Articles: Horse News
Historic Team Gold Medal for U.S. Eventing Team at the 2011 Pan Americans Games
Contact:
United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
4047 Iron Works Parkway
Lexington, KY 40511-8483
Tel: (859) 258-2472
Fax (859) 231-6662
Web site: www.usef.org
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2011
Joanie Morris
GUADALAJARA, Mexico - In an unprecedented effort, the U.S. Eventing Team
stormed to Team Gold at the 2011 Pan American Games in classic style. All
five team members added nothing to their dressage scores, to finish on 138.6
- a feat never before achieved in a Team Eventing Championship.
After winning the dressage, they jumped five spectacular clear rounds on
Saturday's cross-country course, for the first time in anyone's memory and
then sealed the victory at Club Hippica with double-clear show jumping.
"I would like to give a really special congratulations to my team," said
Chef d'Equipe Mark Phillips. "Five people finishing on their dressage score
- that's never been done before in the history of our sport."
Anchored by Buck Davidson (Ocala, FL), who led the way on Absolute Liberty
as the pathfinder for the U.S. Team - he set a standard that the entire team
maintained for three days. It was a truly phenomenal effort and all four of
them finished within eight points of each other.
"We have really good horses, we were well-coached, we have a great staff and
we came here with that mission - to put in personal bests," said
Davidson. "And a big thanks to Mexico - it's been a great trip."
They head into this afternoon's Individual Jumping Final on the following
scores:
2nd Michael Pollard (Dalton, GA) and Nathalie Bouckaert's Schoensgreen Hanni
- 44.5
3rd Hannah Burnett (The Plains, VA) and Jacqueline Mars' Harbour Pilot -
45.2
4th Buck Davidson (Ocala, FL) and Sharon Will's Absolute Liberty - 48.9
Due to a PASO regulations, only three members of any one team can jump in
the individual final, so
unfortunately they do not get to jump for an individual medal. They were in
fifth and sixth place individually after the Team competition.
Shannon Lilley (Gilroy, CA) and The Lilley Group's Ballingowan Pizazz - 49.3
Lynn Symansky (Middleburg, VA) and her own Donner - 52.2
The Individual jumping begins at 3:30 Central.
ENDS
Follow the U.S. Team at the Pan American Games (photos, blogs and
wall-to-wall coverage): http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2011PanAmGames/
And on Twitter: @USEquestrianHP
For media requests or more information, please contact USEF Press Officer,
Joanie Morris at jmorris@usef.org.
The vision of the United States Equestrian Federation is to provide
leadership
for equestrian sport in the United States of America by promoting the
pursuit
of excellence from the grassroots to the Olympic Games, based on a
foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare
of its human and equine athletes.
|
