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Michael
Morrissey Wins The 2003 BET/USET Show Jumping Talent Search
Finals-East
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Gladstone,
NJ – October 6, 2003 – Michael Morrissey, 18, of Bradenton,
FL, captured top honors on Onyx 66 in the 2003 BET/United States
Equestrian Team (USET) Show Jumping Talent Search Finals-East,
held at the USET Headquarters and Olympic Training Center in Gladstone,
NJ, October 4-5.
Charlie Jayne, 17, of Elgin, IL, finished as the Reserve Champion
on Tucker edging out Addison Phillips, 14, of New York, NY who
came in third on Ricochet and his sister Maggie Jayne, 19, also
of Elgin, IL, who was fourth on Calumet.
Morrissey, trained by Missy Clark and Gene Mische, his great uncle,
topped a field of 59 riders in his second appearance at the Talent
Search. Morrissey finished just out of the ribbons last time out
in 2001 and was pleased with his performance this year, but found
it a bit scary.
“It
was nerve-wracking,” said Morrissey, “But I loved it,
it was great.” Morrissey hopes this victory is just the beginning
of great things to come.
“Winning
this class starts off the future”, said Morrissey. “The
USET is one of my biggest goals and this class is the first step
towards making the Olympic Team.”
Hap Hansen and Candice King, two top grand-prix riders, served
as the judges for the event.
The BET/USET Talent Search Finals on the East and West coasts
are open to equitation riders under the age of 21, who have qualified
through their placement in regional BET/USET Show Jumping Talent
Search classes held throughout the year.
The
BET/USET Show Jumping Talent Search Final, one of the nation’s
most prestigious equitation competitions, consists of four competition
phases designed to provide competitors with a challenging and
rigorous final and help the USET identify future international
competitors. In the flat phase, riders perform specific tests
of their riding skills without jumps; in the gymnastic phase,
riders jump combinations of obstacles. During the jumping phase,
competitors negotiate a grand prix style jumping course of fences.
Only the top four riders return to begin the fourth phase, a ride-off.
During this final phase, riders compete with their own horse over
a course of jumps, and then ride each of the other entries’
horses over the same course.
Started
in 1965 as the USET Medal program, the BET/USET Show Jumping Talent
Search encourages Young Rider development and awards USET Gold,
Silver and
Bronze Medals to competitors who have won BET/USET Show Jumping
Talent Search classes held at horse shows throughout the United
States. In 1982, the program incorporated year-end Finals as a
further goal.
BET
initiated its USET sponsorship program in 1997. Black Entertainment
Television and BET On Jazz support the Team’s show jumping
program as title sponsor of the BET/USET Show Jumping Talent Search
and as presenting sponsor of the USET
Show Jumping Talent Derby held each year at the Bayer/USET Festival
of Champions.
Results
– 2003 BET/USET Show Jumping Talent Search Final-East
Place/
Rider/ Hometown
Michael
Morrissey, Bradenton, FL
Charlie Jayne, Elgin, IL
Addison Phillips, New York, NY
Maggie Jayne, Elgin, IL
Blythe Marano, Bedminster, NJ
Anna Mc Knight, Whithall, MO
Natalie Johnson, Greenwich, CT
Sophie Coppedge, Boston, MA
Amy Lowery, Armonk, NY
Michael Del Fiandra, Delray, FL
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, vaulters 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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