TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.--Zone 10 dominated the FEI North American Youth Jumping Championship on Friday, July 31, winning the gold medal in  both Young Rider and Pre-Junior categories.

Zone 10 celebrates its Young Rider Team gold medal at the FEI North American Youth Championships at Flintfields Horse Park. Zone 4 earned silver, while Zone 7 completed the podium with bronze. Photo: Natalie Suto PhotographyZone 10 riders Della White, Emmeline Adamick, Grayson Pacelli, and Cameron Trimino, led by chef d’equipe Michael Endicott, finished on 34.23.

The Zone 4 team of JJ Torano, Olivia Sweetnam, Isabelle Ehman, and Jole Kosloske, with chef d'equipe Kim Land won the silver medal on 39.28.

Zone 7 team of Eleanor Rudnicki, Philippa Ammann, Mary Rose Canterbury, and Campbell Brown, led by Chef d’Equipe Mary Ann Thomas, won the bronze medal, finishing on 41.44 penalties, just over two penalties behind second place.

“It feels great to have a gold medal, especially with Zone 10 returning as defending champions,” Adamick said “It’s a really cool feeling. I’m proud of myself and my teammates for doing so well.”

“It is an incredibly rewarding feeling to be holding the gold medal right now, especially alongside this incredible team,” Trimino said. “To represent Zone 10 is always a privilege and to have brought up my horse since he was a 7-year-old to this level, with him not having seen a course like this before and handling it so well, it’s amazing.”

 

“WE DON'T get to see team competitions very often in the U.S. so this is pretty special,” said Torano, who with Kait Meggenhofen had the only two clear trips in the first round. “We can say we’re competitors but we’re all friends outside the ring. It’s great to come to these rare team events in the United States and be able to compete with our friends.”

“What was really important for us today is that we had good communication and really wanted the best for each other,” Ehman said. “We are all friends and some of us have done teams together before. We know what to expect from one another and we know we all have our strengths and weaknesses. Knowing how to support each other and really being in communication was a big takeaway and a pro for us.”

In Pre-Junior, again under Chef d’Equipe, Michael Endicott, Zone 10 riders Grace Wahlberg, Ripley Ehrlich, Brookelyn Roy, and Vincent Lin finished on just 2 faults for the day, bringing their total team score to 7.94 penalties and winning the gold medal.

Ehrlich and Roy both jumped double-clear efforts, with Wahlberg jumping clear over all fences as well but with 2 time faults.

“Competing on a team has been really exciting because you have a support system and get to be with a group,” Ehrlich said. “But I also think it’s hard because you’re watching everyone and there is so much pressure on the last rider, and on all of us. I really liked the whole team and it was so fun to be with them.”

“I was really nervous going in but I was saying to myself that whatever happens it was still such a cool experience to ride for this team,” anchor rider Roy said. “My horse, Carlo DC Stables Z, is great; he took care of me through the course and I knew I’d be okay.”

The combined team from Zones 5, 8, and 9 with riders Campbell Cauthen, Honor Coulter, Anabelle Deyoung, and Samantha Siler won the silver medal on 8.83.

“With the combined team, we don’t really know each other because we’re from different places so it’s really about building that team spirit and being there for each other,” Cauthen said. “Campbell had a clear round and we all ran out and congratulated her. Being nice teammates to each other is really important and it strengthens the bond.”

Zone 4 won the bronze medal, with all four team members, Ryan Haselden, Sophia Segesman, Sterling Pollard, and Hailey Guidry, all going clean in round one.

In Dressage, Bennett McWhorter of Wellington, Fla. on Dalia won the individual gold medal in the FEI Junior Individual Test, earning a personal-best score of 71.059%'

Adélia Gauthier of Canada on Fayette DDS won silver with a personal-best score of 68.382%, and Lauren Polk of Atlanta, Ga. on Donauwelle P won bronze with a personal-best score of 68.000%.

“It feels incredible. It’s the culmination of our development as a team, Dalia and I," said McWhorter. "It was made possible with the help of my coach, Allie Brott. It feels really incredible to begin to have the next level of harmony in our riding as we go forward. We’ve taken a lot of time to work on the basics and improve our connection as a pair.” 

“My test felt great from the beginning until the end. I never felt that way in a ring before," said Gauthier. "She was with me; she gave all her heart, and everything was flowing. We came a long way to get that suppleness, and I think that’s probably the highlight of my ride. To everybody else, it’s probably our changes, because she has great changes.” 

“It’s amazing to come and score the best you’ve ever scored in a competition at this high level," said Polk. "Our first ride on Wednesday wasn’t the best, but we really managed to control the tension this time and just put out what we had. For today to be my personal best is really just amazing.”

Canada topped today’s Children’s Team Competition podium, posting a combined score of 207.701 to take the gold medal.

Region 1 & 6 earned silver with a combined score of 206.093, and Region 3 & 8 rounded out the podium in bronze position with 204.951.