Clare Bronfman, winner of the Rome Grand Prix last Sunday, May 23, Laura Kraut, 2nd place finisher of the Rome Grand Prix, Francie Steinwedell and Ray Texel, battled it out with top European Teams yesterday, Sunday, June 2, 2002, in the Nations Cup class at Lucerne, Switzerland, earning a respectable 3rd place finish. "We had three clear rounds and were tied for 1st with Germany and Belgium going into the second round," said Chef d'Equipe, Richard Padilla. "This was a great accomplishment considering many of the top teams were there, I am very pleased with the riders, they all did their part."

The riders also fared well in other classes held during the competition including a victory in a two-rider team competition won by Bronfman on 11-year-old Holsteiner, Lord William (Lord Caletto - Rocky) and Kraut aboard Allegiance (Animo - Gosseline), an 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. Kraut's performances throughout this competition including a 2nd and 5th place finish on May (Indorado/Jasper), an 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, earned her the Leading Female Rider award. Kraut was also one of only three riders in the Nations Cup class to achieve double clear rounds.

Francie Steinwedell was riding 9-year-old, Dutch Warmblood gelding Laddidor (Nimmerdor - Erisna, Noraris) and Texel was aboard the 9-year-old, Dutch Warmblood stallion, Lexicon (Voltaire/Amor). Bronfman and Texel had replaced two of the original team members who withdrew due to horse injuries. RESULTS OF THE NATIONS CUP CLASS

PLACE PENALTIES TIME

1. GERMANY 4.00 216.15
2. BELGIUM 4.00 219.11
3. USA 16.00 224.92
4. GREAT BRITAIN 20.00 230.92
5. HOLLAND 33.00 232.50
6. ITALY 116.00 77.01
7. SWITZERLAND
8. FRANCE
9. SWEDEN

For more information, please contact Sarah Holt, Public Relations on (859) 225 6974 or via email at sholt@equestrian.org. USA Equestrian press releases are available on our web site - http://www.equestrian.org/ .

USA Equestrian Inc., as the National Equestrian Federation of the U.S., is the regulatory body for the Olympic and World Championship sports of dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, reining, show jumping, and vaulting, as well as 19 other breeds and disciplines of equestrian competition. As the country's largest multi-breed organization, the Federation has over 80,000 members and recognizes more than 2,800 competitions nationwide each year. It governs all aspects of competition, including educating and licensing all judges, stewards, and technical delegates who officiate at these shows.

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