Source:  News Release

NAJYRC Daily Wrap Up: Canadian Eventing Athletes Continue to Impress

Parker, CO – Canada’s young eventing stars continued to impress at the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) on July 29, 2016, with the Ontario Junior Eventing Team following in the Young Rider team’s footsteps by taking an early lead after the initial dressage phase.

Canadians Dominating Eventing After Dressage Phase

Following the dressage phase for the CH-J 1* division, the Ontario Junior Eventing Team is at the head of the pack on a combined team score of 137.0. The Team is comprised of Ailsa Morrison (17, Belle River, ON) with Princess Sophia, Emma Johnston, (18, Uxbridge, ON) and FE Coconut Kiss, Annick Niemuller (17, Goodwood, ON) with FEI Akari and Alexis Murray (18, Barrie, ON) aboard My Principle.

Johnston is leading the Canadian team and sitting in second place individually after finishing the dressage phase with 42.3 penalties, partnered with her nine-year-old Holsteiner mare, FE Coconut Kiss (Canto x Landgraf I).

“She did everything I asked her to do out there,” said Johnston. “We did our best, and she was absolutely incredible. I couldn’t be more proud of her.”

Canada was also represented by four individuals in the CH-J 1*. Carmen Holmes-Smith cracked the top 10 individually after dressage, holding a tie for seventh place on a score of 45.90 penalties aboard Spartacus.

Both the Junior and Young Rider athletes will continue with the cross-country phase on July 30, before finishing with the jumping phase on July 31.

Top Five Finish for Ferguson in Dressage

In the FEI Young Rider Dressage Individual Test, Emily Ferguson, 21, of Winnipeg, MB, who was representing the combined Ontario/Manitoba/Alberta Team, was the top-placed Canadian individually. Partnered with her 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Wrazzmatazz (Jazz x Darwin), she finished in fifth place with a final score of 67.211%.

Lexi Ray Jumps into Third

Lexi Ray, 17, from Campbellville, ON earned an impressive third place, individually, in the Junior Team Final. Riding Carlisco (Carinue x Papillon Rouge), a 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Wolfstone Stables and Sales Inc., Ray sailed smoothly through the course, laying down a double-clear performance.

On the Docket for Day Four

Day four of competition, July 30, will see Canadians competing in all three disciplines, including the highly anticipated cross-country phase of eventing for both Junior and Young Riders, the Individual Final for Junior Dressage, the Young Rider Dressage Freestyle, and the Young Rider Jumping Individual Final.

For more information and complete results for NAJYRC, please visit www.youngriders.org.

PHOTO – On July 28, Emma Johnston of Uxbridge, ON helped the Ontario Junior Eventing Team take the lead in the CH-J 1* division after finishing second individually in the dressage phase at the 2016 Adequan/ FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) in Parker, CO.

PHOTO – Emily Ferguson of Winnipeg, MB celebrates her fifth place finish in the Young Rider Dressage Individual during the victory gallop at the 2016 Adequan/ FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) in Parker, CO on July 28.

PHOTO CREDITS – Mariangela Mazzei