The U. S. Pairs Driving Team is tied for eighth place with 96.3 points after successfully completing the dressage phase of the World Pairs Driving Competition in Haras de Jardy, France, September 18 - 21.

U.S. competitors Lisa Singer, of Chadds Ford, PA, and Larry Poulin of Petersham, MA, are currently tied for 20th place individually and Mike McLennan is in 41st going into tomorrow's marathon competition. The Netherlands is currently in 1st place with 81.4 points with team member Riny Rutjens sitting in first in the individual competition.

Singer said: "Count and Gali were awesome. It was the best test this pair ever performed." Singer was driving Anne F. Thorington's COUNT ON ME (Morgan: Kennebee Count - Nemuers Isabelle) and LR AMI BENGALI (Morgan: HRM Eye of the Tiger - LR Ami Allynda). She also has Thorington's AVALON AVANT GARDE (Morgan: See Jay Appolo - Appleton Enchantress). Poulin is driving Natasha Grigg's CAMDEN (Holsteiner: Coriander - Optia), CONYER (Dutch Warmblood: Faram - Ballerina) or CODY (Swedish Warmblood: Riverman - L.A. Utrilla, by Utrilla) and McLennan is driving his own PECAN MILL TUFF (Friesian/Quarter Horse: Foster - Miss Zan Colonel), DOUBLE SUGAR REY (Quarter Horse: Tamu Zan Tanon - Double Solis) or PECAN MILL RUFF (Friesian/Quarter Horse: Foster - Ms Poco Zantanon Rey, by Tamu Zantanon Rey).

The second phase of the competition, the marathon, will be held tomorrow, Saturday, September 20, and the final phase, cones, will be held on Sunday, September 21.

For more information visit the FEI World Pairs Driving Competition web site at http://www.aso-equitation.com/2003/us/attelage.html.

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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