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United
States Riders Finish Fifth, Sixth and Seventh in the Individual
Dressage Competition at 2003 Pan American Games
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Santo
Domingo, DR- August 10, 2003- The U.S. Dressage riders finished
fifth, sixth and seventh in the Individual Dressage Competition
at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
after the conclusion of the freestyle competition.
Jan
Ebeling of Moorpark, CA riding Feleciano, owned by New Horizons
Dressage LLC, remained in fifth place, to finish as the top scorer
for the United States, with a combined score of 206.750 after
the Prix St. Georges, Intermediaire I, and Intermediaire Freestyle.
Pierre St. Jacques of Boscawen, NH on Lucky Tiger, owned by St.
Jacques and Lisa Belcastro, took sixth scoring 203.700. The biggest
jump in the freestyle was by Carol Lavell of Loxahatchee, FL,
riding her Much Ado, who moved up from tenth to sixth with a combined
score of 202.900.
Leslie
Reid of Canada, riding Mark, owned by Marie Andrews, wowed the
crowd and captured the gold medal with a combined score of 222.100.
Reid never saw anything but the top spot throughout the three
phases of the competition and continued her winning ways with
a flawless performance in the Freestyle, scoring 76.250%. Bernadette
Pujals of Mexico and Vincent moved up from the third spot with
an outstanding test to win the Silver medal with a combined score
of 213.400. The bronze went to the hometown favorite, Yvonne Losos
de Muniz of the Dominican Republic, riding Inatana Las Marismas
with 212.000.
Ebeling
and Feleciano put in a respectable test scoring 68.600 for the
Freestyle, which he considered good.
“I
had one little mistake, but I thought my horse did really well,”
said Ebeling. “Our degree of difficulty was not as high as
the others, but he is a young horse and I was very pleased with
his consistency. My horse came through when it counted in the
Prix St. Georges, and going last and helping the team win the
gold was really, really good. Our goal for the competition was
to win the gold for the team and we achieved that goal. This whole
experience was wonderful and very, very rewarding.”
Pierre
St. Jacques had a few minor problems and finished tenth in the
Freestyle with a score of 65.900% but was able to keep his sixth
overall placing. St. Jacques agrees with Ebeling and considers
the Pan Ams a wonderful experience.
“I
needed fifteen more minutes to warm up,” said St. Jacques.
“He saw the crowd and really was on the muscle. This has
been so wonderful, though. I was even supposed to be here, and
to win the gold medal was super.”
Carol
Lavell had a great test finishing third in the Freestyle with
a score of 71.150% moving her up three spots in the final overall
standings. She was pleased with her finish and wants to celebrate
her experience in Santo Domingo.
“I
am going to open a big bottle of Champagne and toast my horse,”
said Lavell. “I was so happy with him. I wanted to go home
with at least one good ride and he gave me more. He was very proud
of himself today.”
Show
Jumping begins on Wednesday, August 13, with the first Individual
qualifier. The U.S. squad has a big job ahead of them since they
are using the Pan Ams for a qualifier for next year’s Olympic
Games in Athens, Greece. The gold and silver team medalists at
the Pan Ams will earn a spot in Athens, while the country with
the best score counting all four team member performances will
also qualify.
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
.
