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United
States Leads Eventing Competition After First Day of Dressage
Phase at World Equestrian Games 2002
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Jerez
de la Frontera, Spain–September 12, 2002 –The United
States Equestrian Team (USET) Eventing squad is in first place
with a score of 68.40 penalties at the conclusion of the first
day of the Dressage phase held on Thursday at the 2002 World Equestrian
Games in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
Sydney
Olympic Gold Medalist David O’Connor of The Plains, VA, riding
Giltedge, owned by Jacqueline Mars, Christa Badger and Jonathan
Ireland, and John Williams of Middleburg, VA, riding his Carrick,
received the same score of 34.20 to place them in a second place
tie individually.
Australia
is in second place in the team standings with a score of 84.80
and the favored team of Great Britain is third with a score of
87.60. Phillip Dutton of Australia, who is riding as an individual
and not as a member of the Australian team, is in the lead individually
with a dressage score of 33.60 on House Doctor.
O’Connor
rode first for the US in the late morning and set a high standard,
receiving a perfect ten for one movement. He was extremely happy
with the test on his two-time Olympic mount.
“I
feel great,” said O’Connor. This is the best test Giltedge
and I have ever had. He tries his heart out, he’s such a
competitor.”
Not
to be outdone by the 2000 Olympic Champion, John Williams rode
his test to the identical impressive score.
“This
was my best test ever,” said Williams who rode Carrick to
the Reserve Championship in this year’s Rolex/USET Four-Star
Championship at the Rolex/Kentucky Three-Day Event in April. “He
felt great. He was a little spooky, but that’s great for
him to wake him up a bit.”
Both
riders feel the cross country will be the true test. “The
cross country course is very tough,” said O’ Connor.
“It’s unpredictable. The instinct of the riders will
play an important role.”
“The
course is a little tough,” said Williams. “It is big
enough and quite technical.”
The
Eventing dressage phase concludes on Friday and the cross country
will take place on Saturday. The final phase of eventing, show
jumping will be on Sunday.
Comprehensive
coverage of all World Equestrian Games competition is available
on the USET website at www.uset.org.
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
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