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Morrissey
and Johnson Win USET Maxine Beard Award
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Gladstone,
NJ—March 20, 2003— The United States Equestrian Team
(USET) is proud to announce that Michael Morrissey of Bradenton,
FL, and Paige Johnson of The Plains, VA, are this year's winners
of the Maxine Beard Show Jumping Developing Rider Award. The USET
Show Jumping Committee awarded the young equestrians with this
honor because of their competitive records to date and their promise
for the future.
As
recipients of the Maxine Beard Award, Morrissey and Johnson will
receive a trip to the Budweiser World Cup Final, which will be
held in Las Vegas, NV, April 16-20. There they will get an insider’s
look at a major international show jumping competition including
the chance to observe operations in the horse show office, stabling,
veterinary inspections and schooling. A highlight of the experience
will be the chance to walk each course with the riders while receiving
instructional comments from respected coaches such as USET Vice
President for Show Jumping George H. Morris.
Morrissey
won the BET/USA Equestrian Individual National Junior Jumper Championship,
and rode on the winning team in the BET/USA Equestrian Prix de
States Team Championship, at the 2002 Pennsylvania National Horse
Show. Additionally, he won the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper
Classic Series Year-End Junior Championship at last year’s
National Horse Show. Also last year, he won the amateur jumping
championship against a field of international competitors at Valkenswaard
in The Netherlands.
In
2001, Morrissey won the Calvin Klein Show Jumping Talent Derby
at the Hampton Classic Horse Show and also competed, for the second
time, in the German Friendship Games. He has competed in Grand
Prix competition since age 14 and has placed in the ribbons in
Cleveland, Lake Placid at Wellington.
Competing
with Morrissey in the German Friendship Games, both in 1999 and
2001, was Johnson who won both the individual and team championships
in 2001. Johnson also has been a big winner at the Hampton Classic,
winning the $15,000 WGHR Farm Jumper Classic in both 2001 and
2002 after winning the Calvin Klein Show Jumping Derby at the
Hampton Classic in 2000.
Johnson
was the youngest rider ever to win the state equitation final
in Virginia when she won the title at age 11. Earlier this year,
she won the team Gold Medal and individual Silver in the Winter
Equestrian Festival Young Rider Championships at Wellington.
The
Maxine Beard Award was established by friends of the popular trainer
Ronnie Beard in honor of Ronnie’s mother. Beard is the Chairman
of the USET Show Jumping Developing Rider Committee.
The
Maxine Beard Show Jumping Developing Rider Award is one of many
programs that the USET has developed to assist riders in their
quest for equestrian excellence. Observing international competition
is a crucial component in the education of an equestrian athlete.
The
recipients of the award are chosen based on their potential to
represent the United States in international competition. A Show
Jumping Developing Rider is defined as a US citizen who has not
represented the United States in Olympic, Pan American or World
Championship competition, or in more than five Nations Cups either
in Europe or at Spruce Meadows. Alternates for the Olympic, Pan
American and World Equestrian Games, as well are riders who have
competed in the Show Jumping World Cup Final, are still considered
Show Jumping Developing Riders and are eligible for the award.
The United States Equestrian Team is a non-profit organization
that selects, trains, equips and finances equestrians of the highest
possible standard to represent our country in major international
competition, including the Olympic Games and the World Championships.
To accomplish this, the USET seeks out and nurtures the development
of talented athletes - riders, drivers and horses - and provides
the support and guidance they need to help them attain their fullest
potential. For more information on the USET, please call (908)
234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org
.
