U.S. Riders Off to Good Start at Burghley Three Day Event

USA Equestrian (formerly AHSA) announced today that U.S. riders began their challenge at the Burghley Three-Day Event, England, August 30-September 2, 2001, during the first day of dressage in fine style. A total of 13 U.S. combinations in a field of 109 starters are taking part in this year's event, which includes a team competition and a test run for the proposed new Olympic format in the show jumping phase.

John Williams riding Carrick, on a score of 46.0, heads the U.S. squad in second place behind Britain's Mary King. He is followed by Darren Chiacchia in 10th place aboard R.G. Renegade on 48.6 penalties. Robert Costello is 13th on 51.4 with his Sydney partner Chevalier and Bruce Davidson with Apparition is in 20th place on 54.2. Natalie Rooney's score of 57.0 with Aladdin puts her in 25th place with Mara Depuy just 0.6 penalties behind her in 26th place on Here To Stay. Another Sydney individual partnership, Linden Wiesman and Anderoo, finished the day on 72.2 in 58th place.

The two teams include Olympic veterans from Sydney with Olympic champion, David O'Connor, from The Plains, VA, who is competing as an individual on David Lenaburg's 10-year-old gelding Rattle N Hum by personal invitation of the organizing committee alongside Darren Chiacchia (Power Ty -10-year-old by Private Thoughts x Emily Express), Springville, NY, and Bruce Davidson (Apparition - TB by Joyful Hope x Gregal - owned by Joan Heyman Bergmann), Unionville, PA.

Team A comprises Darren Chiacchia (R.G. Renegade - 11 year-old SF/TB by Galoubet A x Toome A Queen - owned by Colleen Hofstetter); Robert Costello (Chevalier - 12 year-old chestnut gelding owned by Deirdre Pirie), Southern Pines, NC; Bruce Davidson (Little Tricky -10 year-old TB by Babamist x Bay Leggs - owned by Debbie Furnas, Joan Heyman Bergmann & rider), Unionville, PA; Mara DePuy (Here To Stay - nine year-old Irish gelding - owned by Willow Bend LLC), Roundville, VA; Nina Fout (3 Magic Beans - 11-year-old TB gelding by Hidden Capital x Express Card - owned by Virginia Fout & rider), Middleburg, VA.

Team B comprises Beale Morris (Pathfinder - 13-year-old TB by Horativs x Jim's Belle), Middleburg, VA; Lauren Hart O'Brien (Dunrath Alto - 10-year-old Irish gelding by No Alto x Ballarin Lady - owned by George & Dianne Lucas & rider), Southern Pines, NC; Natalie Rooney (Aladdin - 9-year-old TRA/TB by Timmler x Allie-oop), San Marcos, CA; Linden Weisman (Anderoo - 12-year-old TB by Buckaroo x My Sharp Lady), Bluemont, VA; John Williams (Carrick - 9-year-old Canadian bred gelding by Cozy's Commander x War Issue - owned by Elise Depapp, Diane Tichell & rider), Middleburg, VA