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Three
United States Dressage Riders in Top Ten Following Grand
Prix Special at 2002 World Equestrian Games
Debbie
McDonald in Medal Position Entering Sundays Individual
Final
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Jerez
de la Frontera, Spain September 13, 2002 Three U.S.
Dressage riders are in the top ten following the Grand Prix Special
at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
Two U.S. riders are in medal contention going into Sundays
culminating Freestyle: Debbie McDonald of Hailey, ID on Brentina,
owned by Perry & Peggy Thomas, and Lisa Wilcox of Thousand
Oaks, CA, riding Relevant, owned by Gundula Vorwerk and D. Claus
Crone-Munzebrock. A medal by either rider would be the first World
Championship medal ever by a U.S. Dressage rider!
McDonald
nearly won the Special, placing second with a score of 76.120%.
She currently sits in third place overall with a combined score
of 150.76. Wilcox is close behind with a Grand Prix Special score
of 75.680 and an overall score of 149.880. Susan Blinks of Wellington,
FL, riding Flim Flam, owned by Fritz Kundrun and Dressage Sponsor
Corporation, remains in seventh with a Special score of 73.240
and an overall score of 145.480. Guenter Seidel of Del Mar, CA
on Nikolaus 7, owned by Dick and Jane Brown, is in fourteenth
place with a Grand Prix Special score of 69.600 and an overall
score of 139.440.
The
crowd was on its feet for the hometown girl, however, Beatriz
Ferrer-Salat of Spain and Beauvalais, who won the Grand Prix Special
and now stands second overall after receiving an incredible score
of 77.000 for a combined score 151.560. Nadine Capellmann of Germany
barely held on to her overall lead with a combined score of 153.840.
Capellmann and Farbenfroh had a few costly mistakes and finished
third in the Grand Prix Special with a score of 75.880.
McDonald
came very close to winning the Special, but had a costly bobble
in the first extended trot. Still, she was happy with her test.
I
am not sure what happened, said McDonald. I think
she grabbed a shoe and tripped, other than that I am very excited
about the rest of the test. Brentina stayed focused and was with
me the entire test.
I
think it would be an incredible feeling to win a medal,
said McDonald. My mom passed away last year and it was her
dream to be here. If that were to happen, it would be as if mom
was watching and I made her proud, but its anybodys
game. It would be great to have two U.S. riders on the stand!
McDonald
was referring to Lisa Wilcox, who also has a chance to win a medal.
Currently in fourth place, she could possibly move up with an
outstanding freestyle. Wilcox had a problem with a pirouette in
the Special and was still upset after the test.
I
am really disgusted with myself, she said. Relevant
was brilliant and was everything I expected, if not more. We have
a really beautiful Freestyle though, so well see.
The
Dressage Freestyle or Kur that determines the individual medals
takes place on Sunday evening.
For
comprehensive coverage the 2002 World Equestrian Games, please
visit the United States Equestrian Teams website at www.uset.org.
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
.