The Region 5 and 7 team won the team gold medals at the 2008 North American Junior and Young Rider Championships held at the Colorado Horse Park on 31 July 2008.
In the Junior division, Region 5 claimed gold with a combined average of 66.467% to stay clear of Region 4, which finished with a combined average of 65.567% for the silver and Region 7 which finished on 64.767% for the bronze.
Region 7 scored a total of 4417 points and a percentage of 65.437% for gold. The silver went to Region 8 with a score of 4395 points and 65.111%, while Canada-Ontario received a score of 4374 points and 64.800%. The three best scores of each team counted.
Junior Gold for Region 5
Region 5 prevailed in a close battle that came down to the last rotation of riders. Brandi Roenick and Pretty Lady, who won the U.S. Junior Championships at the Festival of Champions in June, scored 67.9% to lead Region 5 to the Junior Team Championship.
“I was very satisfied with my ride,” said Roenick from Scottsdale, AZ. “I had a little bobble in one change. I will be a lot more confident on Friday because this is a spooky ring and on Friday I hope I will have a much better ride.”
Teammates, Morgan Heinrichs (riding Orlando), Cassy Fitch (Kilroy) and Brittney Klasic (Wadi Draa), all put in impressive performances with a combined average of 66.467% to win team gold.
Fitch and Roenick have known each other since they were three years old. “Overall my horse was pretty good,” Fitch said of her 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding's effort. “I had a few bobbles but I tried my hardest.”
Heinrichs had one of the shortest trips to the NAJYRC with her 12-year-old Dutch gelding, Orlando. Hailing from Longmont, CO she made her 1.5 hour trip worth the effort with her first Gold medal. “I'm really happy,” said Heinrichs after scoring 65.950%. “I only got my horse in February so we had to bond through the qualifying process. I had one mistake when he broke in the canter.”
Another Arizona rider, Klasic, rounded out the foursome. Riding the 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Wadi Draa, Klasic was pleased with how her test ended. “I thought my ride was pretty good,” said Klasic. “I had a few bobbles but I thought I finished pretty good.”
The Silver medal team from Region 4 (upper Midwest) of Hans Baertsch (on Rubinstar GB), Lauren Gorton (on Kilroy), Amy Hacker (Discoverer) and Layne Sandercott (Cedrick) gave Region 5 a run for their money but came up just short.
”It has been an incredibly long process to get here,” said Sandercott. “So it is really fun to be here now.”
Baertsch was here for his second trip to the NAJYRC and was happy to have improved since his last appearance. “It's exciting,” he said. “There is good atmosphere and I did better this year than last year, so it is really rewarding.”
The Californians from Region 7 appeared pleased with their Bronze medal effort despite NAJYRC veteran Mackinzie Pooley declaring that it wasn't easier the second time at the Championships. Pooley rode Jonkara, Ari Lopez rode Corlander to the highest score on the team (66.750%), Samantha Billings rode Lauris and Courtney Blaine rounded out the team on Oletty's Dutch Treat.
“My horse was actually really good,” said Lopez of her inexperienced Rhiendlander gelding. “He's only seven and he can be really naughty, but he kept it together and I'm really proud of him.”
Young Riders Gold for Region 7
Region 7, whose riders were all competing in their first Young Riders Championship, was led by Katie Johnson of El Cajon, CA who scored 66.356% on Millenium. Region 7 also got scores of 65.778% from Brianna Dutton of Tracy, CA on Tibet, 64.178% from Christine Stephenson of Mission Viejo, CA on Charly 285, and 60.933% from Thomas Walker of Nipomo, CA on Grundstein's Legacy.
“This is something you dream about but certainly don't expect,” said Dutton. “Even just to place is like a dream come true, but to win the Gold is unbelievable!”
Region 7 Chef d'Equipe Elizabeth Hendrix wasn't sure what to expect of her team before arriving at the Colorado Horse Park. “I hadn't seen a lot of the riders and I knew my team consisted of all first timers,” she said. “When I saw them warm up though, I started to realize that this could be a really good team.”
All four of the riders were enjoying the first experience at the NAJYRC even before becoming Gold Medalists. “It's often hard to get people to understand how we feel about our sport,” Johnson said. “It's really fun to be with so many others our age who have the same passion for horses that we do.”
Region 8, which included Laura Noyes and Syncro, Alexa Rice and Maarten, Meagan Davis and Cachet, Julie McKean and Stravinsky, scored silver with an average of 65.111%.
The bronze went to Canada-Ontario with an average of 64.800%. Representing Ontario were Jaimie Holland on Fleurina, Amy Jager on Jive, Jade Deter on Mastermind, and Danielle McKinnon on Noma Tender.
Related Links
American Teams Announced for 2008 North American Junior/Young Riders Championships
2008 North American Junior/Young Riders Championships Return to Colorado