Fred Merriam of Newfane, Vermont, won the individual bronze medal in the World Singles Driving Championship in Conty, France on August 29 - September 1, 2002.

With the only clear round in the time allowed in the cones competition, Merriam vaulted from 11th place to win the individual bronze, missing the silver medal by fractions with an ending score of 125.33. Stephanie Chouzenoux of France won the individual gold with a score of 123.29 after Anne-Violaine Brisou, also of France, was eliminated because her groom touched the reins during the cones competition. Marie Kahrle of Sweden won the individual silver medal with a final tally of 125.17.

The first World Singles Driving Championship was held in 1998 in Austria. The 2000 event was canceled due to the threat of West Nile Virus.

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.

VISION STATEMENT
The vision of USA Equestrian is to provide leadership for equestrian sport in the United States of America, promoting the pursuit of excellence from the grass roots 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.