2002 World Equestrian Games

United States Wins Reining Team Gold at World Equestrian Games 2002

U.S. Riders Take Gold and Silver in Individual Competition

Jerez de la Frontera, Spain–September 22, 2002 – The United States Equestrian Team became the first in the history of the World Championships to win a Gold Medal in the sport of Reining on Sunday, the final day of the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.

The U.S. squad received a combined score of 657.5 points in the final round. Canada captured their first WEG Medal with Silver scoring 650 and Italy took the Bronze with 646 points.

Individually, Shawn Flarida of Springfield, OH, riding San Jo Freckles, owned by Michael Harper, was crowned the first ever World Reining Champion with a score of 221.5. The Silver Medal was won in a run-off by Tom McCutcheon of Pilot Point, TX, riding Conquistador Whiz, owned by George Shifrin, and the Bronze went to Shawna Sapergia of Canada, who also became the first and only woman to win a World Championship medal.

The other two U.S. riders performed well enough to finish in the top ten. Craig Schmersal of Menifee, CA riding Tidal Wave Jack, owned by the B.S. Syndicate, just missed the Bronze for a fourth place score of 217. Scott McCutcheon of Whiteboro, TX, and Inwhizable, owned by Inwhizable Partners, finished in eighth with 216.