Frank Chapot Honored With USA Equestrian Lifetime Achievement Award

Mr. Frank D. Chapot, 69, of Neshanic Station, New Jersey, has been named as
the winner of the 2001 First USA Bank/USA Equestrian Lifetime Achievement
Award for the Jimmy A. Williams Trophy. This prestigious award is bestowed
annually by the USA Equestrian Executive Committee to an outstanding
equestrian whose "lifetime experience and accomplishments exemplify uncommon
devotion to the sport of horse showing and whose equestrian career and
horsemanship has continually elevated the sport's excellence."

Chapot has been a key figure with the United States Equestrian Team, first
as the youngest member of the 1956 Olympic team, and after five other
Olympic appearances as a rider, he moved on to serve as Chef d'Equipe,
helping them attain the first Show Jumping team gold medal in the Olympic
Games in 1984. This six-time Olympian was named AHSA's Horseman of the Year
in 1969 placing him in an elite category of those receiving both Horseman of
the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Awards. Chapot adds his name to this
distinguished list of equestrians who have made their indelible marks in the
world of horse sports, including Kenneth and Sallie Wheeler, William B.
Steinkraus, Bertalan de Nemethy, Helen Crabtree and the first Lifetime
Achievement recipient, Jimmy A. Williams. He was a long-time member of the
USA Equestrian Board of Directors, and an officer as well.

Frank Chapot will be formally presented with this honor during the USA
Equestrian Annual Meeting, January 9-13, 2002 in Charlotte, North Carolina
as part of the Friday night Pegasus Awards Dinner.

Frank Chapot

* In 1956, Mr. Chapot was the youngest member of the USET
Olympic Team while on active duty with the U.S. Air Force.
* Graduate of Wharton Business School, Penn State University
* Married to the former Mary Mairs, an Olympic teammate in
1964 and 1968. Their two daughters, Wendy and Laura, have both achieved
success in the show ring.
* Winner of the 1948 Maclay Cup.
* 1969 AHSA Horseman of the Year
* 1994 Inductee in the Show Jumping Hall of Fame
* Four decades as a key figure in the USET.
o Past 20 years has produced amazing record
for the USET
o Five additional Olympic appearances, last
appearance as a rider in 1976.
o Participant on 46 winning Nation Cup Teams
o Two Olympic Silver medals
o Individual Bronze in the 1974 World
Championships
o Victories at the President's Cup, The Grand
Prix of NY and London, England's King George V Gold Cup
o In the early 80s, Chapot made the transition
from rider to Chef d'Equipe
o 1984, the team obtained the Gold medal at
the Los Angeles Olympics
o 1986, a Gold medal Team at the World
Equestrian Games - Aachen, Germany
o 1988, the Team won the Silver medal at the
Seoul Olympics
o Anchor of the winning team was Greg Best,
pupil and 1988 Individual Silver medallist on Gem Twist, bred by Chapot.
o 1996, the team won the Silver medal at the
Centennial Olympic Games - Atlanta, Georgia
o 1997, Chapot guided the U.S. team to victory
at the FEI Nations Cup Series Championship. First win since 1968, when
Chapot was a rider

* Mr. Chapot has served the AHSA in many respects:
o Past Chair of the Jumper Committee, has been
a member of the committee for over 30 years
o Current member of the FEI Competitions
Committee
o Past member of the AHSA LOC Committee, AHSA
Hearing Committee and former Secretary of the Association
o Active Equitation, Hunter and Jumper Judge
and Course Designer with the AHSA, officiating at the AHSA Hunter Seat Medal
Finals, the ASPCA Maclay Equitation Finals and the USET Equitation Finals

o Mr. Chapot is also active with the USET
o Former Vice President of Show Jumping
o Active member of the USET Jumper Committee
and member of the Board of Directors

* Mr. Chapot has been an instrument in the success of many horses
including the following: Viscount, Trail Guide, Mainspring, White
Lightning, Good Twist, San Lucas, and Gem Twist.

USA Equestrian Inc., as the National Equestrian Federation of the U.S., is the regulatory body for the Olympic and World Championship sports of dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, reining, show jumping, and vaulting, as well as 19 other breeds and disciplines of equestrian competition. As the country's largest multi-breed organization, the Federation has over 77,000 members and recognizes more than 2,800 competitions nationwide each year. It governs all aspects of competition, including educating and licensing all judges, stewards, and technical delegates who officiate at these shows.