America's young dressage talent will descend upon Wayne, Ill. for the 2015 U.S. Dressage Championships from 20 - 23 August 2015. This annual competition will include three days of top notch competition across four divisions. These championships include the Under 25 '‘Brentina Cup’ Championship and Championships for Pony, Junior and Young Riders.
Under 25 Brentina Cup
A field of 10 combinations will line-up on Friday to contest the Young Rider Grand Prix 16-25 Test which will account for 50% of their final score. A champion will be named following the Intermediaire II Test on Sunday.
Chase Hickock (Wellington, Fla.) and Sagacious HF currently sit on top of the Young Adult ranking list as they enter their first US Under 25 Championship. The pair is fresh off a summer in Europe where they trained and competed as part of the USEF Developing Dressage Program and looks to feed off the success gained earlier this spring when they collected 10 consecutive wins in CDIU25 competition. Hickock will face a strong field that includes veteran Young Rider graduates including, Catherine Chamberlain and her own Verdicci. Chamberlain also spent the summer in Europe as part of the USEF Dressage Young Rider European Tour.
Young Riders Championship
Eight of the nation’s best young riders will be tested as they go head-to-head for the Young Rider Championship title. They begin Friday with the Young Rider Team Test and finish Saturday with the Young Rider Individual Test.
With nearly a full field of new riders to the Young Rider National Championship, top-ranked Natalie Pai (Wellington, Fla.) and Melanie Pai’s Fritz San Tino will face stiff competition from a field that includes multiple accomplished combinations. Contesting the title will also be Lindsey Holleger (Whigham, Ga.), with Dayle and Lindsey Holleger’s Friedenfurst, the 2013 Junior Individual Gold medalists at the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships presented and four-time NAJYRC Gold medalist Catherine Chamberlain (Murrieta, Calif.) with Kimberly Pribble’s Avesto van Weltevreden.
Junior Rider Championship
Eleven of the top junior dressage athletes will go down centerline on Friday in the Junior Team Test as they battle it out for the chance to win the Junior Championship. They will conclude on Saturday with the Junior Individual Test.
Top-ranked Mickayla Frederick (Johnston, Iowa), the 2013 USEF Dressage Seat Medal Final 14-18 Champion, and her and Robert Susa’s Wrainier Q will face tough competition from the field that includes three former Pony Riders: Kristen Counterman (Ashburn, Va.) and Caroline Stephens’ Three Times, Madelyn Guthrie (Westmont, Ill.) and Alison Lee Bush and Lael Laning’s Tannehauser, and Asia Ondaatje Rupert and her own Twelfth Night. Remarkably absent from the Nationals is junior rider Barbara Davis, who won kur gold at the 2015 North American Junior Riders Championships one month ago.
Pony Rider Championship
The Pony Rider Championship will begin on Saturday with the Pony Team Test featuring eight combinations. They will wrap up on Sunday with the Pony Individual Test.
Top-ranked Allison Nemeth (Flemington, N.J.) is out to claim victory with her own Pablo S. In addition to performing in the Junior Rider Championship, Counterman will compete in this Championship as well with her own Esperanza.
Photo © Sue Stickle
Related Links
Davis and Moreira Laliberte Win Kur Gold at 2015 North American Junior/Young Riders Championships
McNulty and Pai Win Individual Test Gold at 2015 North American Junior/Young Riders Championships
Ontario and US's Region 7 Win Team Gold at 2015 North American Junior/Young Riders Championships