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National
Disability Sports Alliance Announces Qualified Riders for
NDSA Championship at Bayer/USET Festival of Champions
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Kingston,
RI—May 14, 2002—The National Disability Sports Alliance
(NDSA) Equestrian Committee has announced the list of riders who
have qualified and accepted invitations to participate in the
NDSA Championship for Riders with Disabilities to be held at the
Bayer/United States Equestrian Team (USET) Festival of Champions,
presented by State Line Tack, June 20-23.
The riders who have qualified and accepted invitations to participate
are:
Eleanor
Robinson of Marysville, WA
Margo O’Callaghan of Seattle WA
Kathy Whelan of Atlantic City, NJ
Rebecca Hart of Erie, PA
Barbara Grassmyer of Placerville, CA
Robin Brueckmann of Summerfield, NC
Kebbie
Cannon of Waxhaw, NC
Erin
Waddell of South Lyon, MI
At
the Championship, presented once again by the National Horse Sports
Foundation, riders will have a preliminary warm-up competition
on Thursday, June 20. The Individual Championship will take place
on Saturday, June 22, and Musical Freestyles will be performed
on Sunday, June 23. Overall, the placing of the Champion and Reserve
Champion for the NDSA Championship will be based on the combined
scores of the Individual Championship and the Freestyle.
Although
the Championship is in its second year, this year is the first
time that the horses must also qualify to be eligible to compete
in the event. All horses will be required to participate in a
veterinary inspection prior to the competition.
Among
this year’s qualifiers is the winner of the 2001 NDSA Championship,
Barbara Grassmyer of Placerville, CA. Grassmyer rode Bally Shannon,
owned by Trudy Phillips of Chadds Ford, PA and scored 67.666%
in the Championship test and a 72.857% on her Freestyle for a
combined average score of 70.261%.
Following
Grassmyer in the standings was Reserve Champion, Rebecca Hart
of Erie, PA, and third place finisher, Robin Brueckmann of Summerfield,
NC. Both riders have also qualified for this year’s NDSA
Championship.
NDSA
is the National Governing Body for equestrian competition for
riders with disabilities. NDSA works closely with both USA Equestrian
and the USET to provide opportunities for riders with disabilities
within the “able-bodied” community.
NDSA
is responsible for conduct and administration of approved sports
in the United States. NDSA formulates the rules, implements policies
and procedures, conducts national championships in twelve sports,
disseminates safety and sports medicine information and selects
athletes to represent the United States in international competition.
NDSA is a CBO (Community Based Organization) member of the United
States Olympic Committee (USOC).
For
more information on NDSA or the NDSA Championship, please contact
Denise Avolio, NDSA Equestrian Sports Technical Officer, at (914)
949-8166, or email diavolio@ndsaonline.org,
or visit www.ndsaequestrian.org.
