FEI Junior and Young Rider Programs

by Alison Coyle

Each year USEF and USDF hold competitions to recognize young talent in the equestrian world. The dressage discipline holds two events every summer for juniors and young riders to showcase their talent. These competitions include the Festival of Champions and the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC).

To qualify for these events you must fit the USEF criteria. A Junior is between the ages of 14 and 18 and must be showing the FEI Juniors tests. A Young Rider can be between the ages of 16 and 21 and competing in the FEI Young Rider tests which is the equivalent to Prix St George. Festival of Champions invites the top twelve riders in the United States to compete for Juniors, Young Riders, Brentina cup, Intermediare I and Grand Prix. This event allows you to compete as an individual amongst the top riders at their level in the US. NAJYRC invites the top four of every region for both juniors and young riders.

This summer I was honored and pleased to qualify and be invited to compete in both of these prestigious events. I got my present mount Bariton last year in the hopes of doing just that. Moving up to a seventeen hand horse from a pony proved to be quite a challenge so I focused primarily on trying to qualify at the more local shows. I competed at March Magic, Tryon, Pinehurst and the CDI in Raleigh. I received my third set of scores at Pinehurst allowing the CDI to be my drop scores.

This Summer the Festival of Champions was once again held at the United States Equestrian Team Headquarters in Gladstone, New Jersey. Being able to compete in a place that has such a historic meaning to the equestrian world in the United States is an honor in itself. Torrential downpours caused the cancellation of some classes and created less than favorable conditions for the Grand Prix musical freestyles but really tested the horses' submission and the riders did a great job executing the difficult movements flawlessly. I was very excited to ride in the warmup amongst some olympic riders. My trainer, Elizabeth Moore, my mother and I even managed to go into New York City one night to see the Broadway play South Pacific.

This years Region I Junior team was comprised of Kaitlyn Blythe (NC), Nicole DelGiorno (NJ), Melanie Montagno (NJ), and me. NAJYRC is an event, similar to the Olympic games that showcases Juniors and Young Riders of Dressage, Eventing, Show Jumping, and recently added in 2008, Reining. Princess Haya, the FEI president gave a very uplifting speech during the opening ceremony. My team members and I got the chance to meet other young riders from across the US, Canada, and even Mexico. This year it was held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. It's amazing to think that in just a year the competitors of the World Equestrian Games will be setting new records on the same soil that we competed on. We were also given a chance to see Cigar, the famous race horse, who is retired at the Horse Park. All of us really learned what it's like to be competing as a team. The focus of the NAJYRC is to bring together young competitors that all share the same goals and aspirations. Our team, Region I Juniors, finished Bronze in the team competition. The best piece of advice I can give to other juniors that hope to compete in this show is to just have fun. Of course it is a competition but meet other people and live it up because you never know if you will have the opportunity to go back.

I would not have been able to have these wonderful experiences if it weren't for my family, our friends and my trainer Elizabeth Moore. Blue Sky Equestrian, M & M Tack Shop, Triangle Horse Sports, and NCDCTA also helped me to achieve my goals for the year.

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R1YTC = Friends + Success

By Julia Dearborn, Chef D’Equip

It’s funny how sometimes great opportunities get missed just because no one knows about them, isn’t it? I think that is very much how the Region 1 Youth Team Championships have been for dressage youth riders in our state until NCDCTA began sponsoring teams as of 2008. Youth Team Championships are held in many of the USDF Regions, and Region 1’s is held annually at Morven Park, in Leesburg, VA. This year’s show was held on July 18th & 19th, and eight junior and young rider aged participants ventured north to compete against other east coast youth riders from NJ all the way down to our own NC. NCDCTA generously “sponsors” teams by paying both entry fees and stabling costs for those youth members who wish to go and represent our state…and the investment pays off in success of several different kinds!

This show is a true “team” championship; teams of three or four riders compete in divisions based on age/level or in a “mix” category. Since we had a range of levels and ages being represented, our teams both competed in the Mix Divisions. Team members were as follows: The NCDCTA Connectors - Emily Pate and Aravis, Stephanie Bristol and Dalton, Ellen Shaw and Jake, and Emma Frank and Scrumpy Jack. The NCDCTA Collectors – Sarah Dabolt and Funny Bones, Kaitlyn Schill and Rainmaker, Emily Wright and Jasmine, and Lauren Gibson and Omega.

Friday the 17th was move in day, and after a 5 plus hour drive, everyone was happy to arrive and begin the setup process. Stalls were safety checked and set up for horses, then the work began on organizing our tack room and decorating our stalls and tack area. Muchos Gracias to the wonderful parents who helped SO MUCH with this task…the results were great in a coordinating theme of Carolina Blue and White! It was a long day, but we were well prepared for the weekend and excited about the show!

Saturday offered both a warm up and a competition class, and Sunday offered a second team competition class and a Dressage Seat Equitation class. In addition, many individual “special” awards are given, and there are other awards for daily and division high scores. Our teams were VERY successful again this year, (results follow) but an equal bonus was definitely the fun we had, the friendships that were made, and the camaraderie that was shared. The girls own comments say it best…

Ellen Shaw had to borrow a horse at the last minute to bring to the competition when her own gelding came up sore from a pulled shoe. She explained, “Being at the R1YTC was amazing and very exciting. I am so thankful I got to participate in this event. I think my personal best thing about being at this show was being on a team with other girls and being able to ride Jake after only a few lessons and accomplishing all that we did!” Sarah Dabolt commented, “The highpoint of the trip to me was the thumbs up I got from the judge after my First 1 Test, then learning that test was the Reserve High Score for our division. I had a really good time and would go again.” Stephanie Bristol shared that wining feeling by adding, “My favorite thing about the show was doing the victory lap with the ribbons around the horses necks!”

And there were plenty of thoughts about the team side of things, too. Kaitlyn Schill shared, “I thought the show was a good way to bring kids of around the same age group together through dressage. The most fun was getting to eat the lychee and coconut ice cream at the Vietnamese Restaurant ….and getting to spend a little down time with team members, like being at the pool with Ellen!” Emily Wright’s thoughts on the venture were, “I think that the best thing was getting to know fellow riders and by far the second day… being part of a team--watching and "riding" with the others as they did their tests. Being able to go in with the team and have a victory gallop together was definitely a high.” And Emily Pate summed it up for all of us saying, “Being on the 'NCDCTA Connectors' team was a perfect combination of hard work and loads of fun. This weekend I saw a whole new aspect of dressage that a lot of people miss out on. There wasn't just the joy of working with your horse and intensity of waiting for your score...it was that multiplied by four. Four horses, four riders, and a basket of chocolate M&M's makes for a horse show to remember. The "best thing" about this show? Well, aside from having our team win...Yeah, actually I'd have to say that was the best part. It's a horse show, what can I say? All right, meeting so many awesome people came in a really close second.”

Here are our team and individual results:
NCDCTA Connectors – Champions, Mix Division #1
NCDCTA Collectors – 3rd Place, Mix Division #3

Emily Pate & Aravis, Division High Score 72.333%
Stephanie Bristol & Dalton, Divison Reserve High Score, 71%
Sarah Dabolt &Funny Bones, Divison Reserve High Score, 70.667%
Ellen Shaw & Jake, Division High Average Score, 67.857%
Emma Frank & Scrumpy Jack, 1st Place, Dressage Seat Equitation
Sarah Dabolt – Cleanest Tack Award
Both Teams – Stable Management Honorable Mention

If you are a youth dressage rider and feel that you would like to join a team for next year’s R1YTC, please watch for announcements in our newsletter, via email, and on NCDCTA’s website. We’d love to have you discover the opportunity to go to the R1YTC’s, too! Congratulations to this year’s team members and thanks for doing such a great job representing our home state!

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MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

Alison Coyle and Kaitlin Blythe rode on the bronze medal winning Region 1 Junior Team at the FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships in Lexington, Ky, July 23-26. Coyle, 17, of Apex, rode her Bariton. Blythe, 17, of Rougemont, rode her Daverden, by Davignport.

Jim Koford is in Germany training with Michael Klimke, and is blogging about his experiences there. Visit www.koforddressage.com

Patsy and Seth Wooten of Wilson flew to Carlsbad, California July 18 for a party in honor of Steffen Peters and Ravel’s championships win at Aachen, Germany. The party was a cookout on the terrace of Shannon and Steffen Peters’ home, with Ravel resting in the barn on the grounds. Patsy remarked that “Steffen greeted us with all his charm,” and that she enjoyed meeting Ravel’s owner, Akiko Yamazaki.

“I was ready for a break,” Patsy said. “When we received the invitation, I told Seth we needed to get away. I think he wasn’t all that enthused, but he ended up having the most fun!”

The Wootens hosted the NCDCTA Steffen Peters dressage clinic last October at their beautiful farm in Wilson.

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NCDCTA MINUTES, AUGUST 4, 2009

The NCDCTA Board met by teleconference August 4, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. Present: Jennifer Mitchell, Dave Stuckey, Lynn Leath, Donna Kelly, Anita Quinn, Diane Lefever, and Sue Smithson. Excused: Robyn Hahn, Suzanne Mullen, Andrea Glenn, Carol Kelly.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT: Jennifer opened the meeting with a request from the Eastern Dressage and Combined Training Schooling Ass’n. for support for their upcoming Dressage 101 educational series. More information is needed, Jennifer will follow up.

VICE PRESIDENT: Donna has reserved the Childress Winery, Lexington N.C. for the Jan. 9, 2010 NCDCTA Horse of the Year Awards Banquet and Gala. Instead of a cocktail buffet, a seated meal will be offered.

EVENTING: Plans are moving forward on clinics, and Anita will coordinate the ordering of prizes for the NCDCTA Eventing Championships at Five Points Horse Trials. An educational course walk for members will be offered on Friday, Sept. 11.

DRESSAGE: The selection committee meets this week to review applicants for the upcoming Kathy Connelly Symposium. Nancy Love is working on the contract details for the Steffen Peters / Janet Brown Symposium for 2010. Kyra Kyrklund is still high on the list for 2011, but contract negotiations and venue are still uncertain.

The youth clinic with Cesar Parra was a success, and came in under budget. NCDCTA sent two teams of juniors to the Region 1 Youth Team Championships at Morven Park in July. One team earned a division championship, the other finished third, and NCDCTA riders earned many individual placings and accolades. Julia Dearborn was team Chef d’Equip, and also chaperoned three junior spectators to the FEI North American Junior Young Rider Championships in Lexington, Ky. Adult Camp is full, with a waiting list.

COMMUNICATIONS: Sue will follow up on the status of the Newsletter archive on the website.

COMPETITIONS: Diane will follow up on the financial accounting of the two June shows. Preliminary balance sheet on CDI-Raleigh is due September 1. The competition committee moved, and the board voted agreement, that the Latta November show should be dropped. Positive comments regarding the Asheville show were shared.

TREASURER: Dave reported a cash status of $101k and an additional $28k in savings. Of the annual $76k budget, $45k has yet to be distributed. He cautioned that the year to date figures are: $34k collected, $61k spent. The question mark this year is show profits, no financials are available yet.

NEW BUSINESS: The competition committee presented a motion to spend up to $10k on crushed granite screenings for an additional pad of footing at Williamston with an eye toward the 2010 USDF/GAIG Championships, and hopefully, repeat editions on alternate years if this one is successful. The amount requested represents half of the material needed. Seth and Patsy Wooten of Wilson have generously agreed to donate the other half. After much discussion, the motion passed with Lynn and Dave opposed. Lynn brought up two items: Would anyone else benefit from this riding pad? If so, perhaps they would share in the cost. She also felt that if we were going to be paying for this arena pad, that the Martin Ag Center should give the NCDCTA a discounted use fee. Sue agreed to contact the Martin Ag Center management to negotiate financial concessions for upcoming shows to mitigate this donation.

A $100 grant was approved for each of two junior members who competed at the NAJYRC in Kentucky; Alison Coyle and Kaitlin Blythe.

The raffle intended to raise the $16k USDF Capital Campaign pledge is on target: World Equestrian Games ticket package has been purchased, and hotel suite booked. Raffle ticket prices were approved at $50 each, or $25 with a volunteer card. The package will be expanded if more than $12k worth of tickets are sold. The meeting was adjourned at 8:33 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for September 1.

Respectfully submitted by Sue Smithson

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NYSSEN ECLIPSES THE COMPETITION IN ASHEVILLE
By Liz Bromberg

Show Manager Olga Wagner handled everything; from sprung shoes and class changes, to thunderstorms and air travel delays, with grace and charm. Thanks to her Herculean efforts, competitors were uniformly pleased to have made the trek up Black Mountain for the NCDCTA Summer Mountain Getaway, Asheville, August 1-2. There were many scores in the 70’s. Notably, Jules Nyssen and Wolf, a six-year old Dutch gelding, earned the third level high score award with a 71%. And with Eclipse, Nyssen earned the first level high score award (77.8%), and the open high score on Sunday with a score of 84.3% at first level test 1, including three tens (excellent!) and several nines.

It was “one of those tests that you always hope for,” said the Statesville-based trainer, who describes the five-year old Eclipse as being “as strong as any other horse I have ever sat on” and “really a thrill to ride.”

Nyssen found the Belgian-bred Dutch gelding in Holland two years ago for owner Jim Gross of Charlotte. While Eclipse put in three strong tests over the weekend and behaved like a “solid citizen,” Nyssen admits that the horse has gone through a rough patch or two. Specifically, at the NCDCTA Summer Highland Fling in Tryon, the 17.1 hand (and growing) Eclipse was feeling a little insecure in the warm-up, and gave new meaning to Summer Highland “Fling” when he bucked Nyssen off – twice. The trainer decided to call it a day. He went home to work on building up the confidence of this sensitive youngster, and the effort paid off in Asheville.

As a veteran marathon runner, Nyssen takes the long view in the training process. He hopes to show Eclipse in the six-year old competition at the CDI-Raleigh next year. In the meantime, Nyssen, who gets up to run at 4 a.m. each morning, is training for his next marathon in Amsterdam in October. He hopes to beat his personal best time of 3 hours, 21 minutes. And he plans to skip the Tryon “Fling” next year.

Jessica Palmer Memorial Award
Jean Horney of Greenville, S.C. and Logan Baekkelund earned a score of 70.2% at second level test 4, to win the 2009 Jessica Palmer Memorial Award, a black leather halter with an engraved brass plate.

Horney, an economics professor at Furman University for 30 years, did not know Jessica Palmer personally. But the two do share a connection through Duke. Palmer, RN, MSN, was Clinical Operations Director for General Medicine at the Duke University Medical Center. Horney attended graduate school at Duke and began to cultivate her interest in riding while living in the Durham area.

“Seeking ways to avoid writing my Ph.D. dissertation,” Horney confesses, “I began leasing a horse from the Markham's at Miss Pittypat's Riding Academy… I've been hooked ever since.”

Horney has trained for almost five years with Jennifer Baumert of Cloverlea Dressage in Columbus, and her able assistant, Ashley Perkins. She has also “benefited from the instruction of Martha Love (of Mill Spring), an excellent teacher who I've known for years.” Horney purchased Logan, a Danish warmblood who is “18 years young,” two and a half years ago. The pair has since enjoyed tremendous success, winning first place last year in the USDF All Breeds (NADWA) Awards for Adult Amateurs and Vintage at first level.

Horney particularly enjoyed the Asheville show, noting that “the organization this year was fantastic…the competitive environment was particularly warm and collegial…and I think Jessica would be proud to have had her name associated with this event.”

Those of us who were lucky enough to know Jessica Palmer may recall that her goal at shows was always “to stay on the horse and in the ring” – and anything beyond that was “icing on the cake.” No doubt she would have been thrilled for Jean Horney and all the icing on her cake!

For complete results, visit www.NCDCTA.org

Photo caption: Eclipse was a “10” at Asheville with Jules Nyssen in the irons. The pair earned a score of 84.3% at first level (photo by Action Snapshot Photography).

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HOLLY HEPP EVENTING CLINIC
By Sandy Huberth

The second weekend of July may have been typically hot, but the breezes blowing across the open fields of Equiventure Farm kept the riders in the Holly Hepp eventing clinic comfortable. Holly, a four-star rider and U.S. Eventing Association Certified Level IV instructor, is based at this beautiful facility in Rougemont, N.C. With ample stabling and plenty of cross country fences, it was perfect for “Camp Holly”.

Each participant was able to tailor their needs over the three day clinic by choosing two of those days for any combination of disciplines. Different stadium jumps and gymnastics aided our quest for straightness, rideability, adjustability. Holly’s attention to detail and belief that form and function go hand in hand resulted in much improvement throughout the weekend.

A 20 minute hack to the X-C course took us by open fields, wooded trails and past a pond with a lone swan. With well built fences, a water complex, bank, ditches, and my horse’s personal favorite, “The Bowl”, it was a wonderful place to school. It was fun to see confidence levels rise for both horses and riders.

Saturday evening Holly and Chuck Hudspeth (with help from Mike and Linda Kriegal) hosted a cookout at the lovely home of Clint and Carroll Hill Stone. A brief rain shower sent everyone inside, which provided us with a peek at the beautiful interior of their house. Some riders took advantage of the pool to cool off after a hot day.

Monday morning brought a flurry of emails expressing appreciation to all who worked hard to provide this learning opportunity. It was evident that everyone had as much fun as I did!

(visit www.hollyheppeventing.com for more information on upcoming camps and clinics)

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MACNAIR COACHES DRESSAGE TEAM TO NEW HEIGHTS

By Kelly Clement

Imagine climbing on a strange horse and having only ten minutes warm up before riding down the centerline before a judge. This is the competition protocol for the Intercollegiate Dressage Association, and NCDCTA member Bridget Gibbons MacNair of Apex coached the N.C. State University dressage team to the 2009 IDA Regional Reserve Championship.

“Working with the team is different from my other students,” MacNair explained. “It’s sort of like being an auction rider, show them the best that you can while being correct.”

The NCSU Wolfpack Dressage Club also qualified a team and individual for the IDA Nationals in Findlay, Ohio. This accomplishment is especially significant because NCSU does not offer full athletic support to their equestrian teams. They are a “club sport” and team members fund themselves for coaching and competitive fees, with the university giving grants only in the form of travel reimbursements. Many IDA teams have full institutional support, including college owned stables and college owned horses at the students’ disposal, as is the case with St. Andrews, Virginia Intermont, Virginia Tech, and Averett University. These schools field dressage teams with full support and scholarship riders, but the NCSU team rose to the top by sheer determination, hard work, and great coaching.

“The team members come from widely varying experiences,” MacNair said. “We have lots of riders that started out as hunter riders and got curious about dressage or wanted to improve their flatwork. One rode gaited horses. Sometimes we have Western riders, and they can be reluctant to admit this, but of course it’s OK. The great thing is that they have learned to balance themselves on a horse and sit up vertically and they can sit the trot! They just have to learn to ask for more forward gaits… It’s amazing how well they do, and how fast they adapt.”

Again, in contrast to University funded programs, practice times are limited for the NCSU team riders. The team members pay for their weekly training out-of-pocket, and earn extra rides doing barn work at Buckhorn Farm in Apex, the “host facility” for the team. Some Buckhorn clients allow their privately owned horses to be used in the program, which gives their horse exercise under a competent rider when they are pressed for time. In turn, the riders also help out with grooming chores, so the owner finds a clean and tidy horse on the weekend.

MacNair emphasizes to the riders that focusing on goals and striving to be correct is more than half the game. Since competition horses are assigned from a draw, luck can also play a role at the shows. But a good test-riding strategy can level the playing field and technical knowledge is invaluable. The team finished out of the ribbons at the 2009 National Championships, but NCSU individual rider Caroline Snow finished 4th at training level. In 2008 the team earned the National Sportsmanship Trophy, and they are looking forward to another banner year starting up this fall.

“The best part is when they get to the competition, they are so supportive of each other and their friends on other teams,” said MacNair. “They want to do well and have high scores, but really congratulate the other riders on their good scores, and they really have fun at the shows.”

Sidebar: Bridget Gibbons MacNair is a native North Carolinian and Duke University graduate. Her equestrian pursuits evolved from western to hunters to dressage, with inspiration along the way from Kay Meredith, Walter Zettl, Jessica Ransehousen, and Denny Callin. She has trained four horses to FEI, and earned her USDF Silver medal. She and husband Colin MacNair, a realtor and avid fox hunter, opened Buckhorn Farm in 1994.

The 2010 IDA Nationals will be held at the beautiful St. Andrew’s College facility in Laurinburg. Interested riders at NCSU are always welcomed to try out for the team, contact MacNair at 919-795-0511, or sbgibbons@bellsouth.net.

Or, if you attend another school in the area, try out for their team: Elon, Wake Forest, St. Andrews, and Averett all have teams, as well as many in Va. Google Intercollegiate Dressage for more information.

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Q. I am preparing to move up to second level test 1, but I am confused about the rein back. It appears to be a two-beat gait (versus four-beat like the walk). Is it considered a gait? Or is it something completely different, like a halt? How is it evaluated?

A. Riders and often coaches, writers, and other 'experts' of this sport rarely study the directives, which are printed on the test. I’ve made a practice of testing my own riders to see how many of the directives they can remember of any given movement in National or FEI tests. That's the only way riders can honestly learn from the judges’ comments. In seminars I've done all over the country, few riders actually know what is expected in each movement, and simply blame the judge for low scores, which is unfortunate. Given the effort and expense required to ride down center line, it would be prudent to clearly understand what's expected.

According to USEF DR-106, the rein back is not a gait, but a “movement” in which the horse moves backward by raising and setting down the feet in diagonal pairs (two beats). The feet should be well raised, the hind feet should remain in line, and the direction of travel should remain straight. The backward steps must be resolute and quiet, without stiffening the spine. During the rein back, the horse must remain correctly on the aids, and not roll behind the vertical or stiffen above the bit.

Obviously the quality of the halt preceding the rein back is crucial to the score. If the halt is not balanced, immobile, and square, a good score is unlikely since the halt and rein back are usually scored together. Additional directives for second level are willingness and transitions. At FEI, add throughness, fluency, straightness, and accuracy of number of steps.

Serious faults include: anticipation, resistance, stiffening, crookedness. Additionally, spreading the hind legs and/or dragging the forefeet are also considered faults. Don’t pause or halt at the end of the rein back, but proceed immediately into walk, trot, or whatever gait the test calls for.

The aids for the rein back are as follows:
• The rider must lighten the seat by stretching into the heels.
• With the middle body (from knees to waist) one must have the feeling of riding backward, not pulling backward. The lower back is very instrumental in this “riding backward,” while the upper body (above the waist) remains steady and quiet.
• The lower body (knees, legs, feet) gently urge the horse back in active DIAGONAL pairs.

In training, remember that by nature horses are prey animals, and backing up is not a normal response. To reverse direction in the wild, a horse will rear and whirl rather than step back. Thus, patience is imperative when teaching this movement. Ideally, training rein back should begin from foal handling. When the rein back is re-introduced later, I still prefer to do it in hand first, so when a rider is on board, the handler can stand close to a shoulder for assistance.

The FEI eliminated the “swing” (rein back, walk, rein back) from the Grand Prix test several years ago. Personally I regret this deletion since, when properly done, this movement demonstrates great sensitivity on the part of the classically trained horse and rider. Still, the rein back remains a telling movement throughout the levels. In fact, as you move up to second level tests 2 and 4, you will see that the rein back has a co-efficient of 2, a good reason to get it right!

Kay Meredith’s dressage career spans more than three decades and several continents. She has competed throughout Europe; she rode on the 1983 USET Gold Medal Dressage Team at the Pan-Am Games in Venezuela, and on the 1986 USET Dressage Team at the World Championships in Toronto. Meredith has won many national championships throughout her career, as well as USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medals; the AHSA Horsewoman of the Year in 1979; and a USDF Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. Meredith’s contributions to the dressage community have not been limited to riding – from 1973-83, she served as a committee member, Vice President, and President of the USDF; she is an “S” judge; and she coached student and NCDCTA-member Rebecca Nelles to her own USDF Gold Medal. Meredith is based in Raleigh.