Gladstone, New Jersey—June 18, 2001—Five-time United States Equestrian Team (USET) Pairs Driving Champion Larry Poulin of Gray, ME won the USET’s final Pairs Driving selection trial held at the Bayer/USET Festival of Champions. Poulin put himself in good position for a spot on the U.S. team that will compete in the Pairs Driving World Championship in Riesenbeck, Germany in August.

Poulin, who has represented the U.S. in five previous Pairs World Championships, finished the three-phase trial with a score of 124.03 penalties.

Lisa Singer of Chadds Ford, PA was second with 127.10 penalties, followed by James O’Rourke of Unionville, PA with 136.44 penalties and Elizabeth Chesson of Bedminster, NJ with 138.83 penalties.

With the conclusion of the selection trials, USET Selectors have begun the process of naming the team of three drivers and an alternate to represent the U.S. in the World Championship.

In addition to the Pairs driving, the Gladstone Equestrian Association Driving Division held classes in the Four-In-Hand, Single and Pony Divisions. Classes began on Friday with the dressage phase, followed by the marathon on Saturday and Sunday’s cones competition.

James Fairclough of Newton, NJ, won the Four In Hand Division with a score of 215.03 penalties.

The top three drivers in the Singles driving division were Scott Monroe of Sharon, CT with a score of 111.99 penalties; Dave Vanderhoof of Hackettstown, NJ with a score of 147.22 penalties; and Sara Schmidt of Glengardner, NJ with a score of 152.22 penalties.

Winning the Pairs for the Pony Division was Tracey Morgan of Beallsville, MD with a score of 142.45 penalties followed by A.J. Meyer of Newton, NJ with 156.26 penalties. Kara Rubenstein of Erieville, NY won the Single Pony division with a score of 191.51 penalties while Gayle Stinson of Oxford, NJ was second with a score of 209.23.

The United States Equestrian Team is a non-profit organization that selects, trains, equips and finances equestrians of the highest possible standard to represent our country in major international competition, including the Olympic Games and the World Championships. To accomplish this the USET seeks out and nurtures the development of talented athletes - riders, drivers and horses - and provides the support and guidance they need to help them attain their fullest potential. For more information on the USET, please call (908) 234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org.