Jessica Di Genova and Upolu won the Individual Gold Medal at the 2007 North American Young Riders' Championship in Lexington, VA. Photo by Anthony Trollope/EWBNews.com

August 10, 2007 – Lexington, Virginia – Canadian eventing athlete Jessica Di Genova, coached by United States Equestrian Team member Darren Chiacchia, claimed Individual Gold and Team Bronze Medals at the CN North American Young Riders' Championship held July 31 to August 5, 2007, in Lexington, Virginia.

Representing Ontario, Di Genova led the eventing competition from start to finish in the two-star Championship division winning not only the Individual Gold Medal, but also leading Ontario to the Team Bronze for the second consecutive year. Riding Upolu, her 17-year-old grey Dutch Warmblood mare, Di Genova incurred 46.40 penalty points in the opening phase of dressage. She then added only four time penalties to her score to maintain her lead following Saturday's cross-country phase.

"It was the best dressage test that I have ever had in the four years I have been competing her. We were the only pair to score in the 40's," said Di Genova, who won Individual and Team Bronze Medals in 2006. "I had a day off and felt good for cross-country. The course rode really well, it was a true championship course and it had questions that tested the riders' abilities as well as the horses. I found it required a forward, aggressive ride to get around clean. I did have a few time faults, but that occurs frequently with my mare, so it was nice that I had a good lead after dressage to be able to afford those penalties."

At the end of Saturday's cross-country phase, Di Genova maintained her place at the top of the leader board with a score of 50.40. She and Upolu posted one of only three clear rounds in the third and final phase of show jumping on Sunday to add nothing to her score and win the Individual Gold Medal. With a score of 62.20, Nate Chambers of the U.S. won the Silver Medal riding Rolling Stone II while another American, Kirsten Selvig, claimed the Bronze with a score of 63.60 riding Ruse de Guerre.

"I like to be under pressure to do well and meet my expectations. Going into the stadium jumping, my horse felt tired and I felt flustered for some reason, but I galloped into the ring and we managed to pull off a double clear round," said Di Genova, 17, who retired Upolu from competition following her Gold Medal victory. "My horse was spectacular, she was so willing. I could not have asked for more from her."

A student at MacLachlan College in Oakville, ON, Di Genova began training with Chiacchia in the winter of 2006 at his Independence Farm with bases in Ocala, FL, and Springville, NY. For the past two years, Di Genova has spent February through May training with Chiacchia in Florida before returning home to Norval, ON. A couple of small competitions in Canada followed by a trip to Chiacchia's Buffalo base before the North American Young Riders' Championship has proven to be a successful formula for Di Genova over the past two years.

"Last year she was third so it was great to come back this year and win. Jessica put in a super effort, and to get the horse through the competition was a great accomplishment. She is a very committed, determined girl and she is very competitive; she wants to go out there and win. She sets her mind on her goals and sticks to it, and she has developed a good relationship with this horse. She is always gracious when things go her way and is quick to recognize everyone who helped her get there, especially her parents," said Chiacchia, who has represented the United States in Olympic, World Championship, and Pan American Games competition.

In fact, Chiacchia had only just returned home from competing at his second consecutive Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, where he placed fourth individually, before heading to Lexington, VA, to coach Di Genova. However, Chiacchia noted that being out of the country for two weeks prior to the North American Young Riders' Championship had no bearing on Di Genova's preparation.

"There is very little I am going to do the week before the competition that is going to change the result. It is all about the long-term plan that you have been on; it is the homework that gets you there," says Chiacchia of his approach to coaching. "I try to be very thorough in the preparation."

Chiacchia coaches approximately 12 young riders on a regular basis as well as several more that he helps on occasion. In addition to Di Genova, Chiacchia also coaches Brett Elise Handy of New Mexico, who was a member of the Gold Medal Team at this year's Young Riders' Championship.

Of her coach, Di Genova says, "Darren takes it so seriously and he says all the right things. I need a coach that gives me confidence, and he is just the type of coach that I need. Darren helped me a lot, and I owe him so much for helping me to get this far. I thank him and my parents for my success."

Renowned for his coaching abilities as well as his skills as one of the nations' leading riders, Chiacchia owns Independence Farm and divides the year between his training facilities in Ocala, FL, and Springville, NY, just outside of Buffalo. In addition to operating one of the country’s top eventing breeding, training and sales barns, Chiacchia is committed to the improvement of the sport and volunteers his expertise on several committees of the United States Eventing Association. He enjoys the support of several sponsors including Purina, Merial (UlcerGard), Charles Owen, Antares, County Saddlery, EquiFit, Inc., Back On Track, and Tally Ho.