually, in the CCI* Young Rider division, Charlotte Merle-Smith of US Area 1 stayed on top to win the gold medal going clean in cross-country and in stadium jumping with a score of 42.18 penalties. Ashely Dalton took the silver with 50.97 penalties and Alexandra Small received the bronze with a score of 53.79 penalties.

In the CCI* Junior division, Jessica Pye clinched the gold medal riding Carte Blanche with a clean Stadium Jumping round to finish with a score of 54.14 penalties. Rachel Zoller and Ben Starr took the silver with a score of 54.87. Megan McGregor and Sunday Surprise took the bronze with a score of 58.14 penalties.

The Mills Team Challenge was won by the Triangle Gold team featuring NDSA rider Rebecca Hart with dressage rider Lindsey Anderson, CCI** event rider Maisy Grassie, CCI* event rider Kurt Martin, Junior Show Jumper Ashleigh Robin and Show Jumper Raymond Butterfield of Bremuda. The Mills Team Challenge is a competition for riders with physical disabilities who range from 16-25 years of age. They are teamed with able-bodied riders who are also competing at the NAYRC. The competition is run under the auspices of the National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA), the national governing body for equestrian sports for riders with disabilities.

Medals and gifts were presented to all the winners at the NAYRC in a moving ceremony that included all riders competing in the Championship. The Olympic-style closing ceremony was a fitting way to end the USA Junior Olympic – Equestrian event.

The NAYRC is the premier competition for young riders in the three Olympic disciplines of show jumping, dressage, and three-day eventing. Riders, ages 16 through 21 are eligible to compete.

The North American Young Riders’ Championships began in 1974 as an eventing challenge between the United States and Canada in Jokers Hill, Ontario. Canada swept all three team medals in the competition that was then known as the North American Junior Team Championships. A dressage championship was added in 1981, and since that year the Championships have been recognized by the FEI and are conducted in accordance with FEI General Regulations. Show jumping made its debut in 1982 in British Columbia, when the first complete Championships were held. In 1985, the competition was first held at Tempel Farms in Old Mill Creek, Illinois, setting the stage for their continuing support of the Championships.

The NAYRC will be televised on Outdoor Life Network (OLN) on September 7 at 4:30 PM Eastern. For full information and results, please visit the website at: www.youngriders.org.

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