 |
USET
Names Horses and Riders for World Equestrian Games Dressage
Selection Trials
|
Gladstone, NJ—May 17, 2002—The United States Equestrian
Team (USET) has announced the 12 dressage riders who have qualified
to compete in the selection trials for the USET squad that will
compete in the 2002 Dressage World Championships at the World
Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain in September.
The
Trials will be held on June 1-2 and June 8-9 at the USET Olympic
Training Center in Gladstone, NJ. The trials start at 9:00 am
each day and the test ride starts at 8:30 am.
Heading
the list is Lisa Wilcox, on Relevant, who qualified with an average
score of 73.145%. She is followed by Debbie McDonald on Brentina,
owned by Peggy Thomas. McDonald and Brentina, who teamed to win
two Gold Medals at the 1999 Pan American Games, had an average
score of 72.949%.
The
top 12 qualifying riders, including two riders with two horses,
are:
| RIDER |
HOMETOWN |
HORSE |
OWNER |
SCORE |
| 1.Lisa
Wilcox |
Thousand
Oaks, CA |
Relevant
|
Gudula
Vorwerk & Dr. Claus Crone-Munzebrock |
73.145% |
| 2.
Debbie McDonald |
Hailey,
ID |
Brentina |
Perry
& Perry Thomas |
72.949% |
| 3.
Sue Blinks |
Long
Valley, NJ |
Flim
Flam |
Fritz
Kundrun Dressage Sponsor Corp. |
71.073% |
| Lisa
Wilcox |
Thousand
Oaks, CA |
Rhodiamant |
Gudula
Vorwerk & Dr. Claus Crone-Munzebrock |
70.815% |
| 4.
Betsy Steiner |
Wellington,
FL |
Rainier |
Jane
Forbes Clark |
70.524%
|
| 5.
Guenter Seidel |
Del
Mar, CA |
Nikolaus
7 |
Dick
& Jane Brown |
70.147% |
| 6.
Steffen Peters |
Escondido,
CA |
Grandeur |
Lila
Kommerstad |
69.308% |
| Guenter
Seidel |
Del
Mar, CA |
Foltaire
|
Dick
& Jane Brown |
69.080% |
| 7.
George Williams |
Delaware,
OH |
Rocher |
Charles
& Joann Smith |
67.560% |
| 8.
Tina Konyot |
Palm
City, FL |
Abrikos |
Frank
Rugin |
67.065% |
| 9.
Lynda Alicki |
Wellington,
FL |
Impressario |
Lynda
Alicki |
66.834% |
| 10.
Tom Noone |
North
Abington, MA |
Fresco |
Francine
Govostes |
66.200% |
| 11.
Christine Traurig |
Carlsbad,
CA |
Etienne |
Kelly
Trierweiler |
65.440% |
| 12.
Shelly Francis |
Woodstock,
VT |
Gala
|
Henry
Smith |
64.786% |
| Alternates: |
|
|
|
|
| 13.
Arlene Full Page |
|
Claire |
Arlene
Page |
64.785% |
| 14.
Susan Dutta |
Thornwood,
NY |
Gum
Shoes DC |
Susan
& Tim Dutta |
64.585% |
Wilcox,
who currently lives and trains in Germany, has elected not to
come to the trials and has chosen to qualify at events in Europe,
consistent with the selection procedures. Thus the 13th rider
on the list, Arlene Full Page, is eligible to come. If another
rider withdraws, the next rider on the list, Susan Dutta, will
then be eligible.
Those
with two qualified horses (Seidel) may compete on both horses.
The Trials will also serve as the 2002 USET Grand Prix Championship.
“Dressage
in the United States has come a long way in recent years,”
said Maureen Pethick, USET Director of Dressage Activities. “In
1998, the highest average score coming into the Selection Trials
was a 67.8% and the twelfth rider had a 63.00%. Those vying for
positions on the 2002 WEG Team are making history in that six
horses qualified with averages above 70%. This is clear evidence
that our program is working and we are showing great improvement
in our sport. With three consecutive Olympic Bronze Medals, it
is now time to raise the bar and I am confident that the 2002
WEG Team will be one of our strongest ever with a true shot at
a Silver Medal!”
The
competition on June 1 will consist of a Grand Prix to count for
30% of riders’ overall selection trial and Grand Prix Championship
scores. On June 2 will be the Grand Prix Special to count for
25%. There will be a second Grand Prix on June 8, again to count
for 30%. The final competition, on June 9, will be the Grand Prix
Freestyle, which will count for the remaining 15% of riders’
scores.
Following
the trials, up to six horse-and-rider combinations will then travel
to Europe for further selection trials to determine the final
team for the WEG. The final team will consist of four riders and
one alternate.
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
.
