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Gladestone, New Jersey - June 25, 2000
Show jumping rider Laura Kraut of Oconomowoc, WI won the $100,000 Rolex U.S. Show Jumping Championship Presented by the AHSA and the USET which served as the first phase of the U.S. Equestrian Team's Olympic Selection Trials at the Bayer/USET Festival of Champions.
The Championship was comprised of five rounds of jumping (one on June 21 and two each on June 23 and 25) with each entry's four best scores to count in determining which 12 riders would advance to the selection trials' second phase, the U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Show Jumping, August 2-6 at San Juan Capistrano and Del Mar, CA. Kraut and Liberty had three clean rounds plus a round of 4.75 penalties and a drop score of 8.0 for a final score of 4.75 to win the Championship.
"When I came here for the trials I said I would be thrilled just to be in the top 12 and be able to ride in the final trials," said Kraut who was first alternate on the USET's 1992 Olympic team. "I can't believe that I actually won the show jumping National Championship!"
The second phase of the selection trials will also involve five rounds of jumping-one on August 2 and two on August 4 at San Juan Capistrano, CA and two on August 6 at Del Mar, CA. Riders will count their four best scores from the initial phase held at the Bayer/USET Festival of Champions plus their four best scores from the second phase in California. The USET will then name a squad of four riders and one alternate who will travel to Sydney, Australia to represent this country in the 2000 Olympic Games, September 15-October 1.
The 12 finalists advancing to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Show Jumping in California are:
Rank Horse Rider Hometown Faults
01. Liberty Laura Kraut Oconomowoc, WI 4.75
02. Pershing Ray Texel Beverly Hills, CA 8.50
03. Hidden Creek's Perin Margie Goldstein-Engle Wellington, FL 9.25
04. Rhythmical Nona Garson Lebanon, NJ 12.00
05. Jox Alison Firestone Upperville, VA 12.25
06. Oh Star Todd Minikus Loxahatchee, FL 12.25
07. Mr.Blue Elise Haas Sausalito, CA 12.50
08. El Campeon's Cirka Z Nicole Shahinian-Simpson Westlake Village, CA 12.75
09. Clasiko Lauren Hough Wellington, FL 13.25
10. Macanudo DeNiro Peter Wylde Dover Plains, NY 13.25
11. Glasgow Norman Dello Joio Wellington, FL 13.25
12. Moonstar Francie Steinwedell-Carvin LaCanada, CA 16.00
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 or if you are interested in supporting the USET, please call (908)234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org.
