Gladstone, NJ—June 3, 2002—McLain Ward of Brewster, NY was named the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Athlete of the Month for May 2002 after he tied for fourth place in the Show Jumping World Cup Final in Leipzig, Germany and won the $75,000 Grand Prix of Devon. The World Cup Final is show jumping’s most prestigious annual individual competition and the Grand Prix of Devon is one of the country’s biggest Grand Prix events.

At the Show Jumping World Cup Final, Ward, riding Viktor, a 12-year-old German Warmblood gelding owned by Ward and Harry Gill, finished behind the new World Cup champion Otto Becker and runner-up Ludger Beerbaum, teammates on Germany’s Gold Medal team at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, plus the third-place finisher, three-time World Cup champion Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil.

Ward returned to the U.S. and rode Viktor to first place in the $75,000 Grand Prix of Devon, in Devon, PA. He topped a field of 32 of the country’s top show jumpers by turning in two penalty-free rounds and the fastest time in the tie-breaking jump-off.

Ward also placed second in the $35,000 Old Salem Grand Prix in North Salem, NY aboard his 12-year-old gelding, Flyer.

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.