Canadians Successful at 2005 North American Young Riders’ Championship

Canada’s show jumping, dressage and eventing riders showcased their talent at the 2005 North American Young Riders’ Championships held July 27-31 in Lexington, VA.

Kim Farlinger, 20, of Annan, ON finished fourth, only .11 faults off of the Individual Bronze Medal after dropping only one rail in each of the two rounds of competition aboard La Forza, an eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, owned by Peter Farlinger.

 “It is nothing to be disappointed about because I know that we have a great future to look forward to,” said Farlinger.

Making her Young Riders’ debut, Tonya Henning, 20, of Cambridge, ON was the only other Ontario rider to proceed to the Individual Championship Final. Riding her 10-year-old Hannoverian mare, Millcreek’s Rosalinde, Henning finished the first round with a total of 19 faults, but returned to post a clear in the second round, finishing in 17th position.

“I wanted to do better overall because I am a perfectionist, but I am not disappointed, making it to Sunday’s Final was my biggest goal,” noted Henning.

Farlinger, Henning and Asta Torokvei aboard her 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, Beringer worked together to finish seventh overall in Friday’s Team Competition.

In the Junior/Young Rider Final, the Ontario Team, comprised of Laura Kelk of North York, Mark Leyton of Stittsville, Hannah Anderson of Caledon East and Toronto native Amanda Knowles, captured the Silver Medal for the second year in a row.

In individual competition Kelk, 21, rode her eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare, Gladdis to finish with four faults in the first round, and eight in the second, securing fourth position overall with a three-day competition total of 20.01 faults.

Returning for the second time to NAYRC, Leyton, 17, put in a faultless first round aboard his 10-year old Dutch Warmblood mare, Nairobi, but incurred nine faults in the second to bring his overall total to 25 faults, putting him in sixth position.

Anderson, who at 15, is the youngest competitor on the Ontario Team placed eleventh, riding Papillon, her eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. After leading the Ontario team to its Silver Medal with a double clear effort, Anderson completed her two individual rounds with a total of 19 faults to finish 11th place.

Knowles, who at 16 years old made her NARYC debut riding her eight-year-old Selle Fraincais mare, Joconde De Sisse, after competing at the last two consecutive FEI Children’s Finals. The pair won the Junior/Young Rider Consolation Final without a jump-off after posting the only clear round.

After the Quebec Team, consisting of Melissa Marcotte, 21, of St. Nicolas, QC, Sandra Kuczynski, 21,  of North Hero, VT, Alex Moynan, 20,  of Russell, ON and Lauren Patava, 15, of Toronto, ON finished seventh in the Team Competition, Marcotte went on to a ninth place finish individually, aboard her eight-year-old Oldenburg mare Callida.

Canada’s Dressage Team, including Rebecca Elming of Uxbridge, ON, Amy McIlwham of Orleans, ON, Julie Watchorn of Schomberg, ON and Leah Wilson of Bolton, ON completed the Team Final to finish seventh overall, with Ellen Dvorak in the role of chef d’equipe.

Watchorn, at 19-years-old was competing for the second time at NAYRC, and ended the Individual competition in seventh place, with a score of 64.65%, riding her 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare Quintesse.

McIlwham, 19, ended her NAYRC debut 15th individually with a score of 62.25% aboard the eight-year-old Hannoverian stallion Marzipan, owned by Mike and Susan Nash. In the Consolation Finals, Elming, 20, also competing in her inaugural NAYRC, rode to a seventh place finish, scoring 57.611% with Lenz, a 13-year-old Bavarian Warmblood gelding owned by the Canadian Equestrian Team.

Canada’s CCI*J Eventing team, Jennifer Gray, 21, of Munster, ON, Jessica diGenova, 15, of Huttonville, ON, Noel Clark, 21, of Cochrane, AB and Samantha Forsyth, 18, of Halifax, NS brought home the Team Gold Medal after receiving a final score of 189.9, over 38 points ahead of the second place team.

In Individual competition, diGenova took an early lead, and held onto it throughout the entire competition to capture the Gold Medal with a final score of 51.9 aboard her 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Upolu. Clark, aboard Equine Canada’s 11-year-old Canadian Sport Horse gelding, Jack of Hearts finished seventh with a 68.6. Right on his heels in eighth place with a final score of 69.4 was Gray riding Falcor, her 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. Forsyth, aboard her 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, News Flash, placed 15th with a score of 86.1.

In the CCI** YR Championship, Waylon Roberts, 16, of Port Perry, ON finished 10th with a final score of 71.5 aboard 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Paleface, owned by Kelly Plitz. Close behind, in 12th place was Talia Wells, 18, of Calgary, AB riding her eight-year-old Thoroughbred mare, New Heights.

Equine Canada would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of Canada’s NAYRC competitors for their outstanding performances.