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U.S.
Stands Fifth After Day One at I.P.E.C. Dressage World
Championships for Riders With Disabilities
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Gladstone,
New Jersey—September 5, 2003—The United States stands
fifth out of 22 teams in the fifth International Paralympic Equestrian
Committee (I.P.E.C.) Dressage World Championships in Moorsele,
Belgium.
The
U.S. team, selected by the National Disability Sports Alliance
(NDSA) and fielded by the U.S. Equestrian Team (USET), has a score
of 196.49 to trail Great Britain (216.87), Germany (211.48), Norway
(203.81) and Denmark (198.50).
The
team includes Robin Brueckmann of Summerfield, NC competing in
Grade IV on Richmond; Barbara Grassmyer of Placerville, CA competing
in Grade III on Polomius Millesine; Rebecca Hart of Erie, PA competing
in Grade III on Phoenix B; and Lynn Seidemann of Coppell, TX competing
in Grade I-B also on Phoenix B. After the first day of competition,
Seidemann is fourth in her division with a score of 67.47 and
Hart is fifth in her division with a score of 65.31. Kathryn Groves
of Winter Garden, FL and Cynthia Ruiz of Houston, TX are also
competing in the Championships as individuals.
The
U.S. riders are among the more than 125 others with similar disabilities
from 35 countries at the four-day World Championships. Participants
are competing in Individual Championship tests and Musical Freestyles
as well as the Team test. The team and individual finals are on
Saturday, September 6 and the freestyle, a separate competition,
is on Sunday, September 7.
In
addition to the prestige of winning medals and championships,
top-finishing teams and individuals at the I.P.E.C. World Championships
will earn places for their country’s athletes to participate
in the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece.
The
NDSA is the national governing body for equestrian sport for riders
with disabilities. The non-profit organization is responsible
for the development and selection of riders for national championships
and international competitions, including World Championships
and the Paralympic Games, and provides training, competition and
advocacy for riders of all levels with physical disabilities.
For more information about NDSA and opportunities to support the
programs, please visit our website at www.ndsaequestrian.org or
contact Denise Avolio at (914) 949-8166 or diavolio@ndsaonline.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
.
