Lexington, KY (Tuesday August 15, 2006) - The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) congratulates the FEI Junior and Young Riders who competed in dressage at the 2006 CN North American Junior and Young Riders Championships (NAJYRC), August 1-6, at the Virginia Horse Center, in Lexington, Virginia. 

USDF Region 1 won the Gold Medal in the inaugural year of the North American Junior Team Championship, with Team Canada winning the Silver Medal and USDF Region 8 Team winning the Bronze Medal.   Medal winners for the first Individual Competition were Hannah Holland Shook, USDF Region 1, riding Cape Town, winning the Gold, Julie McKean, USDF Region 1, riding Heslegaard's Stravinsky, earning the Silver, and Amanda Sterns, USDF Region 3, on Mitchell, earning the Bronze.  The top 15 moved on to compete in the Freestyle, the second Individual Competition.  The Freestyle winners were Julie McKean, USDF Region 1, winning the Gold, Hannah Holland Shook, USDF Region 1, earning the Silver and Amanda Sterns, USDF Region 3, bringing home the Bronze.  Complete results, including Team and Individual results and scores, can be found at www.youngriders.org.

The North American Young Riders Team Championship competition was close, with Team Canada West winning by less than one point.  Canada Team West earned the Gold Medal with a score of 202.489, USDF Region 2 Team won the Silver Medal with a score of 201.866 and the USDF Region 3 Team won the Bronze with a score of 201.644.  Medal winners from the Individual Competition were Pia Fortmuller, Canada West Team, on Donagna, winning the Gold, Bobbie McKee, USDF Region 5, on Jamalone earning the Silver, and Caroline Roffman, USDF Region 3, and Bulgari 5, taking the Bronze.  The top 15 from the Individual Competition qualified to compete in the Freestyle Championships.  The Freestyle Championships winners were Bobbie McKee, USDF Region 5, on Jamalone earning the Gold, Amanda Harlan, USDF Region 7, on Liberte, earning the Silver, and Caroline Roffman, USDF Region 3, riding Bulgari 5, earning the Bronze.  Complete results, including Team and Individual results and scores, can be found at www.youngriders.org.

The NAJYRC is the premier competition for FEI Junior and Young Riders, age 14-21, in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of eventing, dressage, and show jumping. Riders are invited to compete from each province of Canada, US Equestrian Federation zone (for show jumping), USDF region (for dressage), and US Eventing Association area (for eventing), as well as from Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean Islands, and Bermuda via each country's national equestrian federation.

There were two significant changes to the Dressage Championships this year.  The first was the addition of the FEI North American Junior Championships held in conjunction with the North American Young Rider Championships.  The second was a change to FEI Article 452, pertaining to prizes.  The Article now reads: "FEI Medals will be awarded for the first three teams in the Team Championships and for the first three individuals in each of the two Individual Championships."  

Founded in 1973, the United States Dressage Federation is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage. For more information about USDF membership or programs, visit www.usdf.org, email usdressage@usdf.org, or call (859) 971-2277.