On 10 - 12 May 2013 the international youth riders competition CDI-JYR Ryazan was hosted on premises of the equestrian centre Wiktoria in Ryazan, a large city of 500,000 peopl 200 km south of Moscow. The event was staged in memory of Dr. Elena Petushkova, Russia's most successful dressage rider ever.
The Ryazan riding centre is exactly located in Sergiejewka, 8km from the town centre and it well know for its very good conditions for both horse and competitors. At present there are major plans of enlarging the dressage centre there but so far modern stables have already been built for horses. The facility boasts individual stalls with adjoining paddocks, a gigantic indoor hall of 50 x 100 m, an outdoor arena with high quality footing as well as a hotel, restaurant, and mini zoo to have the smallest children in mind who would visit the centre. So far only a national competition has been held there, and this year the CDI-JYR was the first international event.
Riders from Russia and Belarus gathered at this venue and were responsible for two well-filled divisions. Twenty-five young riders and thirty-four juniors rallyed at the event, which serves as one of the qualifiers in preparation for the 2013 European Junior and Young Riders Championships in Compiegne, France, in the summer. The first Russian JR-YR qualifier took place at the end of April in Minsk.
Tough competition took place in the junior division between Viktoria Kuprianova on Ubid'or and Anna Aristova on two horses, Shania and Lafite. While Anna Aristova won the team test, Viktoria Kuprianowa dominated the individual and kur. She stood out with very smooth half passes. Performing strongly as well were Aleksander Zhogin on Radclife and Valeria Simonova on Aphrodite, a horse with very good gaits but quite difficult to ride.
"It is worth nothing the very good training of juniors coming from the Ratomka/Mińsk riding centre," said judge Wojtek Markowski. "The presentation of their horses, even those of not such great quality, was most correct with what we prefer to see in the dressage arena."
Only Russians took part in the young riders category, with a strong top five that challenged each other in the three tests. Alyona Kvashina was the most consistent and won the team test and individual and ranked third in the kur.
The competition was in memory of Dr. Elena Petushkovej, the gold medal winner at the Munich Olympic Games, but she was a trail blazer for dressage in Russia. The Russian Equestrian Federation is renewing its efforts in promoting youth riders to move up the levels to Grand Prix.
This year's competition was very efficiently organized with its typical Russian hospitality. The hosts are planning to widen their offer next year and also organize a CDI 3* competition * as well as the CDI-JYR in 2014. Additionally the centre will be building a new training arena with similar dimensions as the competition ring as well as permanent competition stables.
Related Links
Scores: 2013 CDI-JYR Ryazan
Scores: 2013 CDI Minsk
2013 CDI Minsk Boasts Huge Field of Competitors and Top Quality Competition