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Articles: Press Release
Derek Braun Wins 2001 BET/USET Talent Search Finals-EAST
Contact:
Marty Bauman, (508) 698-6810, uset.pr@verizon.net
Joanna Smith, (908) 234-1251, jsmith@uset.org
Gladstone, NJ-October 10, 2001 – Derek Braun of Ocala, FL riding Le Grand,
owned by Barbara Braun, won the 2001 BET/USET Show Jumping Talent Search
Final-East held at the USET Headquarters and Olympic Training Center in
Gladstone, New Jersey, on October 6-7.
United States Equestrian Team (USET) veteran rider and 1992 Olympic
Individual Bronze Medalist Norman Dello Joio, and highly respected
equitation judge, Cynthia Hankins, judged the Finals, in which 58 young
riders competed.
The following riders placed in the top ten:
PLACE RIDER/CITY
1st Derek Braun of Ocala, FL
6th Emily Wood of Bronxville, NY
2nd Brian Walker of Wellington, FL
7th Kasey Ament of Reche Canyon, CA
3rd Krista Freundlich of Locust, NJ
8th Mary Alexis Healey of Mt. Holly, NJ
4th Whitney May of Des Moines, IA
9th Caitlyn Shiels of Sheffield, MA
5th Gabby Slome of Riverdale, NY
10th Susan Fried of Macon, GA
Braun, who is trained by Bob Braswell, commented, “I very much enjoyed the
format of the Final with the two days of competition, although it was
mentally difficult with both days having different courses.”
“This is the first year Braun competed in the Final. Last year he came to
watch the competition. He’s learned a lot in a very short time, as of two
years ago he was showing in children’s hunter division. This has been a
very steep learning curve for Derek to get to this point,” said Braswell.
Last month, Jamie Taylor of Tarzana, CA riding Miss Molly, owned by Cindy
Margolis, won the 2001 BET/United States Equestrian Team (USET) Show Jumping
Talent Search Final-West held at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in
Burbank, CA, September 20-22.
The BET/USET Show Jumping Talent Search Finals consist of four competition
phases designed to provide competitors with a challenging and rigorous final
and help the USET identify future international competitors. In the Flat
Phase, riders perform specific tests of their riding skills without jumps;
in the Gymnastic Phase, riders jump combinations of obstacles. During the
Jumping Phase, competitors negotiate a grand prix style jumping course of
fences. In Phase Four, only the top four riders return to begin a ride-off
phase. During this final phase, riders compete with their own horse over a
course of jumps, and then ride each of the other entries’ horses over the
same course.
Finals on the East and West coasts are open to riders 21 years old and
younger who have qualified through their placement in regional BET/USET Show
Jumping Talent Search classes.
Started in 1965 as the USET Medal program, the BET/USET Show Jumping Talent
Search encourages young rider development and awards USET Gold, Silver and
Bronze Medals to competitors who have won classes held at horse shows
throughout the United States. In 1982, the program incorporated year-end
Finals as a further goal.
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
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