Ontario Names Show Jumping Team for 2004 North American Young Riders’ Championship

July 23, 2004 – Ottawa, Ontario – The Ontario Show Jumping Team for the 2004 ‘Maui Jim’ North American Young Riders’ Championship, Presented by CN, to be hosted August 10-15 at Tempel Farms in Wadsworth, IL, has been named.

The four-member Championship Team will consist of Chris Cullen, 20, of Toronto, ON, Kim Farlinger, 20, of Annan, ON, Alex Rohling, 20, of Cumberland, ON, and Kelley Small, 20, of Kanata, ON.

The Ontario Team heads into this year’s event as the defending champion, having claimed the Team Gold at the 2003 edition of the North American Young Riders’ Championship held in Bromont, QC. The Ontario Team has been a strong favourite in recent years, winning the Silver Medal in 2002 and 2001 and claiming the Bronze Medal in 2000.

In total, four Selection Trials were held for the Ontario Show Jumping Team, with riders earning points for their performances. Cullen and Rohling were selected to the Ontario Young Riders’ Championship Team based on points earned in designated Selection Trials the Ontario Rising Star Series, presented by Gary Cooper Chev Olds. Provisions in the Selection Criteria allowed for Farlinger and Small, who both competed out of province in the U.S. as well as at the Spruce Meadows tournaments in Calgary, AB, to be named to the Team based on their performances in competitions equal to or greater than the level of difficulty offered in the Ontario Rising Star Series. All Ontario Team candidates were required to compete in the final Selection Trail held Saturday, July 17, at the Capital Classic Show Jumping Tournament in Ottawa, ON, where Farlinger and Small placed first and second, respectively.

Athletes selected for the Junior/Young Rider Team include Nicole Denouden, 18, of Richmond Hill, ON, Mark Leyton, 16, of Stittsville, ON, Alex Moynan, 19, of Russell, ON, and Asta Torokvei, 20, of Toronto, ON. The Junior/Young Rider division allows developing riders the opportunity to experience competition at an international event, but over fences set a lower height. Held concurrently with the Championship division, the Junior/Young Rider competition is considered a ‘stepping stone’ for riders with the ability to compete at future North American Young Riders’ Championship events.

Acting as chef d’equipe of the Ontario Team will be Canadian Olympian Beth Underhill of Schomberg, ON, while Sally Sainsbury of Bond Head, ON, will act as the Ontario Team Manager.

First established in 1974 as an eventing challenge between Canada and the U.S., the current North American Young Riders’ Championship format is considered a ‘mini-Olympics’ for riders aged 16-21 competing in the three Olympic disciplines of dressage, eventing and show jumping. Teams and individuals representing Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. are expected to compete in this year’s event.