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United
States Show Jumping Team Finishes Sixth at the 2002 World
Equestrian Games
U.S
Rider Peter Wylde Leads the Individual Standings
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Jerez
de la Frontera, Spain–September 19, 2002– The United
States came extremely close to winning a medal in the Show Jumping
World Championship at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez
de la Frontera, Spain, on Thursday, but unfortunately ended up
in sixth with a score of 29.75 faults. Individually, U.S. rider
Peter Wylde still leads the standings.
At
the conclusion of the first round of the Nations’ Cup, the
U.S. team was in third place with a combined score of 17.75, just
ahead of Germany who scored 19.69. The battle for the Gold seemed
to be between Sweden, who scored 9.02, and France with 9.22.
A
medal was still within reach after two riders in the final round.
The lead U.S. rider, Peter Wylde, had a second clear round and
Nicole Simpson of Westlake Village, CA on El Campeon’s Cirka
Z, owned by El Campeon Farm, had only one rail. Germany’s
first two riders totaled only 4 faults, but France was in trouble
because their second rider, Reynald Angot, incurred 19.00 faults.
Sweden was also in a little bit of a spot because their first
two competitors had 8 faults each.
As
can happen in the Nations’ Cup, things completely changed
after each team’s number three riders went. Belgium now had
two clears and began to look like a medal possibility. Germany’s
Marcus Ehning dropped another rail and France moved back into
contention with a 4-fault ride by Gilles Bertran de Balanda. Sweden’s
Helena Lundback had a clear go, putting them right back in the
fight.
Beezie
Madden of Cazenovia, NY on Judgement, owned by Iron Spring Farm,
riding third for the U.S., incurred twelve faults, putting the
U.S. medal hopes solely on the shoulders of its anchor rider,
two-time Olympic veteran Leslie Howard.
The
final round could not have been more exciting. Belgium’s
anchor, Jos Lansink, had a clear giving his team a final score
of 22.68 and a chance at the Bronze. Much to everyone’s surprise,
Ludger Beerbaum had two rails, making him the drop score for Germany
and giving them a tally of 27.69 and fourth place.
Then
came the fourth and final rider for the U.S., Leslie Howard of
Westport, CT, riding Priobert de Kalvarie, owned by Higher Ground
Farm, with all the pressure in the world. The only way the Americans
could win a medal was if Howard went clear. Unfortunately, she
did not. Howard had eight faults to give the U.S. a final score
of 29.75 and a sixth-place finish.
“I
really thought we could go clear,” Howard said. “When
I trotted into the ring that second time, he felt great and then
in one second, it was over.”
The
team medals were still undecided with France and Sweden still
to go. Eric Navet was a true anchor for France riding clear and
clinching the Gold. Sweden’s Malin Baryard had only one rail
in hand to keep the Silver. One rail was all she scored, giving
her team a score of 21.02 and the Silver medal. Belgium received
the Bronze.
Individually,
the U.S. is still looking great with Wylde on top of the standings.
Wylde, who currently resides in Maastricht, Holland, riding Fein
Cera, owned by the Fein Cera Group, was faultess for the day and
he goes into the next round on Saturday with a score of only 1.55.
Eric Navet of France is second with 3.29 and Helena Lundback of
Sweden is third with 3.62.
“It
was disappointing as we all thought we could win a medal,”
Wylde said, “but I couldn’t be happier with my mare.
She tried her heart out and gave extra effort. She’s an incredible
horse.”
The
Final Four of the Show Jumping World Championship takes place
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
.
