Vanessa Creech-Terauds scores individual silver in NAYC Dressage

The maple leaf was once again raised behind the podium on Aug. 3, 2019, at the Adequan/FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC) presented by Gotham North at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY.

Vanessa Creech-Terauds Boasts Silver Medal in Dressage Young Riders Individual Competition

Vanessa Creech-Terauds of Caistor Centre, ON, earned her second silver medal of NAYC 2019 in the Dressage Young Riders Individual Competition. This represents the sixth medal in an impressive NAYC collection: as a Junior, she earned the silver team medal in 2014, team gold in 2015, and silvers in the 2016 individual and freestyle competitions. Now at Young Riders level at 19 years old, Creech-Terauds helped secure the 2019 team silver in on Aug. 1 before repeating the result as an individual.

Creech-Terauds was the last competitor of the 27 who entered the ring. Astride Fleur de Lis L (First Dance x De Niro), a 10-year-old Hanoverian owned by Diane Creech and Louise Leatherdale, the nerves that had built up during the day disappeared and Creech-Terauds turned her full attention to the task at hand.

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“Last rider in is always a great and fun position to be in; it’s a little bit suspenseful, but I love the pressure,” said Creech-Terauds. “Once I get on Fleur, all the nerves go away and I can really just focus on her and rely on that partnership. In the end, whether you’re going into the ring last or first, you try your best and whatever happens, happens.”

What ended up happening for Creech-Terauds and Fleur de Lis L was a harmonious test that highlighted the pair’s connection and precision, culminating in a score of 71.029%. Speaking to the chestnut mare’s performance, Creech-Terauds commented, “I was really happy with her tempis – they’ve been coming really good and felt super – and her extensions. She and I really went for it today, especially in her canter, and I feel like our pirouettes have just become so solid lately. She knows her job, loves her job, goes in the ring and does what she does best.”

Creech-Terauds continued, “I’m absolutely ecstatic, it’s the best feeling in the entire world. After my rides were done, I was literally shaking with joy two days ago and today. Fleur and I have made such progress together, and I cannot thank her owner and my sponsor, Louise, enough for partnering me with this mare because it has been the best experience of my life. She has been my favourite horse in the whole world.”

The gold medal title stayed with 2018 Individual Competition champions, Callie Jones and Don Philippo of US Region 2, on 72.647%, while Kayla Kadlubek and Perfect Step of US Region 1 completed the podium in the bronze position with 70.353%.

In addition to bringing home her second silver, Creech-Terauds advanced to the last medal opportunity in the Young Riders Freestyle, which will be held on Aug. 4. Several other Canadian Young Riders also qualified for the Freestyle as part of the top 18, including Camille Carier Bergeron of Mascouche, QC. While the name of her mount may be Sound of Silence 4 (San Amour I x Limes), the cheers that arose at the announcement of the duo’s marks were anything but quiet. The 19-year-old command the powerful energy of Gilles Bergeron’s striking 11-year-old Westphalian gelding to a score of 69.353% for fourth.

Annie Coward, 19, of Calgary, AB, and Diolita DN (Tango KWPN x Glendale), the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare she co-owns with Carole Coward, also made the cut in 12th place (66.029%). NAYC 2018’s Junior Freestyle gold medal winner, Chase Robertson, 17, of Calgary, AB, followed right behind riding the 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding she co-owns with Teresa van Lambalgen, Diplomat 105 (Don Schufro x Rubinstein), to 13th (65.471%). Sophie Dean-Potter, 21, of Caledon, ON, will be the final Canadian representative in the Freestyle aboard Ribot (Reno x Cor Noir), Carla Bahr’s 17-year-old Oldenburg gelding, with whom she placed 16th (64.823%).

While 17-year-old Claire Robinson of Edmonton, AB, just made the Freestyle threshold in 18th place on a score of 63.147% riding Glamour Boy (Bojengel x Jazz), an eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Carol Robinson, her time at NAYC 2019 unfortunately ended with the Individual Competition: only three members per team are allowed to compete in the Freestyle, and Carier Bergeron, Coward and Robertson populated the spots allotted to Team Alberta/Quebec.

Third for Junior Jumper Charlotte McLaughlin in Farewell Competition

Charlotte McLaughlin of Ottawa, ON, closed out her NAYC 2019 experience with a third place finish in the combined Junior and Young Riders Farewell Competition. The 15-year-old piloted Millar Brooke Farm’s Dublin (sired by Ugano Sitte), a 10-year-old Belgian Sport Horse gelding, through a speedy round in 67.65 seconds with a solitary rail at jump #7, a square oxer that also spelled disaster for the following two competitors.

“I actually haven’t had Dublin for that long, I only got him at the end of May, so even being asked to come here was huge considering I don’t know him that well and I just stepped up doing this height,” said Charlotte, who captured Children’s team gold and individual silver at NAYC 2018 riding Bronan before stepping up to the Junior level with Dublin. “Just competing here is a huge privilege and even though it didn’t go maybe as well as we planned, it’s a great learning experience, especially for next year. Today he was amazing and we were much more together, so I couldn’t be happier.”

US Zone 8’s Mackenzie Carreras and Contessa K lay down a clear jump-off round in 44.72 seconds to claim first. Their score topped second place finisher, Greer Campbell and Couscous van Orti of US Zone 3, and their time of 54.23 seconds with nine faults.

One Final Chance to Make the NAYC Podium

Catch the conclusion of the NAYC 2019 action on Aug. 4 with the Jumping Finals and Dressage Freestyle for all divisions.

For live results from NAYC 2019, click here. More information on NAYC 2019, including the full schedules for dressage and jumping, can be found at www.youngriders.org.