Over the Walls Horse Trials Brings Top Eventing Competition
to Northeast
Hardwick,
MAJune 2, 2003The Over the Walls Horse Trials will again
bring top eventing competition to the Northeast when it returns
to picturesque Great Meadowbrook Farm in Hardwick, MA, owned by
Olympic Gold Medalist Torrance Watkins, August 1-3, 2003.
Over
the Walls, which comprises three days of exciting eventing competition
highlighting more than 200 horses and riders from the U.S. and other
countries, showcases the nations most accomplished eventers
as they vie for the Jack Le Goff Trophy in the events featured
competition the National Advanced Horse Trials Championship.
Over the Walls also hosts seven other Advanced, Preliminary and
Young Rider division classes.
Expected
to return to defend his title at the 2003 Over the Walls Horse Trials
is last years Jack Le Goff Trophy winner, David OConnor,
the 2000 Sydney Olympic individual Gold Medalist and team Gold Medalist
at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Spain. OConnor won the
Championship aboard his Gold Medal World Equestrian Games mount,
Giltedge. OConnor also took first place in the Advanced Division
1 competition in 2002 aboard his Gold Medal Olympic partner, Custom
Made.
In
last years Advanced Division 2 competition, Australian Phillip
Dutton, a two-time Olympic team Gold Medalist, emerged victorious
with House Doctor, his 2000 Gold Medal Olympic mount. Dutton also
placed second riding Its A Knockout. Dutton continued his
winning streak when he took first place in the Advanced Division
3 with Nova Top.
In
the Preliminary divisions at the 2002 Over the Walls Horse Trials,
Diann Roffe, who achieved international fame as a Medal-winning
Olympic skier, won the Preliminary Division 1 competition aboard
Windswept. Susan Bourassa and LCedric took first place in
the Division 2 class, and Mark Weissbecker, a two-time U.S. Equestrian
Team (USET) Fall Three-Day Event Champion, rode away with the win
in the Preliminary Division 3 competition aboard DeCordova.
Tom
Lane rode Alexander to a first place finish in the Young Riders
Preliminary Division at last years Over the Walls. This year,
the Over the Walls Horse Trials will serve as the final outing for
several eventing teams before they travel north to compete at the
North American Young Riders Championships in Bromont, Quebec,
Canada, August 20-24.
Over
the Walls is growing at an amazing rate and keeps getting better
every year, said Watkins, a team Gold Medalist at the 1984
Olympic Games in Los Angeles, CA and a Bronze Medalist in the 1980
Alternate Games in France. Our focus has always been on trying
to make the event a great experience for the horses, their riders
and spectators alike. This year, its definitely going to be
bigger and better than ever.
In
addition to witnessing world-class horses and riders galloping over
green fields overlooking the pristine Central Massachusetts Town
of Hardwick, spectators at the 2003 Over the Walls Horse Trials
can enjoy shopping at the events trade fair. Vendors will
be on hand, offering gifts for home, people, and pets, horse supplies,
tack and equipment, and everything for the horse enthusiast.
The
Over the Walls Horse Trials is open to the public with free admission
and a parking charge of $5.00 per carload that benefits Windrush
Farm Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
For
more information, please visit the Over the Walls website at www.overthewalls.com.
.
|