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International Stars Ready For Friday’s Showdown At Winter Equestrian
Festival
WELLINGTON,
FLORIDA—March 6, 2003—Show jumping stars from Ireland,
Canada and the United States will square off in the Samsung Nations
Cup Presented by CN Friday at the Winter Equestrian Festival in
Wellington.
The Nations Cup, a team competition sanctioned by the International
Equestrian Federation, matches teams of four riders each. The United
States was victorious in last year’s debut of the Nations Cup,
the first ever held outdoors in U.S. history. Although the U.S.
has a world-class team again this year, Friday’s competition
is expected to be tougher than last year as both Ireland and Canada
have brought stronger teams.
Ireland’s team, coached by Jimmy Doyle, includes Kevin Babington,
John Brennan, Darragh Kearins, Cian O’Connor and Lt. David
O’Brien. Canada’s team is coached by Danny Foster and
is headed by seven-time Olympian Ian Millar. Millar, “Captain
Canada”, is joined by Olympic veteran Mario Deslauriers, Karen
Cudmore, Mark Samuel and Keean White.
The U.S. team is coached by Show Jumping Hall of Famer Frank Chapot
and is headed by seven-time Rider of the Year Margie Goldstein Engle
of Wellington and her 2000 Sydney Olympic teammate Lauren Hough.
They are joined by McLain Ward, Beezie Madden and Schuyler Riley.
While all five riders on each team are competing in various classes
throughout the week, including Sunday’s $100,000 Cosequin U.S.
Open Jumper Championship, only four will ride in Friday’s Nations
Cup.
The Nations Cup, run under the same format as the team competition
in the Olympic Games, is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. on Friday
at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club on Pierson Road in Wellington.
The second round of the two-round competition is scheduled to begin
at 3:00. Tickets are available at the gate. Call 561-793-3389 for
further information. Winter
Equestrian Festival Dates:
(Each
week runs Wednesday through Sunday beginning at 8:00 AM daily) Cosequin
Wellington Finale – March 5 – 9
Zada Enterprises, LLC WEF Dressage Classic – March 13 –
16 After
March 9, competitors move to Tampa to continue the Winter Equestrian
Festival. Dates
for Tampa Winter Equestrian Festival
(Each
week of competition runs Wed - Sun beginning at 8:00 AM) Suncoast
Internationale March 13-16
Tampa Bay Classic March 19-23 CSI***/W
Tournament of Champions March 25-29 CSI**/W
Budweiser
American Invitational March 29 in Raymond James Stadium Tickets
for Winter Equestrian Festival at Tampa Fairgrounds are Wednesday
through Friday $5. Children under 12 years are free. Saturday and
Sunday Adult tickets are $10. Seniors and Students are $5 all days.
For schedule, directions and information visit www.stadiumjumping.com. Tickets
for the Budweiser American Invitational, March 29 at Raymond James
Stadium are available at Ticket Master (813) 287-8844 or at Stadium
Jumping (877) 909-9436.
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