Canada 1 Tops the Podium in Pre-Junior Team Competition

The 2024 Gotham North/FEI North American Youth Jumping Championships (NAYC), presented by USHJA, is taking place at Flintfields Horse Park July 31-Aug. 4 during week five of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders. Thursday’s team jumping competition continued with the pre-junior category in the International Ring where Canada came out on top. Canada’s Team 1 took home the pre-junior gold medal after Wednesday’s individual speed round and both rounds of the team final.

Credited for the team’s gold was Livia Martin (Ottawa, Ontario) and Cool Girl PS (Casallco x Chacco-Blue), a 2015 Oldenburg mare; Taylor Wood (Wellington, Fla.) on Sunjoy Z (Spartacus TN), a 2015 Zangershiede gelding; Sophia Popescu (Coto De Caza, Calif.) riding Katorose HV (VDL Zirocco Blue x Indoctro), a 2015 KWPN mare; and Mathilde Candele (Orangeville, Ontario.) aboard Corner Pocket Z (Cornet Obolensky x Lux Z), a 2012 Zangersheide gelding, owned by The Z Group.

A teen girl jumping a bay horse over a fence.

Taylor Wood and Sunjoy Z had two clear rounds for the team. (Andrew Ryback Photography)

With Wednesday’s competition penalties carrying forward to determine their standing, the team held a score of 9.45 heading into Thursday’s team final and added only two time faults to their total for a winning performance.

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NAYC veteran Candele was her team’s drop score on eight faults after round one of Thursday’s competition, but was vital for gold after earning a redeeming score of zero faults in round two.

“Coming into the second round, I tried to calm my horse down and let him do his thing,” said the 14-year-old. “It’s his way, he’s so smart and always takes care of me. I knew I had to put in a clear round for a good medal, which I tried not to focus on too much, but I wanted to put out a good round today.”

Taking silver was Zone 10 represented by Lauren Padilla (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.), Lilah Nakatani (LaQuinta, Calif.), Kennedy Chang (Pasadena, Calif.), and Madison Weiner (Las Vegas, Nev.). Bronze went to Capri Truesdale (Greenwich, Conn.), Michaela Munson (Rogers, Ark.), and Aurora Hargis (Richmond, Tex.) representing Zone 1/7.

NAYC introduces team competition to many athletes for the first time, adding extra pressure but extra fun to every ride. “For myself, and a lot of other young riders, my mental game is my biggest weakness,” said silver medalist Kennedy Chang (14). “It’s hard to treat this like any other ride with the extra excitement of being here. I did my best to compose myself today and be there for my teammates.”

“The format is definitely a difficult one,” said bronze medalist Aurora Hargis, 15. “Yesterday with the starting round of the individual qualifier you want to get on top soon and stay there for your own standings and then the second day, it’s about the team. You’ve got to pull it all together and do, well, all as a team.”

Pre-junior riders will return to competition on Saturday with the opportunity to earn a medal in the individual final. All results from individual qualifications and team classes will count towards their overall individual standings.

Pre-Junior team results here.

~ with files from Traverse City Horse Shows