Lexington, KY (August 17, 2007) - The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) and Platinum Performance congratulate the juniors and young riders who competed at the USDF/Platinum Performance North American Junior and Young Riders Dressage Championships August 1-5, 2007 in Lexington, VA.  This is the premier competition for FEI Juniors and Young riders age 14-21. Riders are invited to compete from each province of Canada, United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) zone (for show jumping), USDF region (for dressage), and US Eventing Association area (for eventing), as well as from Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean Islands, and Bermuda via each country's national equestrian federation.
          US riders took home 27 out of 36 medals in the Junior and Young Riders' Dressage division. Region 7 (Liberte/Amanda Harlan, Luciano/Emily Tears, Rockette DG/ Jaclyn Meinen, and Diamo 10/Crystalyn Hoffman) won the Young Rider Team Gold, Region 2 (Cinbad /Brittany McCarthy, Woody Allen/Noel Williams, Gabriella/Kassandra Barteau, and Othello/Lauren Walfish) took home the Team Silver, and Region 3 (Douwe/Devon Kane, Rigaudon/Caroline Roffman, Lipton/ Kayce Redmond, and Palladio/Jamie Gillispie) won the Team Bronze.  Douwe /Devon Kane, (Region 3) won the Young Rider Individual Gold Medal, the Silver Medal went to Elektra /Alexandra Duncan, (Canada Group A), and the Bronze to Gabriella /Kasandra Barteau(Region 2). Canadian horse and rider combinations swept the Freestyle, winning all three medals. The Gold went to Elektra/ Alexandra Duncan, Silver to Westside Lady/Leah Wilson and the Bronze to Dobble Tyme /Julie Watchorn.  The Canadian Junior team (Mastermind/Jade Deter, Fleurina /Jaimie Holland, Danika/Sara Regehr, and Oslo/Lindsay Seidel-Wassenaar) won the Gold Medal, Region 2 (Ramses/ Kristen Becker, Sacramento/Katie Foster, Gable/ Allesandra McGinnis, and Sjoerd/Ashlee Todosijevic) won the Silver, and the Bronze went to Region 1(Magie Noir/ Bonnie Efird, Polomas/Elizabeth Kelemen, Nelzon/Jillian Kemenosh, and Lascar/Nicole DelGiorno). The Junior Individual Gold Medal went to Mastermind/Jade Deter (Canada), the Silver to Ramses/ Kristen Becker (Region 2), and the Bronze to Jonkara/ Mackinzie Pooley (Region 7). The Junior Freestyle gave Mastermind/Jade Deter their third Gold Medal, Ramses/Kristen Becker their third Silver Medal, and Jonkara/ Mackenzie Pooley their second Bronze Medal. A complete list of US results may be found on the USDF Web site at www.usdf.org. 
          Alexandra Duncan and her mare Electra from West Vancouver, BC were awarded this year's Fiona Baan "The Pursuit of Excellence" perpetual trophy. The USDF presents this award to the young rider in the dressage portion of the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships who receives the highest average percentage score for all three of their dressage rides:  Team, Individual and Freestyle.
          "The Pursuit of Excellence" is the legacy Fiona Baan left to all the FEI Young Riders, and indeed to everyone who ever knew or worked with her. For nearly 30 years Ms. Baan worked tirelessly with great dedication to the United States Equestrian Team (USET). She was US Dressage Team leader for the 1976 Olympics, in which the US won the Bronze Medal, the 1987 Pan Am Games, and for the Bronze Medal dressage team at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.
          The trophy resides in the Roemer Foundation/ USDF Hall of Fame, and has been awarded since 1994.

Founded in 1973, the United States Dressage Federation is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage. For more information about USDF membership or programs, visit www.usdf.org, email [email protected], or call (859) 971-2277.