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Articles: Press Release
Americans Take Gold and Silver at FEI World Reining Masters Finals
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, 2006
>From the National Reining Horse Association
Oklahoma City, OK - October 22, 2006 - Americans dominated at the FEI
World Reining Masters Finals, Saturday, October 21 in Denver, Colorado,
taking home both the Gold and Silver medals. Gold Medalist Shawn Flarida
of Springfield, Ohio, scored 223.5 in the Masters Open Division riding
Tinsel Nic. He earned an unofficial $17,906.25 gaining him an elite
distinction within the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA).
Flarida now joins the Two Million Dollar Rider Club. World Champion
Reiner Tim McQuay is the only other rider in NRHA history to earn that
two million dollar distinction. After his gold medal win, Flarida says,
"It's an awesome feeling to win, especially when you know that you're
competing against he best horsemen from around the world."
Fellow American, Tom McCutcheon of Aubrey, Texas, placed second taking
home the Silver medal and unofficially $14,325. McCutcheon earned 223
riding Smartest Chic Olena. McCutcheon says he pulled Smartest Chic
Olena out of a three-year retirement to compete in the Masters Finals.
Before the competition, McCutcheon said he was excited to see how
Smartest Chic Olena would do.
The Bronze medal in the Masters Open Division went to Shawna Sapergia of
Canada. Sapergia scored 221.5 riding BL Whiz Kid to earn about $9,311.
The crowd at the Masters Finals cheered for all the international riders
from 18 different countries including Israel, Dominican Republic,
Germany, Belgium and France, but when the two American reiners took the
arena the home crowd went wild! After the awards ceremony and the
playing of the National Anthem, it was announced that Flarida exceeded
two million dollars in NRHA lifetime earnings. Again the spectators
jumped to their feet for yet another standing ovation.
After the ceremonies and celebration, all three medalists took a victory
lap to show their appreciation for such a warm reception by the crowd.
All of the international riders say the felt it was an honor to compete
in the FEI World Reining Masters Finals. The NRHA congratulates them on
their accomplishments.
END
For more information, please contact Maria Partlow, Senior Vice
President of Marketing and Communications, at (859) 225-6941 or
mpartlow@usef.org or Kathy Damrill at kdamrill@nrha.com or 405-946-7400,
ext. 129.
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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