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Articles: Press Release
Miles Takes Two USEF Eventing Championships at Fair Hill Festival
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 26, 2006
Not one, not two, but three USEF eventing championships were contested
from October 19-22 at the prestigious Fair Hill Festival in the Country
in Elkton, MD. Each year, Fair Hill hosts the USEF CCI*** championship
- one of two three-star competitions in the country. In addition to the
three-star, the USEF National Owner/Rider and the USEF National Under 25
eventing championships were also contested.
Two of the championships were awarded off of the same ride - the
three-star and the owner/rider championships. Horses and riders take to
the course once, but are eligible for both honors.
Gina Miles of Creston, CA, took two of the championships titles aboard
McKinlaigh (a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse chestnut gelding co-owned
with Thomas Schulz and Laura Coats). In the three-star championship, she
bested Jan Byyny and Waterfront (11-year-old dark chestnut Thoroughbred
co-owned by Jo Ellen and Richard Byyny) for the title on a score of
55.6, over Byyny's 56.4.
In the owner/rider championship, Miles finished ahead of Byyny once
again, who took the reserve title.
Up until the last test - show jumping - it looked as if there might have
been another winner altogether. Florida's Jonathan Holling and Lion
King II had held the lead after cross-country (they were in second after
dressage). It was in the show jumping ring that Holling, who had a rail
in-hand, seemed to come up against an unfortunate round. Three rails
downed left him out of top-spot contention. Ultimately, Holling finished
in seventh place.
In the dressage phase, Miles stood at fifth on a score of 54.8 compared
to Byyny's 52.4. It was truly a cross-country competition as both Miles
and Byyny held nothing back. Miles added 0.8 time penalties to her score
to head into show jumping on her 55.6. Byyny added four time faults to
go into the final day on 56.4.
Both riders went clean and clear through the show jumping round, but it
was Miles' score that brought her the victory in both competitions.
The 2006 USEF National Under 25 Eventing Championships were also held
over the weekend. This award is open to competitors from the beginning
of the calendar year in which they reach the age of 22 until the end of
the calendar year in which they reach the age of 24.
This year's title was awarded to 22-year-old Tara Ziegler of Lincoln
University, PA, aboard Buckingham Place, an 11-year-old bay Thoroughbred
gelding.
ENDS
For more information, please contact Maria Partlow, Senior Vice
President of Marketing and Communications, at (859) 225-6941 or
mpartlow@usef.org.
As the National Governing Body (NGB) of Equestrian Sport, the United
States Equestrian Federation(r), Inc. (USEF) is the regulatory body for
28 breeds and disciplines, including our country's international teams
competing in the disciplines of dressage, driving, endurance, eventing,
para-equestrian, reining, show jumping and vaulting. With over 87,000
members, it is the country's largest multi-breed organization and
annually license more than 2,800 competitions nationwide. The USEF
governs all aspects of competition, including education and licensing of
all judges, stewards, and technical delegates who officiate shows.
Vision Statement: The vision of United States Equestrian Federation(r)
is to provide leadership for equestrian sport in the United States of
America, 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 horses, and embracing this vision, to be the best
national equestrian federation in the world.
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