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Tucker Johnson Wins Dressage Phase at CHIO
Aachen
U. S. Equestrian Team Stands in Second Place
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Gladstone,
NJJune 27, 2002Veteran United States Equestrian Team
(USET) driver, Tucker S. Johnson of Oldwick, NJ, won the Four-In-Hand
Dressage phase during CHIO Aachen.
Johnson,
driving a team owned by Mr. & Mrs. James L. Johnson and Mr.
& Mrs. Joseph Duke, topped the international field with a
score of 37.28 penalties. German driver Michael Freund finished
the phase in second place with a score of 40.32.
James
Fairclough of Newton, NJ, drove a team owned by Jane Forbes Clark
to thirteenth place, scoring 50.56. The third member of the U.S.
team, Chester Weber of Ocala, FL, finished in 20th place with
a score of 60.00, driving a team owned by Live Oak Plantation.
Johnsons and Faircloughs scores combined for a team
score of 87.84, putting the U.S. in 2nd place in the standings
behind Germanys 86.66 score.
Johnson
set the stage for Thursdays dressage victory by becoming
the first U.S. driver to win a competition at Aachen, Germany,
on Wednesday when he won that days Freestyle Dressage test.
Although the Freestyle scores are not counted towards the team
score, Johnsons performance in the Freestyle set the standard
for the team. Johnson, who was ranked number two on the FEI World
Four-In-Hand rankings in 2000, and his teammates are encouraged
by these two consecutive victories.
These
first two days at Aachen are very exciting for the U.S., as we
anticipate a good finish for the United States, said USET
Director of Driving Wendy Wares Cooke. It also builds our
confidence for a medal in the Four-In-Hand World Championships
at this falls World Equestrian Games.
Competition
continues at Aachen through Sunday. Full results are available
on www.uset.org and www.chioaachen.de.
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
.