Junior Megan Lane Wins the Dressage Freestyle Individual Silver Medal at NAJYRC

Ottawa, ON—Megan Lane of Collingwood, ON, won the individual silver medal July 26 in the FEI Junior Freestyle dressage test at the 2009 Adequan FEI North American Junior & Young Riders’ Championships, held July 21-26 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY.

For the second day in a row, Lane, 18, and her eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Caravella, were tied for second place. Lane was tied with American Heather Ots, as both received a total score of 68.000% from the panel of five judges. The general impression marks were used to break the tie, and this time it was Lane who received higher marks, and was thus was awarded the silver medal.

“Caravella was really good. She tried really hard,” said Lane. “I would like to thank my parents and our team sponsors. It was a really great show.”

This was the third medal for Lane at these games. Yesterday, Lane won an individual bronze medal for her performance in the Junior Individual test, with a score of 65.842%, and Thursday, she was a member of the Canadian Junior Team Ontario that won the Team Gold Medal.

The competition in the Freestyle was intense, as there was only a 1.05% difference between first and fifth place. Canadian riders occupied three of the top five places, and four places within the top ten. Ariana Chia of Winnipeg, MB, and Odilon placed a close fourth with 67.550%. Just 0.05 % behind Chia in fifth place, with 67.500%, was Alexandra Dvorak of Hillsburgh, ON, riding Fling. The competition was so tight that 66.500% earned Anne Mylaine Messier, of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC, and Marzipan eighth place.

The judging panel over the five days included and Maribel Alonso (FEI—O, MEX), Axel Steiner (FEI—O, USA), Lois Yukins (FEI—I, USA), Joan Macartney, (FEI—I, CAN) and Brenda Minor (FEI—C, CAN).

Exclusively for Junior Riders, aged 14–18, and Young Riders, aged 16–21, the NAJYRC gives up-and-coming riders the opportunity to represent their country as a team, and prepares them for future international competition. Featuring the disciplines of Dressage, Eventing, Show Jumping and Reining, the 2009 edition of NAJYRC is also featuring the FEI discipline of Vaulting for the first time. Another first for the Championship is the presence of the FEI President, Princess Haya. This is the only time that a current FEI President has attended the prestigious event.

The Championships, presented by Gotham North, are being hosted at the site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, giving these young athletes a taste of what’s to come next year for their senior counterparts.

For more information and complete results for NAJYRC, please visit www.youngriders.org.