Area V riders stole all the gold medals in the North American Young Riders Championship CCI**, July 31, in Lexington, Va., as the team (Bonner Carpenter, Ashley Bailey-Classen, Rebecca Brown, Jessica Pye, 178.6) won easily over Area II (Julia Briskin, Ginny Bryson, Amy Mulhern, Lisa Barry, 207.8) and Area III (Kate Luce, Rebecca Lynn Huy, Mary Beth Hudson, Rebecca Barron, 230.6), while Pye also won the individual gold with Carte Blanche.

For Pye, it was the final event with Carte Blanche, her 16-year-old partner who will be retiring after this event. “This horse has had a storybook career as a young rider horse,” said Pye, who lives on team trainer Mike Huber’s farm in Texas. “He has won three individual medals. I’ll never have another like him, ever.”

Laine Ashker of Area II took the individual silver with Frodo Baggins, ahead of her teammate Julia Briskin in third, with Stina.

Area II (Madeline Blackman, Julia Ward, Alexandra Zavoyna, Nate Chambers, 169.9) also won the team competition in the CCI*, ahead of Area V (Madison Buchanan, Paige Hewlett, Diana Brown, Valerie Becker, 181.2) and Area VIII (Marty Whitehouse, Melissa Miller, John Their, Lauren Kieffer, 228.6).

Chambers, 18, of Vienna, Va., rode his Rolling Stone II to the individual title with a score of 49.7, ahead of Katlyn McMorris of Area IV aboard Clifton Peekachu (52.3) and Paige Hewlett on Steely Dan (56.1).

“Right before I went in [to show jump], David O’Connor said to me that no matter what happens, you’re the same person when you come out, and that really helped,” said Chambers, who had lead the event since the dressage.

Malone And Michigan Take Individual Dressage Gold

Catherine Malone of Region 1 secured the individual gold medal in dressage after placing fourth in today’s freestyle test with a score of 70.05 percent. Malone, 20, of Coatesville, Pa., rode Michigan, a Dutch Warmblood she just started working with in April.

“He was better in the neck today, more out and free, which is something I’ve been striving for,” she said.

Although she’s competed at the NAYRC since she was 16, this is Malone’s first individual medal. “I’ve been working so hard; this is probably the biggest thing I’ve ever won,” she said as she fought back tears.

Dani Judy, who won today’s freestyle with a score of 70.87 percent, took home the individual silver medal. “It’s been my goal to get an individual medal,” said Judy, of Region 7. “I finished fifth last year, and it makes me proud that we’ve come to the FEI levels and are up in this group of horses, so close to everyone.”

Malone’s final overall score of 208.978 just barely held off Judy, who finished on a score of 208.547. Anna Wood of Region 5 finished third, on a final score of 206.98, ahead of Kaitlyn Hamilton of Region 2, with a score of 206.03. Hamilton’s teammate Lauren Spreiser was right behind, with a score of 200.075.

Goutal Secures Second Individual Gold

Brianne Goutal of Zone 2, who won the team and individual gold medals last year, repeated her double gold again this year, after posting two clean rounds today aboard Onira. Her teammate Addison Phillips took the silver, with two clear rounds today aboard Flight.

Laura Faulkner of Zone1 moved up from seventh place coming into today’s final rounds to take the bronze medal after dropping just one rail in today’s first round.