Press Releases - 7.16.2004
It’s official: four riders have emerged from the incredible Region 2 Young Rider talent pool to be named to the region’s 2004 North American Young Rider Championships team. The team is Stacy Gormley and Fidelis 9, Kaitlyn Hamilton and Noviembre, Lauren Sprieser and Bellinger and Alison Bush and Entheos; Jessica Kissel and Numerique are the Alternates.
Stacy Gormley, 20, of Grand Rapids, Michigan brought her Rhienlander gelding, Fidelis, over from Germany as a 5-year-old. Now 8 years old, Fidelis led the Region in his first YR season, with a strong showing at Waterloo, Paxton Farm and major accomplishments over the winter season in Florida. Stacy and Fidelis hope to continue working with the goal next season being to show I-2 or Grand Prix. Stacy will be going into her junior year of college at Florida Atlantic University; this season, she earned a 65.548% qualifying average.
Katie Hamilton, 18, of Oxford, Michigan is also a Young Rider rookie, but is no stranger to competitive dressage. In 2003, she and Noviembre, her 8 yr. Dutch gelding, were a formidable force at the FEI Junior level. In 2001, she was a member of the Silver medal winning team at the North American Junior Dressage Championships, and placed 8th individually. A USDF Bronze and Silver medalist, Katie studies Nursing at Grand Valley University, MI, and earned a 65.362% qualifying average this season.
Lauren Sprieser, 19, of Chicago, Illinois is a veteran Young Rider. In 2003, she and her 12 yr. Trakehner gelding, Bellinger, were members of the Bronze Medal winning team at the NAYRC in Bromont, Quebec. In the past two years, the pair has held major wins at Silverwood, Lamplight, Tempel Farms, Westchester-Fairfield CDI*** (NY) and Paxton Farm, with one High Point and two Reserve wins, all in the Open division. A USDF Bronze and Silver medalist and Shining Star sportsmanship award winner, Lauren is studying Public Policy at Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, NY. They earned a 65.186% qualifying average this year.
Alison Lee Bush, 20, of Elmhurst, Illinois completes the team. In 2001, Alison and Entheos, Kathy Klammer’s 16 yr. Swedish stallion, earned a Regional Championship win at Intermediare I and a Reserve finish at Prix St. Georges, and were 8th in the Region 2 Young Rider standings. After a break from showing to focus on her studies – Child Development and Cognitive Studies at Vanderbilt University, TN – Alison is back in the saddle, and earned a 65.167% qualifying average for the season.
The Region 2 riders have history on their side – the region has earned five Team and three Individual Gold Medals since Dressage came to NAYRC in 1981. In 2003, Region 2 took home Team Bronze and Individual Silver in Bromont, Canada; in 2002, the team took double gold. This year’s team ranks a near 4th in the qualifying standings, and the individuals’ averages are the 13th, 15th, 16th and 17th highest in the nation, respectively.
The North American Young Rider Championships are the premier equestrian event for riders 16-21 in the Western Hemisphere. Riders from teams across the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America vie for medals in the three Olympic disciplines – Dressage, Eventing and Stadium Jumping. The event will run August 10-15 at Tempel Farms in Wadsworth, IL.
Fun facts:
- In 2004, 20 riders on 23 horses declared intent to qualify for the 4-member Region 2 team. In total, 10 horse/rider combinations are eligible for the event – a huge number, considering several regions across the nation have only one eligible rider, or none at all. Region 2 boasts the most young riders within its borders.
- Region 2 riders range from 17 to 21 years old, and almost all are full-time high school or college students. The riders herald from five states – six riders from Illinois, five each from Michigan and Ohio, and two each from Indiana and Wisconsin.
- The most common name amongst Region 2 riders is Kate, in various shapes and forms. This is the second year the name Kate has dominated the Region; in 2001, the most common name was Lauren.
- Three NAYRC team members – Lauren Sprieser and Alison Bush of Region 2, and Katherine Cook of Region 8, grew up together, and started riding together at the same facility outside Chicago, Oak Brook Farms, more than 10 years ago.
The Region 2 Advanced Junior/Young Rider website can be found at http://themusewithin.org/region2ajrayr/; keep your eye on the site for more AJr/YR fundraising and competition news!
Back to Press Releases
Questions, comments, concerns, donations? Contact Lauren, the webdiva.
