GLADSTONE, NJ-August 25, 2000-Following the final world singles qualifying event for Canadian drivers at the Bayer/USET Festival of Champions in Gladstone, NJ, the Canadian Equestrian Team (CET) Driving Selection Committee announced its team for the FEI World Singles Championship-2000. Representing Canada at the second FEI World Singles Championship, October 18-22, 2000, will be:

• Sue Mott of Angus, Ontario
• Kirsten Brunner of Hillsburg, Ontario
• David Wharton of Kendall, Ontario
• Alternate: Orville Unrau of Rock Creek, British Columbia

The selection was based on a point system ranking attained by each short-listed driver from six qualifying combined driving competitions in 1999 and five in 2000. The five best scores, with a maximum of three in any one year, were totaled for the final ranking.

Mott and her horse Caesar won the Bayer/USET Festival of Champions and the Georgia International in 2000. In 1999, she drove to victory at the Fair Hill International.

Brunner and Beaverswoods Birchley, who competed in the World Pairs Championship in Germany, won at the Festival of Champions in 1999. Brunner was also named the Grand Champion at the 1999 Walnut Hill and the 1998 Advanced Single Horse Champion from Canada.

Wharton represented Canada at the 1993 and 1997 World Pairs Driving Championships. He will be competing at the 2000 World Singles Championship with King Arthur (aka "The King Man") The 2000 squad is hoping to improve upon its eleventh place finish at the 1998 World Singles Championships in Ebbs, Austria.

The FEI World Singles Championship-2000 is hosted by the Gladstone Equestrian Association (GEA). In 1993, the GEA received international recognition and acclaim when it hosted the World Pairs Driving Championship, the first international driving championship ever held outside Europe. Recognized by the international equestrian yearbook, L'Annee Hippique, as "The World's Best Driving Event of 1993," the competition was a major success and accomplishment in the sport of combined driving.

Advance general admission tickets for Wednesday, October 18 through Friday, October 20 are on sale for $8 for adults and $4 for children 6 - 12 years per day. Presale general admission tickets for Saturday, October 21 and Sunday, October 22 are $15 for adults and $7.50 for children per day-children five and under are admitted free. Reserved bleacher seating, which is not included with a general admission ticket, is available for an additional $10 per seat per day.

Special ticket combination packages are also available and provide additional savings over single day pricing. A two-day admission (Saturday and Sunday) package is $30 for adults and $15 for children; a five-day admission package is $50 and $25, respectively. A combination package, which includes all five days of admission and bleacher seating is on sale for $75 for adults and $60 for children.

Advance group ticket rates are also available for groups of 20 or more. Group admission prices for Wednesday through Friday are $3 per person, while group admission for Saturday and Sunday is $5 per person. In order to take advantage of advance discounted prices over regular gate admission, mail orders must be postmarked no later than September 15, 2000.

Driving fans can purchase advance tickets with Visa, MasterCard or checks made payable to the Gladstone Equestrian Association, P.O. Box 119, Gladstone, NJ 07934. All advance orders will be charged a $3 handling fee.

General admission tickets can also be purchased at the gate. Regular admission at the gate for Wednesday through Friday is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Saturday and Sunday admission prices at the gate are $20 and $10 per day, respectively.

The GEA has launched a special line of high quality World Singles Championship merchandise for equestrian driving fans across the globe. The FEI World Singles Championship's own line of commemorative merchandise includes such items as natural denim shirts, polo shirts, fleece pullovers, tee shirts, tote bags and aprons. Merchandise photographs, sizes, prices and order forms are available by visiting the World Singles website at www.worldsingles.org, or calling the Gladstone Equestrian Association at (908) 234-0151.

The GEA is dedicated to promoting the sport of carriage driving and equestrian sports overall. Formed in 1985, the New Jersey nonprofit corporation provides support to equestrian organizations such as the United States Equestrian Team and the American Horse Shows Association who are committed to making America a leader in the international equestrian arena.

For more information about the FEI World Singles Championship-2000, please contact the Gladstone Equestrian Association office at (908) 234-0151 or visit the web site at www.worldsingles.org.