Wednesday August 4, 2004

Canadian Representatives to the 2004 North American Young Riders Championships

Dressage Canada is pleased to announce the rider/horse combinations competing for Canada at the Maui Jim 2004 North American Young Riders Championships, presented by CN, being held August 10-15, 2004  at Tempel Farms in Old Mill Creek, Illinois USA.

Canada will be fielding one team and one individual as follows:

Team Eastern Canada
Alexandra Hosein (NS) - Lucky Star
Veronique Lavallee (QC) - Pryme Tyme
Julie Watchorn (ON) - Quintesse
Leah Wilson (ON) - Dostoevsky
chef d’equipe - Elaine Potter

Individual Alberta
Stephanie Koepke (AB) – Flanero
chef d’equipe – Marj Koepke

Canada has historically enjoyed much success at the NAYRC bringing home Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in both the team and individual competitions.  For many competitors, the NAYRC is their first experience riding on a team, as well as their first time competing under the rules of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the international governing body for equestrian sport. In 2003, Quebec’s Veronique Lavallee was Canada’s highest placing rider as well as making history with the best performance from a Quebec dressage rider when she placed fourth in the Individual competition.

Tuesday, August 10 is the official start of this year’s Young Riders Championships with veterinary inspections of all horses and opening day briefings. Wednesday, August 11 will see the first day of dressage competition beginning with the Team Championship classes.

The Team Championship rides finish on Thursday, August 12 and then moves on to the individual division of competition. On Friday, individual championship tests will be ridden followed by the consolation ride on Saturday. Those qualifying to advance to the musical freestyle will compete in this class on Sunday.

The 2004 North American Young Riders' Championships welcomes the fifth annual Mills Team Challenge, a dressage competition for young riders with physical disabilities. The competition will be coordinated by the National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA), the national governing body for equestrian sports for riders with disabilities. NDSA is a member organization of the United States Olympic Committee and is recognized by the International Paralympic Equestrian Committee.

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 more than any other location, 13 times since 1985.

Related Link
Horsesdaily Coverage of the 2004 North American YR Championships