United States Eventing Association

The four teams fighting for a chance to earn the gold medal at the inaugural Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) CICY2* took their turns in the dressage arena today at the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, Colo. When the dust settled, it was the Canadian Team (combined Alberta and Ontario) who are sitting at the top of the leaderboard although Area III/IV are nipping on their heels with less than three points difference.

Shelby Brost and Crimson (50.2), April Simmonds and Impressively Done (50.4) and Jamie Kellock and Don’t Blink (52.6) are sitting on a combined score of 153.2. All three members are past NAJYRC competitors and both Brost and Simmonds are individual bronze medal winners. Unfortunately, the trio no longer has a drop score as the fourth member of their team, Emma Green and Raniki were eliminated for riding in an illegal bit.

“The team experience is unlike any others – that is why everyone wants to come to Young Riders,” said Brost. “Hopefully we are going to bring home the gold.”

Brost and the 13-year-old mare, Crimson, are currently the highest placed members of the team – sitting in fifth in the individual standings. “Crim is amazing. She was really great today; she gave it her all,” continued Brost. “We have been training really hard these last few weeks putting some finishing touches on. She brought all that to the ring and I am really happy with her.”

Sitting on a score of 156.0 is the combined team from Area III/IV: Elena Hengel and Say I Do (46.0), Zoe Crawford and K.E.C. Zara (53.3) and Lydia Kennedy and Double Dare (56.7).

Area IV representative, Hengel is riding two horses in the CICY2*, her own 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Zipp, and 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, Say I Do (Donovan). Hengel sits in first and second respectively in the individual standings.

“They were both incredible,” said Hengel. “Donovan was second in the ring this morning and he was really calm and was able to have a nice, consistent test. Zipp was awesome – he is always great in the dressage and I felt that he was really on today. I am really proud of both of them.”

“I was really excited that they were both sound, qualified and ready to compete. I think it is great for my mental game to be able to focus on two and not just have everything on one. I am really excited to do the cross-country course once and then to go back and have another try at it."

Hengel can only ride one of the horses on the Area III/IV team and the decision turned out to be pretty simple. “It came down to that I have to ride my team horse first and we wanted Zipp to do dressage later in the day so Donovan went on the team.”

The team from Area V/IX rounds out the top three on a combined score of 159.1 while Area VI / VIII is in fourth on a 171.5.

The CICY2* riders will have a break tomorrow before heading out on James Atkinson’s cross-country course on Saturday at 8:00 a.m. The CH-J* riders have their turn in the dressage arena at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow with rides continuing through 4:40 p.m.

Individual Scores and Team Scores

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