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Articles: Press Release
USET Dressage Short List Selected For The World Equestrian Games
Contact:
Marty Bauman, (508) 698-6810, uset.pr@verizon.net
Jamie Saults (908) 234-1251, usetpr@uset.org
Gladstone, NJ-June 9, 2002-The short list to determine the United States
Equestrian Team (USET) Dressage squad for the World Equestrian Games
(WEG) in Jerez, Spain was named today. The five riders and horses that
will go to Europe for further training before competing in the WEG in
September are: Debbie McDonald of Hailey, ID, and Brentina, owned by
Parry and Peggy Thomas; Guenter Seidel of Del Mar, CA, with Nikolaus 7,
owned by Dick and Jane Brown; Sue Blinks of Wellington, FL, and Flim
Flam, owned by owned by Fritz Kundrun and Dressage Sponsor Corporation;
Lisa Wilcox of Thousand Oaks, CA, with Relevant, owned by Gundula
Vorwerk and Dr. Claus Crone-Munzebrock; and Christine Traurig of
Carlsbad, CA, with Etienne, owned by Kelly Trierweiler. Steffen Peters
of Escondido, CA, with Grandeur, owned by Robert and Lila Kommerstadt
actually qualified in sixth place but removed themselves from the
selection process leaving five riders to vie for the U.S. team.
The final selections were made following four days of Dressage Trials
that took place over two weekends at the USET Headquarters and Olympic
Training Center in Gladstone, NJ, June 1-2 and June 8-9. The first day
of competition consisted of a Grand Prix class to count for 30% of
riders' overall selection trial score with the Grand Prix Special
accounting for 25% the next day. There was a second Grand Prix on the
following Saturday, again representing 30%, and the remaining 15% of
riders' scores were taken from the Freestyle on the final Sunday. The
Trials also served as the 2002 USET Grand Prix Championship. The Grand
Champion was Debbie McDonald and Brentina and the Reserve Champion was
Guenter Seidel and Niklaus 7.
McDonald finished first overall, but finished second in the Freestyle
after Brentina stumbled while trotting down the diagonal.
"I didn't know what happened," said McDonald. "I found out later that
she spooked from a photographer. It was very scary, it was a very big
stumble, but then she felt fine."
Seidel won the Freestyle class riding Nikolaus 7 and came in second
overall. Seidel was pleased with his final showing.
"The test for the most part lived up to my expectations," said Seidel.
"There were some parts that were a little disappointing, that I need to
work on, but overall, I am very pleased with my results."
Lisa Wilcox and Relevant, chose to qualify by competing in Europe. Her
score of 74.299% was the necessary 2% above the fourth place competitor
in Gladstone and therefore made the short list.
Three competitors withdrew their horses from the trials due to various
medical reasons. Tom Noone, Shelly Francis and Betsy Steiner.
RESULTS
GP Freestyle 4-day total (rank)
- Guenter Seidel Nikolaus 7 74.275%
70.671% (2)
- Debbie McDonald Brentina 74.200%
71.216% (1)
- Susan Blinks Flim Flam 71.725%
70.385% (3)
- Steffen Peters Grandeur 71.600%
67.596% (6)
- Christine Traurig Etienne 70.600%
68.820% (5)
- Geunter Seidel Foltaire 70.275%
66.215% (7)
- George Williams Rocher
68.400% 64.830% (8)
- Lynda Cameron Orion
63.675% 60.193% (11)
- Cherri Reiber G Tudor 62.850%
63.068% (9)
- Susan J. Dutta Gumshoes- 61.525%
62.261%(10)
DC Lisa Wilcox Relevant -- -- (4)
Tom Noone Fresco WD
Shelly J. Francis Gala WD
Betsy Steiner Rainier WD
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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