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U.S.
Will Not Participate in FEI World Pairs Driving Championship
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Gladstone,
NJJune 30, 2003The United States will not send a team
to compete in the 2003 World Pairs Driving Championship, to be
held in Jardy, France.
The
Executive Committee-Subcommittees and officers of both the United
States Equestrian Team (USET) and USA Equestrian (USAE) approved
the decision of the Driving Selectors to not field a team for
this years championship.
The
Selectors gave consideration to placings at Selection Trials,
reviewing competitive records in head to head competitions among
long listed drivers (giving most emphasis to recent performances
and scores) and giving consideration to the previous international
experience of driver/horse combinations and the prospect that
the combinations will contribute to winning a team medal and/or
an individual medal.
After
discussion and deliberation, the Selectors voted that given the
candidates scores from competitions starting in September
2002 and extending through June 2003, Section F on page 3 of the
Pairs Selection Procedures would be invoked. The Selection Procedures
state that:
F)
Finally, to be selected, a candidates scores and performance
in the trials must meet international standards and demonstrate
that the combination can be competitive in an international championship.
If there are not enough qualified candidates meeting the highest
standards for international competition available, the USET and
USA Equestrian Executive Committees, acting upon recommendation
of the Selectors, will not field participants for the Championship.
This decision shall be final even if the number of drivers fielded
does not meet the organizers quota of entries, and even
if the result is that no drivers are sent to the event.
We
have the greatest respect for the abilities of the drivers in
contention, said James Fairclough, USET Vice President for
Driving. The Selectors, in compliance with the selection
criteria, made this difficult decision based on their feeling
that the horses of this years candidates were not currently
competing at the international level. We eagerly anticipate seeing
these horses develop further, Fairclough added, and
expect to see many of these horse and driver teams representing
our country in future international competitions.
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
.