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United
States Equestrian Team Eventing Riders Win US-UK Challenge
Match
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Gladstone,
NJ—September 9, 2003—United States Equestrian Team (USET)
eventing riders defeated British eventing riders in the first-ever
US-UK Challenge Match, Sponsored by Mountain Horse, at the Burghley
Masterfoods Horse Trials CCI**** in England.
Modeled
after golf’s Ryder Cup, the Challenge Match pitted seven
individuals from each country head-to-head against each other.
The U.S. won four of the matches to the UK’s three.
Leading
the U.S. to victory was John Williams who finished fourth overall
in the CCI**** with a score of 53.0 penalties on Carrick. Williams
defeated Mary King on King Solomon III who withdrew prior to show
jumping.
Also
winning for the U.S. was Bruce Davidson, who placed sixth overall
with a score of 54.4 on Little Tricky. He defeated Polly Jackson
who had a score of 96.2 on Limestone Rise. David O’Connor,
who finished 15th with a score of 66.2 on Tigger Too, defeated
Jeanette Brakewell who retired on Phase D with Plantangnet of
Rushall, and William Coleman, who finished 26th with a score of
75.6 on Fox In Flight, defeated William Fox-Pitt, who finished
28th with a score of 77.0 on Bollincoola.
Winning
for the UK was Pippa Funnel, whose overall win in the CCI made
her the first-ever winner of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing.
Funnnel, who completed the Rolex Grand Slam with consecutive wins
in the Rolex Kentucky, Badminton and Burghley four-star events,
finished with 41.8 penalties on Primmore’s Pride to defeat
Amy Tryon who withdrew before Phase D with Woodstock. Also winning
for the UK was Zara Phillips, daughter of USET chef d’equipe
Captain Mark Phillips, who was second overall with a score of
45.8 on Toytown. She defeated Heidi White who finished with a
score of 107.8 on Northern Spy. The other UK win was by Leslie
Law who scored 61.2 on Shear H2O to defeat Karen O’Connor
who had a score of 76.6 on Upstage.
In
addition to winning the inaugural Challenge Match, the USET squad
at Burghley was greatly successful in progressing toward next
year’s Olympic Games. Thirteen U.S. horse-and-rider combinations
earned certificates of capability for the 2004 Athens Olympics,
satisfying all requirements for eligibility.
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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