Parker, CO – Canada’s rising equestrian stars closed out the 2016 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) in Parker, CO on a high note, picking up four medals within two disciplines on July 31, the final day of competition.

 

Canadian Eventing Athletes Go for Gold

 

Canadian eventing athletes dominated the individual competition, earning gold medals in both the junior and young rider divisions, while the combined Ontario/Alberta Young Rider Eventing Team earned silver in the CICY 2* division.

 

Shelby Brost, 18, from Red Deer, AB not only won the individual gold medal in the CICY 2* division, she accomplished the impressive feat of being the only athlete in the division to finish on her dressage score of 50.2 penalties. After a clear cross-country performance on July 30, Brost and Crimson (Etta x Cojak), her 13-year-old thoroughbred mare, completed a faultless final jumping phase on July 31 to secure gold.

 

“I’m so proud of that little mare and everything she gave me in each phase this weekend,” said Brost of Crimson, who was also her partner in the CH-J 1* division at NAJYRC 2015, where she won the individual bronze medal. “Last year, unfortunately, we didn’t medal as a team, so this year it was pretty cool to stand up there with my team. I’m very proud of the girls. No dream or no goal is too big. If you want it, you can go out there and get it.”

 

Standing on the podium with Brost for the team medal was April Simmonds from Uxbridge, ON, Jamie Kellock from Newmarket, ON, and Emma Green from Alliston, ON.

 

Both Kellock and Simmonds also finished in the top 10 individually. Partnered with Don’t Blink, Kellock placed ninth on a total score of 73.0 penalties. Simmonds followed in 10^th place (94.8 penalties) aboard Impressively Done.

 

The CH-J 1* division saw Carmen Holmes-Smith, 18, from Chase, BC, take individual gold after a fault-free performance in the final jumping phase, featuring a course built by Chris Barnard. Partnered with Spartacus, an 11-year-old gelding owned by Ali Holmes-Smith, she also finished on her dressage score of 45.9, having put in a clear cross-country performance on July 30.

 

Interestingly, Holmes-Smith was in a three-way tie with Americans Haley Rosenberg and Haley Curry after cross-country. Although Rosenburg also had a clear jumping performance, Holmes-Smith’s impressive time on cross-country (finishing two seconds under the optimum time), is what ultimate clinched her gold medal.  

 

“I wasn’t expecting (the gold medal) at all; It was definitely surprising and I wouldn’t trade the moment for the world,” said Holmes-Smith. “I think my dad competed at Young Riders five times. It’s a really great feeling for it to come back around, and especially for me to medal. It was amazing to hear the Canadian anthem and be on the podium.”

 

Canada also had an impressive finish in the CH-J 1* team standings. The Ontario Junior Eventing Team, featuring Annick Niemuller from Goodwood, ON, Ailsa Morrison of Belle River, ON, and Alexis Murray from Barrie, ON finished just outside of the medals in fourth place. Their team total score of 181.8 was just 0.3 points off the score of bronze medalists, US Area VI who finished with 181.5 penalties. US Area I earned gold (150.7), while US Area III finished in the silver medal spot (160.8).

 

Individually, Niemuller finished fifth overall after lowering just one rail in the final jumping phase for a total score of 47.5 penalties aboard FE Akari.

 

More Medals for Vanessa Creech-Terauds 

 

In the FEI Junior Rider Freestyle Dressage Test, Vanessa Creech-Terauds of Caistor Centre, ON, earned her second silver medal in as many days, having also received the silver medal in the Junior Individual Dressage Test on July 30.

 

Creech-Terauds rode Fleur de Lis L (First Dance x De Niro), a seven-year-old Hanoverian mare owned by Diane Creech and Louise Leatherdale, to a score of 70.550% in the Freestyle, putting her a mere eight-tenths behind American gold medalist, Jenna Upchurch and Greystoke.

 

“What a wonderful experience,” said Creech-Terauds of her time competing in Colorado. “This is my third year coming to NAJYRC and my first time winning an individual medal. Winning two is just the icing on the cake.”

 

As the only Canadian in the Freestyle category, Creech-Terauds admitted she felt a bit of pressure, but attributed her finish to the bond she shares with Fleur de Lis L.

 

“I am so thankful and over the moon,” she said. “Fleur just gave it her all today. She really stayed with me the whole week, especially today with the music. She got a little amped up, but she stayed completely focused. We have such a great connection and a great bond when riding together, and I think that really showed through all week.”

 

Canada’s Medal Count

 

Canada’s next generation of equestrian athletes held their own throughout NAJYRC 2016, finishing on a final medal count of two gold, four silver and one bronze. Equestrian Canada would like to congratulate the entire Canadian team, and commend them for their hard work and dedication.

 

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

PHOTO - Carmen Holmes-Smith and her 11-year-old gelding, Spartacus delivered a flawless performance in the final jumping phase of the CH-J 1* eventing division to claim the individual gold medal on July 31 at the 2016 Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships in Parker, CO.

 

 

PHOTO – Partnered with Crimson, Shelby Brost from Red Deer, AB was the only athlete to finish on her dressage score in the CIC-Y 2* eventing division on July 31, bringing home the individual gold medal from 2016 Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships in Parker, CO.

 

 

PHOTO – Ontario/Alberta Young Rider Eventing Team members, Jamie Kellock, Emma Green, April Simmonds and Shelby Brost, landed on the podium in the silver medal position in the CIC Y2* division at the 2016 Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships on July 31.

 

 

PHOTO – Vanessa Creech-Terauds and Fleur de Lis L picked up a second silver medal at the 2016 Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships after scoring  70.550% in the Junior Freestyle on July 31 in Parker, CO.

 

PHOTO CREDITS – Mariangela Mazzei