Zones 4 and 10 Take Children and Pre-Junior Jumping Gold on Day Two at North American Youth Championships
The Children’s and Pre-Junior categories took center stage Thursday morning of the final week of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival for riders to jump the team portion of the Gotham North FEI North American Youth Jumping Championships, presented by USHJA, on Thursday at Flintfields Horse Park.
In a thrilling battle for the top spot, Zone 4 was awarded the gold medal in the Children’s category. Zone 4 representatives Hailey Guidry, Laila Murad, Alexa Curry, and Taylor Finkle rode to a total score of just 4 faults after two rounds of jumping. After two rounds on Thursday were tallied with the opening round from Wednesday, they were tied with a combined Zone 1/2 – Amelia Burnside, Jordan Rich, Cecilia Chatterjee, and Rylie True – forcing a jump-off for the top spot on the podium.
Zone 4 came out strong with a blazing-fast clear effort in the jump-off, and the back end of the team was able to keep up the momentum, finishing not just with fewer faults but also quicker after all riders jumped off. Zone 4 stood atop the podium while Zone 1/2 took silver, and Zone 7/8/9, with riders Michaela Munson, Evan Werner, Haley Honegger, and Isabella Smith, finished in the bronze medal position.
“It feels very good,” Guidry, 13, said of winning the gold medal. “I’ve had Esmeralda for a few months now. We’ve gone together very well and she is the sweetest thing ever. I’m so happy to have been able to be here and experience this because this is my first year. I have seven more junior years, so it’s very exciting.”
Zone 4 was also among the most spirited teams to step out during NAYC, which the team believes helped solidify their bond.
“It was really crazy and hectic and we were all working together to try and make the best helmets and pom-poms for our horses,” remarked Curry, 14.
True was the one who had to anchor the Zone 1/2 team in all three rounds of jumping, and she rose to the occasion every time. She had an unlucky rail at the last fence in the jump-off, but pulled off the quickest time of any competitor.
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