Ontario Show Jumping Team Named for North American Young Riders’ Championship

Ontario has named its Show Jumping Team for the 2005 CN North American Young Riders’ Championship taking place July 26-31 at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA.

Kim Farlinger, 20, of Annan, ON, Tonya Henning, 20, of Cambridge, ON, and Asta Torokvei, 21, of Toronto, ON, will form the Ontario Championship Team. The Ontario Team has done well in recent years, earning the Team Gold at the 2003 edition of the North American Young Riders’ Championship held in Bromont, QC, and having won the Silver Medal in 2002 and 2001.

Athletes selected for the Junior/Young Rider Team include Hannah Anderson, 15, of Caledon East, ON, Laura Kelk, 21, of North York, ON, Amanda Knowles, 14, of Toronto, ON, and Mark Leyton, 17, of Stittsville, ON. Nicole Denouden, 19, of Richmond Hill, ON, will be the reserve rider. The Junior/Young Rider division allows developing riders the opportunity to experience competition at an international event, but over fences set a lower height. Held concurrently with the Championship division, the Junior/Young Rider competition is considered a ‘stepping stone’ for riders with the ability to compete at future North American Young Riders’ Championship events.

Acting as chef d’equipe of the Ontario Team will be two-time World Cup Finalist Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, ON, while Sally Sainsbury of Bond Head, ON, will act as Team Manager.

The Ontario Young Riders’ program saw a surge of interest this year with 25 athletes declaring their intention to vie for a spot on the Team. In early May, declared riders participated in a clinic with Canadian Olympic Gold Medalist Terrance Millar.

Due to the early dates of the North American Young Riders’ Championship this year, no dedicated selection trials were held for the Ontario Team. Instead, riders had the opportunity to be observed at competitions across the country by the Selection Committee consisting of David Ballard, Ian Millar, Sally Sainsbury, Beth Underhill and Chaired by Marni Von Schalburg.

First established in 1974 as an eventing challenge between Canada and the U.S., the current North American Young Riders’ Championship format is considered a ‘mini-Olympics’ for riders aged 16-21 competing in the three Olympic disciplines of dressage, eventing and show jumping. Teams and individuals representing Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. are expected to compete in this year’s event.