Young equestrians from all reaches of North America will get a feel for what it’s like to compete in the Olympic Games when they compete in the CN North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships (NAJYRC), at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA, August 1-6, 2006.

This will mark the second appearance in the mid-Atlantic region for the NAJYRC, the premier equestrian competition in North America for Juniors and Young Riders, age 14-21. Young equestrians come from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean Islands to vie for team and individual championships in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of show jumping, dressage, and eventing.

“We are excited and proud to host this year’s Junior and Young Riders’ Championships at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington for a second year,” said Event Director Penny Ross. “The Championships have become such a special event over the years and we look forward to expanding them with the addition of full championships in all three disciplines for junior riders. We intend to do our best to further the success of this already wonderful event.”

For many competitors, the NAJYRC is their first experience riding on a team, as well as their first time competing under the rules of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the international governing body for equestrian sport. At the CN North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships, more than 200 riders will compete in one of three distinct equestrian disciplines