Lexington, VA - Gold medals in dressage, eventing and show jumping were awarded to highlight a successful conclusion of the 2006 CN North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships (NAJYRC) at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA.

The NAJYRC is the premier equestrian competition in North America for juniors and young riders. Young equestrians come from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Islands to vie for team and individual medals in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of show jumping, dressage and eventing. This year marks the first time that fully-recognized championships for junior riders (ages 14-18) are being held along with those for young riders (ages 16-21).

Teams from all of the disciplines filled the Anderson Coliseum floor for the final medal ceremony. The National Anthems for both the U.S. and Canada were heard several times as teams stepped forward to the podium to receive their medals. The Area I and Area III team won the Team Gold in eventing’s CCI** for young riders and Area IV won the Team Gold in the CCI* for junior riders. Earlier in the week, Canada West and Region 1 won Team Gold in the young riders and junior dressage competitions. Zone 1 and the combined team of Zone 2 and Zone 5 won Team Gold in the young riders and junior show jumping team competitions.

The closing ceremonies began with the presentation of medals to the top dressage competitors. In addition to the Individual and Team awards, a Gold medal was awarded to Young Rider Musical Freestyle winner Bobbie McKee of Phoenix, AZ, with a score of 71.1% on Jamalone. The Silver medal was won by Amanda Harlan of Oakville, CA, earning 70.6% on Liberte, and Bronze went to Caroline Roffman of Wellington, FL, with 69.7% on Bulgari 5. The Junior Musical Freestyle competition was unbelievably close, with only three-tenths of a point separating the top three. Julie McKeen of Camden, ME, won the Gold medal on Heslegaard's Stravinsky with a score of 71.4% Hannah Holland Shook of Charlotte, NC, won the Silver medal with a score of 71.35% on Cape Town. Earning the Bronze medal was Amanda Stearns of Royal Palm Beach, FL, with 71.1% on Mitchell.

In eventing, Alexandra Zavoyna of Unionville, PA, jumped a fault-free show jumping round on Merloch to win the Gold medal in the CCI** Young Rider Championship with a final score of 49.2 penalties. Also jumping clear rounds today were Silver medalist Rebecca Barron of Monticello, FL, riding Oberon IV to a final score of 51.5 and Jessica DiGenova of Norval, Ontario, who won the Bronze medal on Upolu with a score of 52.1.
“This is my third year to compete at Young Riders’,” said Gold medalist Alexandra Zavoyna, “but it is only the second two-star competition for both Merloch and me. I was thrilled with his dressage, and he’s just a machine on cross-country, but all I could think about heading to my first jump this morning was (last year’s winner) Jessica [Pye] speaking at the Opening Ceremony about doing well for her horse. I just wanted to be up on that podium for Merloch.”

The Gold medal CCI** team of Area I and Area III was the only team to have every member jump without any faults on cross country and show jumping. The team of Dana Widstrand of Richmond, MA, on Relentless Pursuit, Rebecca Barron of Monticello, FL, on Oberon IV, and Kate Luce of Mobile, AL, on Fox in Flight, was also the only team without a fourth member, so each team member’s score counted toward the team total of 159.2 penalties. The Silver medal went to the team from Area II, Stephanie Boyer of West Grove, PA, on Macloud, Ashley Adams of Southern Pines, NC, on Vaunted, Emilee Libby of Sussex, NJ, on Golden Malt and Alexandra Zavoyna of Unionville, PA on Merloch with a team total of 171.2. Canada’s team from Ontario/Alberta won the Bronze medal in the CCI** with riders Waylan Roberts of Port Perry, Ontario, on Pale Face