USA Equestrian (formerly AHSA) announced today that U.S. riders completed the dressage phase of the Burghley Three-Day Event, England, August 30-September 2, 2001. At the end of three days of dressage, John Williams, who rode his test yesterday on Carrick, heads the 13-strong U.S. squad with a score of 46.0 to place him 7th in a record field of 108 starters which is headed by last year's winner, New Zealand veteran, Andrew Nicholson aboard Mr. Smiffy on 41.0 penalties. The U.S. is represented by two teams as well as three individual entries in this year's event, which features a team competition and a test run for the proposed new Olympic format for the show jumping phase.

Olympic champion, David O'Connor rode David Lenaburg's 10-year-old gelding, Rattle N Hum, as an individual in this afternoon session to finish in equal ninth place on a score of 46.6 penalties. Beale Morris riding Pathfinder, on whom she finished 6th last year, is currently the third highest placed U.S. rider on 47.0 penalties to tie for 14th place. Darren Chiacchia from Springville, NY and R G Renegade are currently lying in 20th place on 48.6 after their test yesterday and Robert Costello aboard his Olympic partner, Chevalier, are in equal 27th place on 51.4. Bruce Davidson is currently in 38th place with Apparition on 54.2 penalties and, riding Little Tricky, he finished on a score of 58.6 in equal 55th place. Darren Chiacchia (Power Ty -10-year-old by Private Thoughts x Emily Express) scored 58.8 to place them equal 57th with Lauren O'Brien on Dunrath Alto. Another Sydney Olympian, Nina Fout and 3 Magic Beans, scored 64.8 to place them 74th .

Team 1 comprises Darren Chiacchia (R.G. Renegade - 11 year-old SF/TB by Galoubet A x Toome A Queen - owned by Colleen Hofstetter); Robert Costello (Chevalier - 12 year-old chestnut gelding owned by Deirdre Pirie), Southern Pines, NC; Bruce Davidson (Little Tricky -10 year-old TB by Babamist x Bay Leggs - owned by Debbie Furnas, Joan Heyman Bergmann & rider), Unionville, PA; Mara DePuy (Here To Stay - nine year-old Irish gelding - owned by Willow Bend LLC), Roundville, VA - 57.6 penalties in equal 49th place; Nina Fout (3 Magic Beans - 11-year-old TB gelding by Hidden Capital x Express Card - owned by Virginia Fout & rider), Middleburg, VA.

Team 2 comprises Beale Morris (Pathfinder - 13-year-old TB by Horativs x Jim's Belle), Middleburg, VA; Lauren Hart O'Brien (Dunrath Alto - 10-year-old Irish gelding by No Alto x Ballarin Lady - owned by George & Dianne Lucas & rider), Southern Pines, NC; Natalie Rooney (Aladdin - 9-year-old TRA/TB by Timmler x Allie-oop) - 57.0 penalties in equal 47th place, San Marcos, CA; Linden Weisman (Anderoo - 12-year-old TB by Buckaroo x My Sharp Lady), Bluemont, VA - 72.2 penalties in 100th place; John Williams (Carrick - 9-year-old Canadian bred gelding by Cozy's Commander x War Issue - owned by Elise Depapp, Diane Tichell & rider), Middleburg, VA.

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 - http://www.ahsa.org/ .