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Lexington, Ky. – The 2014 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC) came to a close Sunday with the last medals of the Championship being awarded. In the USHJA North American Junior and Young Riders’ Show Jumping Championship, brothers Wilton and Lucas Porter made history at the NAJYRC’s 40th anniversary by being the first brothers to win Young Rider and Junior Individual Gold, respectively, at the Championship.
Four disciplines (a total of seven championships for juniors and young riders) took part in the only FEI Championship to be held annually in North America. The NAJYRC is the premier equestrian competition in North America for junior and young riders, ages 14-21.
USHJA North American Junior and Young Riders’ Show Jumping Championship
Wilton Porter (20, Bartonville, Texas) was the second Porter brother of the day to earn Individual Gold after producing four and one fault trips over Steve Stephens’ intricate tracks to finish on a score of 10.52. This is Porter’s second time at the NAJYRC and he was able to utilize experience gained from 2013 to earn a top spot on the podium with Sleepy P Ranch LLc’s Diamonte Darco.
“This is my second time here and last year I think on the team day I definitely let the nerves get to me,” said Porter. “But I was able to control my nerves better this year.”
The Zone 7 rider felt it would be a dream come true for one Porter to win an Individual Gold medal but for both to win was unimaginable.
“It’s unbelievable for one us to win a Gold medal and for us both to win is amazing and a credit to our parents and supporters,” Porter shared.
Michael Hughes (18, Allendale, N.J.) and Luxina enter Sunday’s final as the leaders but eight faults in round one and a further four in the second round meant they would finish on a score of 12.23 and earn Individual Silver.
“She’s been so great all week so I’m still really happy,” said Hughes who earlier in the week helped Zone 2 to Team Bronze.
Victoria Colvin (16, Loxahatchee, Fla.) and Chanel B 2 continued their climb up the leader producing a four fault and clear round on Sunday to finish on a score of 18.01. On Sunday, the pair added Individual Bronze to the Team Silver they earned earlier on the week.
In the Junior division, Lucas Porter (16, Bartonville, Texas) clinched the Junior Individual Gold medal on the strength of two immaculate rounds with Sleepy P Ranch LLc’s Phineas. In round one, the pair produced a faultless effort and the Zone 7 rider returned in round two keeping his poise to collect a single time fault to finish on a winning championship score of 1.65.
“The first round was really technical. In the second round there weren’t as many lines but I knew I couldn’t make any mistakes,” said Porter. “I tried to take a few breathes and not get too nervous.”
Zone 2’s Lucy Deslauriers (15, New York, N.Y.) and Hester held the lead going into Sunday but a single rail in round one moved them from the pole position. The pair returned for their second round and jumped a clear round to earn the Silver medal after finishing on an overall total of four faults.
“I think that staying calm and relaxed really helped,” said Deslauriers of her strategy for the second round.
Sophie Simpson (16, Royal Palm Beach, Calif.) and Simpson Show Jumping’s Why Not were one of only two Junior combinations to jump double clear on Sunday, helping the Zone 4 representatives earn Individual Bronze with a championship score of 5.71.