October 1, 2004 – New York, New York – Two Just World Junior Rider Representatives, Natalie Johnson and Jessica Speiser, claimed the ASPCA Maclay Championship titles in their respective regions.

Johnson of Greenwich, CT, won the Maclay Championships – Region 1 (Northeast) while Speiser of Armonk, NY, won the Maclay Championships – Region 2 (East). Both young women are Just World Junior Rider Representatives who give all of their prize money earnings to JustWorld International, a non-profit humanitarian organization that trains and empowers students to work for social justice.

Johnson topped a field of 53 entries to claim the Region 1 Championship title on Sunday, September 26, at the Westbrook Hunt Club in Westbrook, CT. The ASPCA Maclay Regional Championships are comprised of a three-round competition – an initial over fences phase, a flat phase, and then a final test. Johnson was placed third after the over fences phase and moved into first place following the flat phase.

“I have spent many hours working on my position this summer and I feel like it is starting to pay off,” noted Johnson, 17, who trains alongside Speiser under coach Andre Dignelli. “Andre told me not to just qualify for the Maclay Final, but to try to win the Regional Championships. That made me determined to try that much harder. He is good at building confidence, and is encouraging to everyone, despite their level of riding.”

Johnson was aboard Chagall, her 10-year-old dark bay Warmblood gelding. Originally trained for show jumping when Dignelli purchased him over a year ago in Europe, Chagall is enjoying his new job in the equitation division.

“I have ridden him a lot indoors at home, but this was the first time I had shown him indoors at a competition,” remarked Johnson, a Grade 12 student at Greenwich Academy. “What is really nice about Chagall is that he has an even rhythm, and he is one hundred percent reliable around the course. I couldn’t ask for a better horse.”

Johnson will be making her first trip to the ASPCA Maclay Finals, to be held as part of the Metropolitan National Horse Show from November 3-7 in New York, NY, while Speiser will be making her second appearance, having also qualified in 2002.

Speiser’s victory the ASPCA Maclay Championships – Region 2 (East) came at the Long Island Classic held in Old Westbury, NY, from September 12-13. Like Johnson, Speiser was also competing in a 53-horse field.

“Andre told me to be confident in my riding, that there was nothing to be nervous about, which helped a lot because the Maclay Regional Championships tends to be the show I get most worried about,” laughed Speiser, who was aboard Simplicity, better known as ‘Ned’ around the barn. “My horse was really good, I had never shown him indoors before so I wasn’t sure how he would be, but he ended up being perfect.”

Earlier this season, Speiser and Simplicity finished second in the ASPCA Maclay Medal classes held at the Devon Horse Show as well as the Hampton Classic Horse Show. Currently in her final year of studies at Rye Country Day School, Speiser was the first Junior Rider Representative for JustWorld, encouraging others to follow in her footsteps. Fittingly, another JustWorld International Junior Rider Representative, Josephine Nash, placed sixth in the Maclay Championships – Region 1 (Northeast) to be among the over 100 riders from across the United States who earned qualifying tickets to the ASPCA Maclay Finals, considered the ultimate test of horsemanship.

All three Junior Rider Representatives have donated their entire horse show prize money earnings to JustWorld International, which have been earmarked for funding shelters for street children in Honduras. While competing at the Hampton Classic Horse Show, the Junior Rider Representatives hosted a reception on September 2 in East Hampton, NY, to share their enthusiasm for JustWorld International and to encourage other junior and young riders to get involved. Johnson and Speiser took advantage of the opportunity to share their personal experience of accompanying JustWorld International Executive Director, Jessica Newman, on a project site visit to Honduras in June. There, the young women had the opportunity to witness first-hand the difference their support is making in the lives of those less privileged.

“I had originally been skeptical that the small sum of money I won at horse shows could make any kind of substantial difference in fighting poverty around the world but, after spending time with the children in Honduras, I realized that even the smallest amount of money really does make a difference in people’s lives,” said Speiser of the life-altering experience.

“As a founding member of the Just World junior rider representative program, I returned home determined to do everything I can to improve the conditions of the wonderful children that I had spent time with,” said Johnson. “I saw what a huge difference every dollar can make in the every day lives of these unfortunate kids, and I hope I will be able to inspire many other junior riders to join me in supporting the work of JustWorld International.”

Around the world, many top names in show jumping sport have become rider representatives for JustWorld International, a non-profit, humanitarian organization whose mission is to prepare and empower youth to become visionary leaders and work for social justice. Through various initiatives, including donating a portion of their prize money or giving clinics to benefit JustWorld International, riders are able to support the organization’s projects and programs. With top-name riders including Kevin Babington, Angela Covert, Herve Godignon, Eric Lamaze, Rutherford Latham, Olivier Guillon, Candice King, Eric Navet and Ray Texel being just some of the well-known athletes supporting the efforts of JustWorld International, the ‘Jump for a Just World’ fundraising initiative has quickly grown.

Founded in 2002, JustWorld International offers fellowship programs for students from around the globe to learn leadership skills, the tools that they can use to make a positive difference in the world. With three project sites located in Cambodia, Honduras and Senegal, students are working for change in a wide variety of environments on behalf of JustWorld International.

For further information on JustWorld International, please visit www.justworldinternational.org.