Equine Canada is pleased to provide daily coverage of the Canadian junior and young riders competing at the Adequan FEI North American Junior Young Rider Championships, presented by Gotham North, in Lexington Kentucky.
This year’s event, running from July 17 – 21, welcomes 222 young athletes from across Canada, the United States and Mexico who are competing for FEI team and individual medals in the three Olympic disciplines; jumping, eventing and dressage, and the FEI World Equestrian Games disciplines of reining and endurance.
Quebec Junior Team wins Gold Medal at the FEI North American Junior, Young Rider Championship
Quebec junior team riders; Laurence Blais Tetreault, Naima Moreira Laliberte, Beatrice Boucher and Felix Cote Villeneuve, started the competition off on a winning note by taking the Gold in the North American Junior Team Championship. This is the second year in a row that the Quebec Team has taken first place in this division.
Laurence Blais Tetreault of Montreal, QC, and Lowelas, her 13-year-old Trakehner gelding sired by Hockey 41, finished in second place overall in the team test achieving a final score of 68.378%. Teammate Naima Moreira-Laliberte of Outremont, QC was not far behind taking fifth aboard Windbreaker 3, Pferdesport Wintermühle GmbH’s 12-year-old Westphalian gelding sired by Windspiel As, with a final score of 67.054%, Beatrice Boucher of St. Dominique, QC placed eighth with a final score of 66.432%, riding Dante, Agnieszka Wnorowska’s 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding sired by Dirano and Felixe Cote Villeneuve of St. Lambert, QC and Pissarro, her 16-year-old Westphalian gelding by Pavarotti VD Helle, finished with a score of 62.865%. The team’s three scores combined placed them in first overall for the Gold medal ahead of the Region 7 USA.
Of today’s results Chef d’équipe- East, Ellen Rumball commented “I was very proud of all Quebec and Ontario riders and their rides today. The Quebec JR Team had a great day winning gold for the second year in a row!”
“I’m really happy with placing gold two years in a row and my overall placings in the group,” said Laurence Blais Tetreault. “My horse was great and I am really looking forward to the Individual and the Freestyle!”
In the FEI Young Rider Team Championship Tanya Shostak Strasser of Ste. Adele, QC rode Action Tyme, Evi Strasser’s 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding sired by Aktuell, to sixth place finish in the team test on a final score of 67.342%. Sydney Holme of North Saanich, BC placed ninth with 66.553%, riding Day Dreamer, her 11-year-old Rheinlander gelding sired by Dream of Heidelberg. Rounding out the top three Canadian results, Mathilde Blais Tetreault of Montreal, QC atop Michelangelo, her 15-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding sired by Amiral placed 12th on a final score of 64.711%.
Top Three Standings:
Gold – Region7/USA
Silver – Region 6/USA
Bronze – Region 5/USA
Top Three Canadian Standings:
4th – Team QC/CAN
7th – Team BC/AB
8th – Team ON/MB
Jumping
The Junior Team found the course very challenging in the First Individual Qualifier today, but gained valuable experience in a team environment. The three member team of Kaitlyn Blum of Gormley, ON and Carnell, her 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding sired by Carnute, Adrien Vilcini of Peterborough, ON and, I AM, John Jamieson’s 16-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, and Mikala Chesler of Orangeville, ON and Ilian de Taute, Ruth Armstrong’s 17-year-old Selle Francaise stallion by Narcos II, will return to the ring tomorrow morning for the Jumping Team Final.
The Young Rider division faced its own challenges when it was greeted with a rain delay as a storm moved through Lexington early in the competition. The team was lead by Jacqueline Steffens of Harriston, ON and Quercus Van Generhese, Double C Stables’s 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding sired by Darco, who finished todays competition in 11th place.
Steffens returns to the ring tomorrow for the Young Rider Team Final with teammates Lexus Arbuckle of Guelph, ON and Castor Van De Kranenburg, her 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Kimball; Hayley MacKinnon of Ashton, ON and Class Action, a 19-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding sired by Libero, owned by Synergy Farm; and Muhammad Itani of Essex, ON and his mount Tax Free, an 11-year-old Selle Luxembourgeois gelding by Toulon.
“I was very happy for both teams, it was the first time most of them have experienced this level of pressure. Everyone finished their rounds better than they started, which demonstrated that they were learning throughout the course,” commented Junior and Young Rider Chef d’équipe, Hyde Moffatt. “I am looking forward to the competition tomorrow when they can apply what they’ve learned today into stronger performances.”
Top Three Junior Rider Standings:
Gold – Eugenio Garza Perez/Barino/MEX
Silver – Dana Scott/Whatever RV/(Zone 1)USA
Bronze – Kaely Tomeiu /Belle Bleu S/(Zone 4) USA
For complete results of the Junior – First Individual Qualifier visit: https://www.usef.org/_AUAIFrames/CompUp/Data/Result343.pdf
Top Three Young Rider Standings:
Gold – Lillie Keenan/Londinium/(Zone 2) USA
Silver – Shawn Casady/Twister/(Zone 4) USA
Bronze – Charlotte Jacobs/Kachina/(Zone 2) USA
For complete results of the Young Rider – First Individual Qualifier visit: https://www.usef.org/_AUAIFrames/CompUp/Data/Result346.pdf
Reining
Following today’s horse inspection, Haley Franc and her groom Tracey, were awarded the “USEF Best Turned-Out Award”. A competitor from each discipline is awarded this honour based on their turn-out/presentation at the First Horse Inspection or Jog.
The reining championship began with the friendly “Welcome Competition” which saw the Canadian teams set the bar high for their official contest which begins with the Team competition tomorrow.
Juniors Rider
1st – Emily Wilson of Uxbridge, ON and Miss Cielo Chex, an 11-year-old Quarter Horse mare by Buenonic Chex, won on their score of 205.5 points
2nd – Maxine Whiteside of Olds, AB and Sailors Good Sackett, a 17-year-old Quarter Horse gelding sired by Jacs Main Sail, scored 203 points
3rd (two-way tie) Hannah Steed of Cochrane, AB and Jumpin Jac Trash, a 13-year-old Quarter Horse gelding sired by Trashadeous and Haley Franc of Prince Albert, SK and Jacs Shy Boy, a 9-year-old Canadian bred Quarter Horse gelding sired by Jacs Main Sail − 202 pts
Young Rider
1st – Madison Steed of Cochrane, AB and Lil Cat N Gun, a 9-year-old Quarter Horse gelding sired by Colonels Lil Gun, took first place with 214 points
2nd – Pearl Aebly of Okotoks, AB and Ms Smart Hollywood, a 9-year-old Canadian bred Quarter Horse mare by Hes A Bueno Jac, with 209 points
4th (tie) Stephanie Thomson (Fort McMurray, AB) & Jacs Docsan, a 13-year-old Canadian bred Quarter Horse gelding sired by Dolls Union Jac
“I am very pleased with the teams’ performances today. Our Team Coach, Amanda Antifaev, instructed the girls to take it easy, which they did. Today’s class will make it a little easier on the nerves for tomorrow’s team competition,” commented Wendy Dyer, Chef d’Equipe.
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