Gladstone, NJ - In their first national competition riding together, husband and wife team Steffen and Shannon Peters of San Diego, California, won first and second place respectively, taking home the titles in the 2005 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Intermediaire I Dressage Championship, presented by Paul Miller Auto Group, Inc. Steffen earned a cumulative score of 73.425%, riding Marlando (1999 Dutch Warmblood gelding), and Shannon was awarded a 71.695% overall, riding Luxor (1993 Dutch Warmblood gelding).

"It certainly worked out very well today," said a smiling Steffen. "When you come down the center line, it's about focus, but when you exit the ring, it's about the team-it's friendship." If the pair keeps it up, dressage may just have what the sport of eventing has lauded for years, a la "O'Connor Event Team" style, with the famous husband and wife team, David and Karen O'Connor.

Overall, Steffen was very pleased with Marlando's freestyle performance on Saturday, which he said was "probably one of his best." The pair earned overwhelming marks of approval from the judges- performing to their freestyle, San Marco, they finished with a 77.525%. Friday's freestyle was the third of three classes which make up the National Championship. The first class, the USEF Prix St. Georges on Thursday accounted for 35% of the overall score; the USEF Intermediaire I on Friday accounted for 45% of the score; and the USEF Intermediaire Freestyle on Saturday accounted for the final 20%.

"It's not just about coming here and winning," Steffen said. "You look back and feel really good about the way you got here-the training and the road you took...that's what I'm taking home from here."

Shannon and Luxor performed their freestyle to a flamenco-style medley, earning a 71.300 and a fourth place in the class, still high enough to earn a second place ranking in the overall Championship. "I had a lot of horse today," explained Shannon. "The music was a little loud for the horse...we did the best we could and I'm happy with where we placed." In reference to her first time at the National Championship, Shannon said, "I came here hoping I'd get in the top five. To actually place second, and behind Steffen, is great. I'm proud of my horse. We just pulled all of this together in February and started the freestyle two months ago."

Jane Hannigan of Harvard, Massachusetts, once again rounded out the top three with a score of 70.290% on Maksymilian (1994 KWPN Dutch Warmblood gelding). The pair took second in Saturday's class though, the USEF Intermediaire Freestyle, earning a 71.700 to music from "Mission Impossible."

"I am so happy," beamed Hannigan. "I had no expectations when I came here. I was just so excited for the opportunity the USEF gave me. I was elated that I would get to come to the Championship." Placing third, Jane has started the long journey of proving herself among the nation's very best. "I got to meet my hero, Coach Klaus Balkenhol, and I got to ride with my hero," Hannigan said. "Overall, it was phenomenal."

Scores for Saturday's class, the USEF Intermediaire Freestyle, are listed below, followed by overall scores for the National Championship.

Results for USEF Intermediaire Freestyle, June 18, 2005 Third of three classes in the 2005 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Intermediaire I Dressage Championship, Presented by Paul Miller Auto Group, Inc.

1. Steffen Peters of San Diego, CA, riding Marlando (1999 Dutch Warmblood gelding), 77.525%

2. Jane Hannigan of Harvard, MA, riding Maksymilian (1994 KWPN Dutch Warmblood gelding), 71.700%

3. Heather Bender of Loxahatchee, FL, riding Winwood (1995 Hanoverian gelding), 71.500%

4. Shannon Peters of San Diego, CA, riding Luxor (1993 Dutch Warmblood gelding), 71.300%

5. Melissa Taylor Yee of Wellington, FL, riding Schumacker Solyst (1994 KWPN Dutch Warmblood gelding), 70.400%

6. Charlotte Bredahl Baker of Solvang, CA, riding Eskada (1997 Dutch Warmblood gelding), 69.900%

7. Jennifer Schrader of Roy, WA, riding HS Wistar (1996 Hungarian stallion), 69.775%

8. Anne Gribbons of Brentwood, NY, riding Alazan (1995 Swedish Warmblood gelding), 69.700%

9. Lindsay Koffler of Lexington, KY, riding Alfredo (1991 Hanoverian gelding), 67.875%

10. Silke Rembacz of Flemington, NJ, riding Millenium (1994 Dutch Warmblood gelding), 65.700%

11. Alison Sader Larson of Shoreview, MN, riding Legretto (1997 Hanoverian gelding), 65.525%

12. Betsy Steiner of Wellington, FL, riding Diamore (1996 Danish mare), 64.850%

Overall Results for the 2005 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Intermediaire I Dressage Championship, Presented by Paul Miller Auto Group, Inc., June 16-18

1. Steffen Peters of San Diego, CA, riding Marlando (1999 Dutch Warmblood gelding), 73.425%

2. Shannon Peters of San Diego, CA, riding Luxor (1993 Dutch Warmblood gelding), 71.695%

3. Jane Hannigan of Harvard, MA, riding Maksymilian (1994 KWPN Dutch Warmblood gelding), 70.290%

4. Heather Bender of Loxahatchee, FL, riding Winwood (1995 Hanoverian gelding), 68.315%

5. Jennifer Schrader of Roy, WA, riding HS Wistar (1996 Hungarian stallion), 68.258%

6. Melissa Taylor Yee of Wellington, FL, riding Schumacker Solyst (1994 KWPN Dutch Warmblood gelding), 68.228%

7. Charlotte Bredahl Baker of Solvang, CA, riding Eskada (1997 Dutch Warmblood gelding), 67.612%

8. Anne Gribbons of Brentwood, NJ, riding Alazan (1995 Swedish Warmblood gelding), 65.687%

9. Silke Rembacz of Flemington, NJ, riding Millenium (1994 Dutch Warmblood gelding), 64.965%

10. Betsy Steiner of Wellington, FL, riding Diamore (1996 Danish mare), 64.385%

11. Lindsay Koffler of Lexington, KY, riding Alfredo (1991 Hanoverian gelding), 63.492%

12. Alison Sader Larson of Shoreview, MN, riding Legretto (1997 Hanoverian gelding), 62.760%

For more information, contact Sarah Lane at (859) 225-6974, or via e-mail at Sarah.Lane@usef.org. USEF press releases can be found on our website, www.usef.org.