August 3, 2006 – Lexington, Virginia – Hannah Anderson, 16, of Caledon, ON, claimed second place on the opening day of show jumping competition at the 2006 CN North American Junior and Young Riders' Championship taking place August 1-6 at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA.

Hosting the three Olympic disciplines of dressage, eventing and show jumping, the North American Junior and Young Riders' Championship is considered a 'mini Olympics' for equestrian competitors aged 14-21.

Competing as a member of the Ontario Show Jumping Team in the Junior Championship division, Anderson left all the rails in their cups for a score of zero faults and posted a fast time of 75.13 seconds to finish second riding Papillon, her nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. Julianna Fischer representing U.S. Zone 4 had the winning time of 74.62 seconds.

"The course was very good for the first day," said Anderson, speaking of the track set by Olympic course designer Linda Allen of the United States. "There were some options so you had to decide what you were going to do, and it was difficult enough while still being very welcoming."

It is Anderson' second time competing at the Championship. Last year, she was a member of Ontario's Silver Medal Team.

"It is very different this year, we are coming in much more experienced," Anderson explained. "Papillon has another year under his belt, and I have another year under mine. That gives us a lot more confidence. Last year, we had just starting jumping at a height of 1.40m, and this year we have been successfully competing in the 1.40m and 1.45m divisions. This year, I knew he would be able to jump it, and would try his heart out."

While Anderson trains with Canadian Olympian Mac Cone in King, ON, she is receiving help at the Championship from Melissa Brown, a member of Canada's Team at the 2002 World Equestrian Games, as well as Ontario Team chef d'equipe Erynn Ballard, a former Gold Medallist at the Young Riders' Championship and the first alternate for this year's World Equestrian Games.

Anderson's 2005 Silver Medal teammate, 15-year-old Amanda Knowles of Toronto, ON, had eight faults in Thursday's opening competition riding Mill Creek Marco Taere, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Mill Creek Stables. Knowles is currently in 16th position individually while Lauren Patava, 16, of Toronto, ON, who is making her Championship debut, incurred 14 faults to finish the day in 23rd position riding Revelin.

On Friday, Anderson, Knowles and Patava will contest the Team Final, where medals are awarded following two rounds of jumping. Riders then carry their individual scores forward to Sunday's Individual Final where medals will once again be on the line.

In the Young Riders' Division, Ontario is represented by two individuals, Ashton Belcher, 19, of Manotick, ON, and Adrienne Iverson, 19, of Oakville, ON. Both young women are making their debut at the North American Junior and Young Riders' Championship.

Belcher was working on a clear round riding Karolus K, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Melissa Brown, until they knocked down the final two fences on course. The eight fault total currently places Belcher in 22nd position from a starting field of 35. Iverson was eliminated when her horse, Zerneborg, refused to jump the final obstacle on course, which was situated away from the in-gate. Both Belcher and Iverson will contest Friday's two-round Team Final competition as individuals, as their cumulative scores will determine whether they advance to Sunday's Individual Final.

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