United States Eventing Association

With none of the overnight top three CH-J* riders finishing the cross-country course today, the leaderboard was shuffled quite a bit at the 2016 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) in Parker, Colo. Twenty-six of the 44 pairs jumped double clear around James Atkinson’s cross-country course including Annick Niemuller and FE Akari who rose from fourth to sit at the top of the standings heading into tomorrow’s show jumping.

“Akari felt incredible the entire way around the course,” said Niemuller of her 9-year-old German Sport horse gelding. “We had one sketchy moment at the coffin, but he jumped everything that I put in front of him and he galloped which is a big deal for him because he usually likes to just canter around the cross-country course looking pretty. I was really impressed with him today – he was a tank.”

Niemuller, who is a member of the third-placed Team Ontario, does not have a rail in hand heading into tomorrow’s show jumping, but she is confident in Akari’s ability. “He is a great jumper and very careful,” said Niemuller. “He likes when you come forward at the jumps – not bury him – but get him a little closer. Since I have had him we have had a very strong show jumping record, so I am going to hold onto that and ride him well tomorrow.”

Riding as an individual representing Area VIII, Lee Camiolo and her 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Caharron V.E. added no penalties to their dressage score to move into second on the leaderboard.

“Caharron did really well with the course, he held a consistent pace the whole way through and the ditch and wall rode surprisingly well,” said Camiolo.

The three riders sitting on 45.9 following yesterday’s dressage, Haley Rosenberg and Evil Munchin, Haley Curry and Resolute Protector and Carmen Holmes-Smith and Spartacus, all put in double clear rounds across the country to move up into a three-way tie for third.

The dressage leaders were all the anchor riders for their respective teams and went in the last cycle of team riders. Makenna Rold and Fernhill Imperial were eliminated for too many refusals and then second-placed FE Coconut Kiss stumbled in the water at 13b, and Emma Johnston fell off her horse, opening the door for Megan Traynham and Lord Lombardi. Traynham was stopped by the Ground Jury before the final water and assessed a dangerous riding penalty.

“Today an instance of dangerous riding was observed by the ground jury and the ground jury, acting within its scope and authority, stopped the rider on course accordance with the rules,” explained the Ground Jury. “Bearing in mind the importance of the rider and welfare and safety of the horse.”

Area I CH-J* team. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photos.

The quartet of girls from Massachusetts representing Area I made an impressive climb up the leaderboard to take over the gold medal spot from Team Ontario. Erica Jarrell and Uni Sprite, Katie Lichten and RF Luminati and Cornelia Dorr and Sir Patico MH all jumped double-clear rounds, so when anchor rider Madeline Lichten and Yarrow jumped the CICY2* coffin instead of the CH-J* coffin and was technically eliminated, the team was still safe with a solid score of 146.7.

“There was definitely pressure,” said Madeline when asked about being on a team. “But the support from the team was also amazing. I felt pretty bad that I messed up today, but everyone was so nice about it so it made me feel so much better.”

Madeline’s sister, Katie was one of the teammates to put in a clear round and praised the course design. “I thought the beginning of the course was really big and bold which set the tone for a good ride throughout the course. All of the questions were fair and you had to just not take anything for granted out there, but I thought it was really fun and my horse was just amazing.”

“The course rode really well,” said highest placed team member, Dorr. “It was definitely super fun and Hugo was very bold around which I wasn’t quite expecting. He was super and honest.”

Area III was the only team to bring home all four riders double clear and Mikensey Johansen and Grey Prince, Carson Richards and Fernhill Mr. Cool, Parker Miller and What Law and Haley Curry and Resolute Protector moved up into the silver medal slot.

Rounding out the top three is Team Ontario, who unfortunately dropped from the top spot with Johnston’s fall and Alexis Murray’s stop and time penalties. They are currently sitting on a 169.8.

Area V/IX CICY2* Team. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photos.

The CICY2* wasn’t immune for a leaderboard shake-up either with only four of the 15 riders finishing double clear. Overnight leader and second-placed rider, Elena Hengel dropped to third after picking up 9.6 time penalties with Zipp and 13th with her Area IV team horse, Say I Do for two refusals. When Alyssa Phillips and Bliss III picked up 13.6 time penalties it opened up the door for her Area V teammate, Clara Cargile to move into the lead with John and Nancy Cargile’s 16-year-old gelding, White Indian.

“It is really exciting,” said Cargile about her leading position. “I have never led at Young Riders. I usually climb from the bottom, so it is cool. We work so hard to get here, so to be in medal position is exciting because you hard work paid off. There is light at the end of the tunnel.”

Cargile and White Indian are no strangers to the Colorado Horse Park cross-country course, having won the CIC2* at the June event. “He was really good today,” said Cargile. “I was really impressed with him. He was a little strong, but whenever I told him to come back he came back. I was here in June and it was a similar track and I was a little nervous about doing it again, but he was a superstar out there.”

“Tomorrow I will just try to ride my best,” said Cargile who doesn’t even have a time penalty in hand for tomorrow’s show jumping. “He is usually pretty good if I don’t mess up. I will help him out as best I can.”

Shelby Brost and Crimson, her own 13-year-old Thoroughbred mare, kept a clean slate today to move up three spots into second. “There was a litte bit of carnage out there so it was a little nerve-wracking in warm-up,” said Brost. “My coach, Kyle Carter, came up to me and said ‘you need to get it done’. That is essentially what we did. It wasn’t my prettiest round, but we got it done and I am really proud of her.”

“Show jumping is definitely her favorite [phase],” continued Brost. “She is kind of a freak in the show jumping so I just have to hold on and stay out of her way.”

Dressage may not have gone to plan for the combined team from Area V/IX, but cross-country launched them into a good lead. Cargile, Phillips and Madeline Backus aboard P.S. Arianna are sitting on 183.7.

“Coming from Area IX, we have a very small area so I am not always on teams so it has been really fun to be on one,” said Backus of her two Area V teammates.

Area VI / VIII (Josey Thompson/Pistol Annie; Margaret Ragaon/Surefire’s Anwar; Woods Baughman/Montesquieu; Cheslea Kolman/Dauntless Courage) moved from fourth to second on a 188.8.

Team Ontario/Alberta dropped from first to third on a 208.

The final day of the 2016 NAJYRC will kick off bright and early with the second veterinary inspection. Show jumping will start at 10:30 a.m. with the medals being awarded at 2:30 p.m.

Individual Scores and Team Scores

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