USET Squads Finish Fourth And Sixth At 2001 Burghley CCI**** Unofficial Team Competition

Gladstone, NJ-September 4, 2001-The United States Equestrian Team's (USET) two squads of riders finished in fourth and sixth place in the 2001 Burghley CCI **** Unofficial Team Competition, August 30-September 2, 2001 in Stamford, Lincolnshire in the United Kingdom. Teams from Great Britain finished in first and third, while New Zealand finished in second.

Finishing in fourth place was the U.S. team of John Williams of Middleburg, VA on his horse Carrick (53.4 penalties); Beale Morris of Middleburg, VA on her horse Pathfinder (57.0 penalties); Lauren Hart O'Brien of Southern Pines, NC riding Dunrath Alto, owned by George and Diane Lucas (83.8 penalties); Natalie Rooney of San Marcos, CA riding her horse Aladdin (83.8 penalties), and 2000 Olympic Team Bronze Medalist, Linden Wiesman of Bluemont, VA, who was eliminated on Phase D.

Finishing in sixth place was the team of Robert Costello of Southern Pines, NC on his 2000 Sydney Olympic mount Chevalier, owned by Deirdre Pirie (67.4 penalties); 2000 Olympic Team Bronze Medalist, Nina Fout of Middleburg, VA with her Olympic mount 3 Magic Beans (69.8 penalties); two-time World Champion, Bruce Davidson of Unionville, PA on Little Tricky, owned by Debbie Furnas (93.6 penalties), 1996 Olympian, Mara DePuy of Round Hill, VA riding Here To Stay, owned by Willow Bend LLC, who withdrew before show jumping and Darren Chiacchia of Springville, NY with RG Renegade, owned by Colleen Hofstetter, who retired on Phase D.

Also competing as individuals for the USET were Darren Chiacchia on Power Ty, owned by Carrie Greenslade, who withdrew before Phase D, and David O'Connor of The Plains, VA on David Lenaburg's Rattle 'N Hum, who withdrew after dressage, in addition to Bruce Davidson on Apparition who finished with a score of 79.2.

In individual competition, the top three placings went to New Zealand riders. 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist, Blyth Tait on Ready Teddy finished in first place, followed by last year's Champion Andrew Nicholson riding Mr. Smiffy in second. Third place went to Daniel Jocelyn on Silence. Beale Morris, who finished in sixth place last year at Burghley with Pathfinder, was the highest placed U.S. rider finishing in tenth place with 62.0 penalties, while John Williams finished in 18th place with a score of 70.4 penalties. Costello placed 20th with 72.4 penalties and Fout placed 23rd with 75.8 penalties.

The event was run under a new format currently being considered for use in the Olympic Games. After the show jumping round determining the team scores and medals, the top 25 riders returned for a second round of show jumping to determine the individual placings. Hence, in some cases, riders' penalty totals in the individual standings were higher than in the final team standings.

For full results and coverage, please visit the USET website at www.uset.org.