Lexington, KY – The US show jumping riders got off to a fantastic start at the 2009 Australian Youth Olympic Festival on January 16, 2009. Led by 16-year-old Kylie Wright from Sparks-Glencoe, MD, the US filled the top two spots in the Individual Qualifier. She went first out of the 24 riders and produced one of only six clear rounds. No one went clear in the jump off but Wright, riding Pacific Wave, was the fastest of the four faulters with a time of 39.13.

Mavis Spencer, 17, from Santa Monica, CA, was right on her heels with another brilliant clear in the first round and a jump-off time of 39.46. Spencer rode Jencoyeh to her second place finish.

“Our intention was to just get a nice comfortable round in for everyone and to not think about competing until the next day's Nations Cup,” said Team Leader Jennifer Haydon. “But they were just really good today.”

Jennifer Waxman, 17, Chagrin Fall, OH, had two rails down on Shekky Express but felt confident that she learned a significant amount from her first round.

All 24 riders rode borrowed horses generously donated by their owners to use in the competition. This round was the first chance for the riders to get to compete the horses.

Taylor Land didn’t have the introduction she had hoped in the first round with Markovitch but is looking forward to taking what she learned and putting in an improved performance in tomorrow’s Nations Cup.

The four riders are being guided through their first international experience by Chef d’Equipe Dick Carvin and his wife Francie.

“I really can not imagine how a chef and coach could possibly be any better,” said Haydon. “I feel they are the reason these girls are feeling like the confident, clam, cool team that they are.”

The Nations Cup takes place tomorrow, Saturday August 17.

For complete results please see: http://www.olympics.com.au.