Di Genova Leads Individual Standings at NAYR
by Amber Heintzberger, Special Report provided by PhelpsSports.com
Lexington, VA—August 2, 2006— The first championship-level eventing competition took place today at the CN North American Junior Young Rider Championships in Lexington, VA with the dressage phase of the CCI** for Young Riders. Jessica Di Genova of Norval, Ontario, Canada, holds the lead with a score of 48.1 penalties on Upolu. Alexandra Zavoyna of Unionville, Pennsylvania, who scored 49.2 on Merloch is second, and Rebecca Barron of Monticello, Florida, who scored 51.5 on Oberon IV, is third. Ashley Adams on Vaunted is fourth with 52.3.
Adams took the early lead and was shortly usurped by Barron. Zavoyna and then Di Genova rode at the end of the day and changed the standings with impeccable rides.
Also riding Upolu, Di Genova, 16, won the non-championship, long format event at the NAYRC in 2005. The pair moved up to intermediate in Florida in February of 2005 when they were training with Olympic and World Games rider Darren Chiacchia in Ocala. They went on to win the Florida CCI** in April.
Coach Ian Roberts said of his team, “They are all great students and have been around a bit and know what they have to do. They’re not stunned by the environment.”
Rebecca Barron, 21, is a student at Holling College, only a short drive from Lexington. She said that her horse has been excited all week but that the hot weather and extra work this week seemed to help calm him down. She also competed in the two-star championship last year, but didn’t have the performance she had hoped for. This year she plans to improve on that.
In the team competition the Area II team and the combined Area I & III team are tied for first with a score of 159.2. Area V is third with 165.8.
Area II Chef d’Equipe DC McBroom said that following a training camp at The Fork in Norwood, NC, 15 horses came to the championships from Area II. “It’s a great group of girls,” she said. “We also have good representation from the whole Area this year, not just from the northern part like with did last year.”
McBroom was excited about the Junior competition being held with the Young Riders. “I love having the Juniors here,” she said. “Their competition is still a CCI and they’ve never seen anything like it; our Juniors’ eyes are bugged out; it’s great to be a part of.”
Tomorrow the CCI* for Juniors will perform their dressage tests and the long-format cross-country phase will take place early in the morning. Course builder John Wells said that they plan to start at 7:00am unless the morning fog is too dense.
Eventers are naturally concerned with the heat, since the cross-country phase can be physically taxing. Veterinarians continue to monitor the health and safety of all of the horses competing in the searing heat that has gripped the East Coast and much of the nation. Dr. Fred McCashin, the international Veterinary Delegate for the dressage competition said, "Temperatures of the competing horses were mildly elevated, as were their respirations, but the organizers have done a great job setting up a tent with misting fans and ice baths for the horses. This was well planned and well set-up and really made a difference in cooling the horses."
The forecast for Friday shows a possible break in the heat, with projected highs near 90 degrees Fahrenheit, almost 10 degrees cooler than Wednesday and Thursday.
This special report is a preview provided by PhelpsSports.com. Look for the debut of this new equestrian news website during the World Equestrian Games in August. Visit http://www.PhelpsSports.com for more information.
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