August 14, 2004 – Wadsworth, Illinois – All four of the Ontario Show Jumping Team members enjoyed top 12 finishes individually in the Young Rider/Junior division at the 2004 ‘Maui Jim’ North American Young Riders’ Championship, Presented by CN. The annual event is being held this year at Temple Farms in Wadsworth, IL, from August 10-15.

After claiming the Silver Medal in Friday’s Team competition, all four members of the Ontario Team advanced to the Individual Final for the CSI J/Y* Young Rider/Junior division. Top Ontario rider Mark Leyton finished just out of the medals, placing fourth overall following five rounds of jumping held over three consecutive days. In the Individual Final, only he and the gold medal winner managed to post faultless performances in the first round over a technical test set by Canadian course designer Michel Vaillancourt.

“The whole experience has been amazing, I’ve learned so much,” said Leyton, who makes his home in Stittsville, ON. “Everything about it has just been incredible! The courses here are so much bigger than what we are used to jumping, and an eight fault score is good.”

Leyton, 16, has only been competing in the jumper divisions for one year, and trains with veteran Canadian Equestrian Team member, Jill Henselwood, just south of Ottawa in Oxford Mills, ON.

“My horse jumped great,” praised Leyton, who purchased Nairobi, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, in the Netherlands earlier this year. “She is a hot little mare, and a lot of fun to ride.”

Alex Moynan had one rail in the first round and two in the second to place seventh overall in the standings. The 19-year-old rider from Russell, ON, was riding Jalapeno, his nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding. Moynan gained notoriety during the Selection Trials when he bravely continued to compete despite a broken foot.

After leading Ontario to the Team Silver Medal, Asta Torokvei of Toronto, ON, enjoyed a tenth place finish individually riding Beninger, her 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, while Nicole Denouden, 18, of Richmond Hill, ON, placed 12th overall after having only one rail down in the final round riding Giotto, her eight-year-old grey Hannoverian gelding.

Remarkable in itself, the top 12 finish for all four Ontario Team members was especially significant considering that they were all making their debut at the internationally-sanctioned North American Young Riders’ Championship. Chef d’equipe, Olympian Beth Underhill, and Team Manager Sally Sainsbury aided the Ontario Show Jumping Team in its accomplishment.

In total, 22 horse-rider combinations representing Canada, the United States, and Venezuela competed in the Junior/Young Rider division, created to give developing riders an 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.

Individual Championship Final Set for Sunday

The Individual Final for the Championship Division is set for Sunday when Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals will be awarded to three of the 40 competitors representing Canada, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and the United States. Currently in fourth position in the individual standings, Kelley Small, 20, of Kanata, ON, is well within striking distance, carrying forward a score of 13.52 faults accumulated over three rounds of jumping.

Teammates Kim Farlinger, 20, of Annan, ON, is in 16th position overall riding Del Destino, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, while Alex Rohling, 20, of Cumberland, ON, is in 23rd position with Secret Identity, a nine-year-old Hannoverian mare.

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 several nations’ including Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. are competing at this year’s event.

For full results from the North American Young Riders’ Championship, please visit www.youngriders.org.

Photographs of the Ontario Show Jumping Team from the Individual Final at the 2004 North American Young Riders’ Championship are available at http://www.ewbnewswire.com/photos/nayrc/.
Photo credit – Anthony Trollope, EWB News Service