TAMPA, FL - March 29, 2001 - Last years defending champion and three time Olympian, Leslie Howard of Westport, CT, finished first in the$30,000 Ariat Challenge Cup on Thursday.She also clenched the number seven position in the US East Coast RiderStandings and in April and will be going to the World Cup in Gothenburg,Sweden.

Howard, up on the 14 year old Irish Bred mare, Cloverleaf was one of only five qualifiers out of a field of 38 starters to advance to the tiebreaker round on this Buddy Brown designed course. She rode last and turned in the fastest time over the eightfences on course in 38.07 seconds.World Cup Veteran, McLain Ward of Brewster, NY qualified two of the five horses in the jump off and finished in second and fourth place. Ward finished in second place aboard hismount Galileo, crossing the finish line in 38.99 seconds and took fourth place on 16 year-old Belgian gelding, Benetton, finishing in 43.96 seconds.

Howard and Ward, along with the entire 2000 Olympic Team will be competing in the Budweiser American Invitational on March 31, 2001 at7:00pm in the Raymond James Stadium.Call ticket master or Stadium Jumping (813) 253-2782 for ticket information.


FOR AGATE:$30,000 Ariat Challenge Cup - March 29, 2001
CosequinWinter Equestrian Festival - Tampa, Florida
Course Designer:Buddy Brown, Wellington, FL

Place / Horse/ Rider / Home / Score / Purse
1. Cloverleaf/ Leslie Howard / Westport, CT / 0-0-38.07 / $9,000
2. Galileo /McLain Ward / Brewster, NY / 0-0-38.99/ $6,600
3. CarlingKing / Kevin Babington / 0-0-42.15 / $3,900
4. Benetton /McLain Ward / Brewster, NY / 0-0-43.96 / $2,400
5.Luna /Candice King / Wellington, FL / 0-4-43.03 / $1,650
5.Carolus H / Schuyler Riley / Wellington, FL / 4 / $1,650
6.9 way tie: $534
Hennes& Mauritz Cormint / Judy Garafalo
HiddenCreek's Laurel / Margie Engle
Apollo/ Lisa Jaquin
SandstoneLaurin / Gabriella Salick
Smoens/ Kimberly Frey
HiddenCreek's Christo / Margie Engle
ProbertDe Kalvarie / Leslie Howard
BraveAlly / Ian Silitch
HiddenCreek's Jones / Margie Engle

FINALWORLD CUP STANDINGS

1. Lauren Hough / 77 points
2. Mark Leone / 76points
3. Gabriella Salick/ 65 points
4. Candice King / 64points
5. Peter Wylde /64 points
6. Laura Kraut /63 points
7. Leslie Howard/ 60 points
8. Margie Engle /56 points
9. Molly Ashe /52 points