Articles: Horse News
Less Than a Second Wins Gold for McCrea at 2011 Pan American Games
Christine McCrea and Romantovich Take One.
Photo: Shannon Brinkman.
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NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 29, 2011
GUADALAJARA, Mexico - In a sport of inches it came down to 7/100ths of a
second. Beezie Madden (Cazenovia, NY) had led the 2011 Pan American Games
since Wednesday, and when she landed over the last fence in the second round
of the day it seemed Individual Gold was secure with her fifth clear round
of the Games.
Until the clock stopped.
She and Coral Reef Via Volo finished with a time of 66.07, just over the
time allowed of 66 seconds. That one time fault left her in the Silver medal
position behind her teammate Christine McCrea (Windsor, CT) and Romantovich
Take One.
It was an epic finish. There wasn't a rail separating the top five horses
going into the final round - and at the end of all the jumping, McCrea and
Windsor Show Stables' 11-year-old Dutch gelding finished up the way they
started. They jumped five clear rounds over three days and ended their first
Pan American Games with Team and Individual Gold on a score of .88.
"My overall impression was this was a fabulous week," said McCrea. "It was
great. Our country needed this - we needed it."
Madden is the master of precise riding and clutch performances so her time
fault surprised everyone in attendance.
"I did not anticipate that, I'm sure Beezie didn't anticipate that," said
McCrea. "It just happened. That's sports."
Madden and Coral Reef Ranch's 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare put on a
jumping clinic throughout the week, they began by winning the speed class on
Wednesday - but were victims of the clock in the final moments of these
Games.
"It cost me a lot," said Madden of her time fault. "But thank god I have a
strong team here and Chris was to take it up - I am happy it was an
American, we were still Gold and Silver and with the Team Gold it was a
fantastic week for us so no complaints."
The course was imposing, especially in Saturday's second round but
Romantovich Take One jumped around Javier Fernandez' courses easily, he
never looked challenged - simply bounding around the main arena at the
Guadalajara Country Club. Chef d'Equipe George Morris was thrilled with the
overall result of his squad.
"We had a great week here, we had a great unit of people, they get along
well - they're lovely people," said Morris. "We had a great chemistry of
people, this club, this whole venue - this is just as nice as any
competition I've ever been to at any level anywhere... the atmosphere was
great. We have lovely horses down here - the support staff that helps each
of these riders are real professionals. It's all preparation."
With Team Gold , the U.S. secured qualification for the 2012 Olympic Games
and with this Jumping result - the U.S. takes home it's ninth and 10th
medals of these Games sweeping Team Gold in Dressage, Eventing and Jumping -
the U.S. riders won every Individual medal except for two: Individual Gold
in Eventing and Individual Bronze in Jumping. It is the most successful Pan
American Games for the United States equestrian teams in history.
ENDS
Follow the U.S. Team at the Pan American Games (photos, blogs and more):
http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2011PanAmGames/
And on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates about their performances:
@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
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