Region 1 Young Rider Chase Shipka, of Marshall, VA, and her twelve-year-old, Dutch Warmblood gelding, Zigal, were awarded the 2017 Fiona Baan “Pursuit of Excellence” Memorial Trophy.
This trophy, which is on permanent display in the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame, is awarded to the Young Rider who earns the highest combined average score in the three dressage tests: FEI Young Rider Team, Individual, and Freestyle. Chase placed second in both the team and individual test, and was the highest scoring competitor in the freestyle test at this year's USDF North American Junior & Young Rider Dressage Championships.
Shipka secured the win with an overall combined average of 72.032%, from her scores of 69.921% in the Team Test, 71.526% in the Individual Test, and 74.650% in the Freestyle Test.
The “Pursuit of Excellence” is the legacy Fiona Baan left to all FEI Young Riders, and indeed to everyone who ever knew or worked with her. For nearly 30 years, Ms. Baan worked tirelessly, with great dedication to the United States Equestrian Team (USET). She was U.S. Dressage Team Leader for the 1976 Olympics Bronze Medal team, the 1987 Pan Am Games , and for the bronze medal dressage team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Photo © ESI
Related Links
Nicholas Hansen Awarded 2016 Fiona Baan “Pursuit of Excellence” Memorial Trophy
Catherine Chamberlain Awarded 2014 Fiona Baan 'Pursuit of Excellence' Memorial Trophy
DelGiorno Dances Her Way to a Freestyle Gold at 2009 NAJRC
Leslie Eden and Region Three Gold Medal Dressage Winners at 2001 NAYRC