July 29, 2004 – Mt. Elgin, Ontario – The Greenbrier Ontario Young Riders’ Three Day Eventing Team has been named 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.

The four-member CCI* J Preliminary Level Team will consist of Sandra Andresen of Pickering, ON, riding Illusion, Meghan Bailie of Enniskillin, ON, riding Jagger, Denise Lukacs of Bolton, ON, riding Apollo and Lindsay Pearce of Lakeside, ON, riding Frollick in the Sun.

The Intermediate level riders who have qualified for the CCI** Championship division and will compete as Individuals are Waylon Roberts of Port Perry, ON, riding Paleface and Jacquie Sturm of New Hamburg, ON, riding T’Jean.

The CCI*J Ontario Team was selected following competition at held at Dreamcrest Farm in Port Perry, ON, on July 18, 2004. The CCI** Intermediate level riders competed throughout the season in order to qualify to compete at the North American Young Riders’ Championship based on criteria set by the Greenbrier Ontario Young Riders’ selection committee. Part of the criteria included out of province competitions with qualifying results, consistency in competition results, soundness and fitness, competitive attitude and competition results.

Coaching the riders will be Advanced level competitor and coach, Jennifer Irwin of Puslinch, ON. Head coach, Ian Roberts of Port Perry, ON was selected to represent Canada at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens Greece, and will not be able to attend the Championship. Acting as chef d’equipe of the Ontario Young Riders’ Eventing Team will be Julie O’Connell of Amherstburg, ON, while Linda Plank of Mt Elgin, ON, will act as 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.