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U.S.
Show Jumper Peter Wylde Makes It To the Final Four at
the 2002 World Equestrian Games
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Jerez
de la Frontera, Spain–September 21, 2002 – After qualifying
for the Final Four, Peter Wylde of the United States is in the
hunt for the individual World Championship Show Jumping title
at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
For the first time in 12 years, an American has made it to the
Final Four, the last time being in 1990 when Greg Best and Gem
Twist qualified in Stockholm, Sweden.
Wylde,
who currently resides in Maastricht, Holland, riding Fein Cera,
owned by the Fein Cera Group, led the standings going into the
third individual Show Jumping Qualifier and was the last to jump
in the first round. As all riders start with a clean slate in
Sunday’s Final Four, all Wylde had to do was stay amongst
the top four.
“I
was incredibly nervous,” said Wylde. “When I entered
the ring, the announcer said that I had two rails in hand. That
made me very happy.”
Wylde
made use of the cushion. Despite having one knock-down in the
first round, Wylde and Fein Cera were in second place heading
into Round Two.
Several
riders in the early going had rails down making it look like anyone
was eligible for the Final Four. One of the first to gain momentum
was Dermott Lennon of Ireland, who moved up from sixth to fourth
in the second round, despite incurring four faults. Eric Levallois
of France was in fourth place for the first round, but had two
rails down and looked to be out of the running. Helena Lundback
of Sweden started out in third place and fell back to seventh
for Round Two. Eric Navet of France went clear and moved into
the lead spot going into the second round.
More
rails hit the ground to increase the excitement in Round Two,
especially for Lundback. She went clear and became the first woman
to make the Final Four since Gail Greenough in 1986 at Aachen,
Germany. Lennon had one rail, but still moved up into third position.
Wylde had another rail, but was able to stay in second. Navet
had only three time faults, to keep the top spot.
“I
have worked all of my life to get here,” said Wylde, an individual
Silver Medalist at the 1999 Pan American Games. “I never
thought I would make it. It’s a great feeling to be here.
I am absolutely thrilled and my horse was wonderful. This is a
huge deal.”
The
Final Round of competition at the World Championship to determine
the individual medals is unique. All four competitors ride their
own horse in the first round, and then take turns on each of the
other horses, for a total of sixteen rounds.
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
.
