Officials Announced for 1999 North American Young Riders' Championships, Presented by State Line Tack

Wadsworth, IL-May 31, 1999-The Organizing Committee of the 1999 North American Young Riders' Championships (NAYRC), Presented by State Line Tack, has announced the list of international judges and technical delegates who will officiate this year.

The 1999 NAYRC takes place at Tempel Farms in Wadsworth, IL on August 10-15. At the NAYRC, Young Riders age 16-21 compete in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of Show Jumping, Dressage, and Eventing. The competition is run under rules of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI).

"We are pleased to host the finest judges and officials from around the world," stated Howard Simpson, the NAYRC Director. "The NAYRC is the first step on the road to international success for Young Riders. In order to promote and train these equestrians, we must offer the best footing, courses, facilities, and management we can, and provide the finest officials available."

In Dressage, the President of the Ground Jury is Lt. Col. Axel Steiner of the United States and the Technical Delegate is Mrs. Maribell Alonso de Quinzanos of Mexico. Members of the Ground Jury include Mrs. Hanne Valentin of Denmark, Mrs. Lorraine McDonald of Canada, and Mrs. Janet Brown-Wysocki of the United States. Mrs. Anne Gribbons of the United States will serve as Reserve. The Organizer is Mr. George Williams of Wadsworth, IL.

For Show Jumping, the President of the Ground Jury is Mr. Jorge Verswyvel-Villamizar of Columbia and Mr. Guilherme Norgueira Jorge of Brazil is the Technical Delegate. Mr. Douglas Catto of Canada and Mrs. Chrystine W. Tauber of the United States are Members of the Ground Jury. Mr. Juan Carlos Tafur Eisenmayer of Columbia is the Course Designer and Mr. David Distler of Norwalk, CT is the Organizer.

Mrs. Cara Whitham of Canada is President of the Ground Jury for Eventing.

Members of the Ground Jury include Mr. Jack LeGoff and Mrs. Sally A. O'Connor of the United States. Mr. Neil Clinton of Australia is the Technical Delegate. The Cross-Country Course Designer is Mr. Derek di Grazia of the United States and Mrs. Sally Ike of the United States is the Show Jumping Course Designer. Mr. Geoffrey Morgan of Canada is in charge of 3-Day Control. The Organizer is Mr. Michael Deutsch of Wadworth, IL.

The Chief FEI Steward is Maj. Gen. Jonathan R. Burton of the United States. Dr. Catherine Kohn, DVM of the United States is the President of the Veterinary Committee. The President of the Appeals Committee is Mr. John H. Fritz of the United States.

The NAYRC began in 1974 as an eventing challenge between the United States and Canada. A Dressage Championship was added in 1981, and Show Jumping was added in 1982. The first complete NAYRC was held in British Columbia, Canada in 1982. Tempel Farms, home of the world's largest private herd of Lipizzan horses, has been a frequent host of the Championships through the 1980s and 1990s. The 1998 NAYRC was hosted by High Prairie Farms in Parker, Colorado.

Many of the world's top equestrians began their international careers at the NAYRC including Olympic Silver Medalists Greg Best and Karen O'Connor. McLain Ward, the 1998 American Grandprix Association Rider of the Year, Tiffani Loudon, the 1998 Rolex USET Three Day Event Spring Champion, and international equestrian competition veterans such as Alison Firestone, Chris Kappler, Abigail Lufkin, Buck Davidson, Kathleen Raine, and Heather Mason also rode in the NAYRC.

Tempel Farms will also host a new competition at the 1999 NAYRC, the Finish Line Team Challenge. Presented in conjunction with ACORD (American Competition Opportunities for Riders with Disabilities), the Finish Line Team Challenge at the NAYRC is a competition for young riders with physical or mental disabilities. Each rider in the Finish Line Team Challenge will perform a Dressage ride set to music. Their scores will be combined with NAYRC participants (one Show Jumper, one Dressage competitor, and one Eventer) for the overall championship in the Finish Line Team Challenge.

For more information about the North American Young Riders' Championships, please call (508) 698-6810.

NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Marty Bauman (508) 698-6810, Classicomm@aol.com