NEWS RELEASE - For Immediate Release
September 2, 2001

USA Equestrian (formerly AHSA) announced today that U.S. teams finished in fourth and sixth place at Burghley Three-Day Event, England, August 30-September 2, 2001. Team USA 2 finished in 4th place on 194.2 penalties behind Great Britain 1, New Zealand and Great Britain 2 respectively and Team USA 1 came in 6th on a score of 230.8 in the team competition, which was held as part of the test for the proposed Olympic format for show jumping. All riders jumped one round in the morning session to determine the team result and the top 25 then jumped a second round in the afternoon to decide the individual winner. Of those 25, there were 13 clear rounds and seven riders on just four faults.

New Zealand riders took the top three places with Atlanta Olympic champion, Blyth Tait on Ready Teddy scoring his second Burghley win after overtaking his compatriot and overnight leader, Andrew Nicholson with last year's winner, Mr. Smiffy. Daniel Jocelyn jumped from 10th place on Silence to finish in third place.

Beale Morris was the top placed U.S. rider after completing the show jumping phase with a score of 62.0 penalties in 10th place. John Williams, who has been going so well at this four-star event, collected a few faults in the arena to end the day in 18th place on a score of 70.4 with Carrick. Robert Costello and his Olympic partner, Chevalier, climbed six places from their cross-country position with just one rail down today to complete on 72.4 in 20th place. The ever-exuberant 3 Magic Beans contained his enthusiasm due to tactful riding by Nina Fout and despite just one rail down and a time fault they came in 23rd on 75.8 penalties.

Bruce Davidson was the next best U.S. rider with Apparition in 30th place on 79.2 and he finished 41st on his other ride, Little Tricky. Natalie Rooney completed with Aladdin in 32nd place with Lauren O'Brien and Dunrath Alto on the same score of 83.8, just one place behind.

Mara Depuy withdrew Here to Stay before the third veterinary inspection this morning. Darren Chiacchia and Linden Wiesman ended their campaign on the cross-country and David O'Connor decided to save Rattle N Hum for next week's Blenheim Three Day Event.

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/ .