Lexington, KY (July 21, 2015) - The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that the Albers Award perpetual trophy was awarded to Alberta/British Columbia Chef d'Equipe Leslie Steele at this year's USDF/Platinum Performance North American Junior & Young Rider Dressage Championships, part of the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC).  This award, named in honor of longtime USDF Region 1 Chef d'Equipe Patsy Albers, is presented annually to the dressage chef d'equipe that best demonstrates the same level of dedication, enthusiasm, and team spirit shown by Patsy throughout the years. 

            "The ‘village' of people that it takes to get athletes to the NAJYRC is staggering.  The chef d'equipe is quite often the unsung hero who rarely gets the recognition they deserve.  This award recognizes the tireless work that a chef performs, both before these championships and during the actual event, which enables the athlete to concentrate on performing at their best.  Leslie Steele's dedication to this position can be a standard by which all future chefs d'equipe can aspire," stated USDF FEI Jr/YR Committee Chair Roberta Williams.

            The NAJYRC is the premier equestrian competition in North America for junior and young riders, age 14-21.  Young equestrians come from the United States, Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean Islands to vie for team and individual FEI medals in the Olympic equestrian disciplines of show jumping, dressage, para-dressage, and eventing, as well as the FEI World Equestrian Games disciplines of reining and endurance.

            For more information about the Albers Award, or the USDF/Platinum Performance North American Junior & Young Rider Dressage Championships, visit the USDF website at www.usdf.org, or contact the USDF office at (859) 971-2277.

Founded in 1973, the United States Dressage Federation is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage. For more information about USDF membership or programs, visit www.usdf.org, email usdressage@usdf.org, or call (859) 971-2277.