The American Horse Shows Association (AHSA) announced today that the U.S. scored their first victory in the 2000/2001 Samsung Nations Cup series at Drammen, Norway on June 23, 2001. The team comprised Aaron Vale, from Rembert, SC riding Alison Register's 9 year-old bay mare, Alliance; Candice King, Wellington, FL aboard Peter Nissen's 15 year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion, John E.M. by Jasper out of Zeggy (Enfant de Normandie); Nona Garson, Lebanon, NJ riding her own and Harold & Kathleen Kamine's 11 year-old bay Holsteiner gelding Capital S by Calvadur out of O-Bianco and Kimberly Frey, Hume, VA with Katherine Miracle's 10 year-old bay gelding Conawara.

They beat nine other nations including Italy who came in second with just four faults separating them in a closely fought battle to the wire that included the host nation Norway, which took third place. The Americans were holding the reins after the opening round when they completed on a zero score; Candice King's double-error with John E.M. becoming the discard score in the first round.

Nona Garson was last into the ring with her new young horse Capital S, a grandson of Cor de la Bryere, and a "very different model" to her top ride and Sydney Olympic partner, Rhythmical, with whom she has had considerable success.

"Capital S is a lovely big horse but not that experienced and he put his toe in the water in the second round - he was good all the rest of the way and that was enough to give us the win," the 40 year-old Olympic veteran said afterwards.

U.S. Chef d'Equipe, George Morris, was delighted. "Aaron Vale had a double-clear with Alliance but I am particularly pleased for Kimberly Frey who also went double-clear," he said. "We were in the lead in Helsinki [the previous week-end] after the first round but Kim, who was clear first time, came back to have 16 faults in a really flukey second round which you just could not explain and, because there was no drop score, we were out. I've always believed in her and today she was good and the horse was good - we've had a great show here in Drammen," he added, where they won seven classes between them.

The United States remains in seventh spot on the Samsung Nations Cup leader-board after this victory and has two more chances to pick up points when traveling on to CSIO Ikast, Denmark, July 6-8, and CSIO Falsterbo, Sweden, July 9-15.

Results:

1st - USA (Aaron Vale/Alliance 0+0; Kimberly Frey/Conawara 0+0; Nona Garson/Capital S 0+4; Candice King/John E.M. 8+DNS.) Total - 4 faults in 226.96 secs.

2nd - Italy (Massimo Grossato/Elkintot 0+0, Alessia Marioni/Experiment 4+DNS, Filippo Moyersoen/Loro Piana Flyinge Garibaldi 4+0, Mario Verheyden/Lanificio Colombo Elan du Thot 4+0.) Total - 8 faults in 243.34 secs.

3rd - Norway - (Anita Sande/Capiletto 16+DNS, Nina Braaten Johnsen/Favoritas 0+0, Connie Bull/Bulls Cheasapeak Blue 4+8, Geir Gulliksen/Calido 0+4.) Total -16 faults in 231.23 secs.

For more information, please contact Christine E. Stafford, Director of Communications on (859) 225 6923 or via email at cstafford@ahsa.org cstafford@ahsa.org. AHSA press releases are available on our web site - www.ahsa.org http://www.ahsa.org/ .