Saito, Matsushisa, Hidaka, Yasuda Win 2024 Japanese Youth Riders Championships

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2024 Japanese Dressage Championships

dakChildren rider Isami Saito, junior rider Mugen Matsuhisa, young rider Gaito Hidaka, and U30 rider Lesil Yasuda became the winners of the 2024 Japanese Youth Riders Championships held at the Setagaya Equestrian Park at the start of October 2024.

The divisions were well filled with fifteen riders in the children and junior age category and twelve young riders . The Juniors and young riders contested the individual test and freestyle to determine the national champion. In Japan the Under 25 Grand Prix division is expanded to include riders up to age 30. Four competed in this division.

Children Isami Saito

At Children level top honours went to Isami Saito aboard Poronociw Will. The pair posted 68,680%in the first round and 69,667% in the evond round to be the stand-out winners for the title, almost 3 percentage points ahead of the reserve champion. Last year Saito was seventh in the 2023 Children Championship.

The silver went to championship newcomer Kokomi Matsuoka aboard Gracia with 67,708% and 67,833%, while Mayuko Sato collected bronze aboard the 15-year old Danish warmblood Øgårdens Dior De Luxe (by Sandreo x Zardin Firfod) after scoring 65,972% and 66,667%. Sato was 8th last year. Dior de Luxe came from Denmark where he was shown by Mille Larsen Warncke, Didde Marie Thekilde, and Cathrine Dufour until 2016.

Junior Riders: Mugen Matsuhisa

Mugen Matsuhisa and Gyemant have gone from finishing fifth last year at the 2023 Nationals to grabbing the title and the gold medal in 2024. The pair scored 67,696% in the individual test and added a 70,470% freestyle on top for a winning, overall total.

Last year's bronze medal winner Kenshin Matsuoka climbed to a silver medal spot this year aboard Gracia, while Yuki Kasahara collected bronze with Elevamente. This pair was fourth in the children division in 2023. The three podium place-getters are yet to make their international show debut.

Young Riders: Gaito Hidaka

For 19-year old Gaito Hidaka the 2024 show season has been a wonderful one as the young rising star not only grabbed the title in the Young Riders division, but also went on to take bronze in the senior Grand Prix Championships in Gotemba. Aboard Chiemi Katayama's 20-year old Hanoverian Sir Galanto (by Stedinger x De Niro) he scored 71,667% in the individual test and 73,975% in the freestyle for the Young Riders' title. Gaito took over the ride on Sir Galanto from Kiichi Harada.

"I would like to thank my wonderful partners, the supportive owners and sponsors," Gaito took to Instagram after winning the title. "To the trainers, farriers, chiropractors and the Hiruzen Horse Park team who always support me."

The silver medal went to 21-year old Marie Yoshida on Grandeur, a 13-year old KWPN gelding by Charmeur x Krack C, who previously shown in europe by Italian Beatrice Arturi before selling to Japan. Last year elder sister Yurie Yoshida became the 2023 Japanese Young Riders Champion on him. This year it was Marie's turn to finish second overall after scoring 68,676% and 70,825%. The bronze went to Yuki Takamatsu on Hermes Der II after posting 67,843% and 70,870%.

Under 25: Lesil Yasuda

In the Under 30 Grand Prix division Lesil Yasuda was the only rider to twice crack the sixty percentage barrier to earn the national title. Aboard the 18-year old Dutch warmblood Bernardau (by Uptown x Bustron) she scored 63,392 in the Intermediaire II and 63,587% in the short Grand Prix for the gold medal. Yasuda bought Bernardau in 2023 after he was shown in The Netherlands by Stephanie Peters and Sharon Lubkemann. Lesil trains at the Little Horse Club in Miki and prrofessionally works as an HR consultant in the corporate planning office at Sion Co Ltd.

"I can't get enough of my buddy who is too good," said winner Yasuda after the Championships. "I am grateful for the environment I have and will continue to work hard to embrace the next new opportunities. Gotta become a good rider for my buddy real soon."

The silver medal went to Sayuko Kimura on the Palomino Bosco (by Benicio x Quarterback), while Fuga Kitamura got bronze with Luce Di Speranza. Biggest absentee from the Under 25 division was Yurie Yoshida, who opted to ride the senior Championship aboard Dark Diamond.

Results - 2024 Japanese Youth Riders Championships

Children

1. Isami Saito - Poronociw Will - 68,680 69,667 --- 138,347
2. Kokomi Matsuoka - Gracia - 67,708 67,833 --- 135,541
3. Mayuko Sato - Øgårdens Dior De Luxe - 65,972 66,667 --- 132,639
4. Kokoro Hayamizu - Florence - 64,931 66,250 --- 131,181
5. Mahiro Asakawa - Holy Night - 64,653 66,167 --- 130,820
6. Keita Kobayashi - Tim taylor - 64,514 65,250 --- 129,764
7. Mana Kato - Hfl Orlando - 64,306 64,750 --- 129,056
8. Kotoha Kato - Dear daiquiri - 64,305 64,417 --- 128,722
9. Seri Suzuki - Joshua Integrity - 62,278 63,833 --- 126,111
10. Ruriko Abe - Perlenfe - 62,014 61,875 --- 123,889
11. Yuua Wada - Tagano Milky - 61,736 61,583 --- 123,319
12. Watane Moteki - Rhubarb - 61,111 61,709 --- 122,820
13. Kohane Kaname - Brave Perseus - 61,111 61,584 --- 122,695
14. Misaki Sato - Monfarandole - 61,806 59,917 --- 121,723
15. Soichiro Noda - Felitia - 63,264 54,042 --- 117,306

Junior Riders

1. Mugen Matsuhisa - Gyemant - 67,696 70,470 --- 138,166
2. Kenshin Matsuoka - Gracia - 66,422 68,965 --- 135,387
3. Yuki Kasahara - Elevamente - 64,657 69,460 --- 134,117
4. Yui Hirabayashi - Weiyaro - 65,735 67,935 --- 133,670
5. Miyu Fujino - Senorita - 65,294 67,810 --- 133,104
6. Reina Kishimoto - Drop Shot - 64,559 67,120 --- 131,679
7. Yuna Nagata - Furst One - 64,706 64,950 --- 129,656
8. Sakura Inaba - Kant Joule - 62,500 66,015 --- 128,515
9. Amika Komiya - Don Digory - 61,863 66,470 --- 128,333
10. Miyu Yamada - Joker With Peace - 61,177 64,855 --- 126,032
11. Shonosuke Arita - the Duke of Cavan - 60,637 64,270 --- 124,907
12. Haruka Murakoshi - Elegant Black - 62,451 62,435 --- 124,886
13. Miya Tsuda - Whity - 60,833 62,810 --- 123,643
14. Rieko Hara - Scente - 60,147 61,185 --- 121,332
15. Yusei Tsuge - Nima - 60,147 59,485 --- 119,632

Young Riders

1. Gaito Hidaka - Sir Galanto - 71,667 73,975 --- 145,642
2. Marie Yoshida - Grandeur - 68,676 70,825 --- 139,501
3. Yuki Takamatsu - Hermes Der Ii - 67,843 70,870 --- 138,713
4. Yuuka Gyoten - Ibou Van De Kapelhoef - 66,618 67,590 --- 134,208
5. Taiga Nishijima - Joie Earth - 65,686 67,405 --- 133,091
6. Kanako Furuyama - Djambalaya - 64,216 66,815 --- 131,031
7. Hikaru Hosono - Britania - 63,579 67,365 --- 130,944
8. Aya Nishiki - Van Cleef - 64,461 62,820 --- 127,281
9. Riku Kokubo - Zarino M - 63,333 63,460 --- 126,793
10. Ryohei Omata - Rohstein - 63,039 63,365 --- 126,404
11. Hiroaki Yokoyama - Djazz F - 64,118 60,855 --- 124,973
12. Yuui Suzuki - Riccione - 61,863 61,070 --- 122,933

Under 30

1. Lesil Yasuda - Bernardau - 63,392 63,587 --- 126,979
2. Sayuko Kimura - Bosco - 61,029 57,587 --- 118,616
3. Fuga Kitamura - Luce Di Speranza - 57,451 54,913 --- 112,364
4. Edith Aya Shigeto - Ouji - 53,725 50,457 --- 104,182