Petaluma, CA, June 26, 2003 - Three hundred equestrian vaulters and their equine partners will converge on National Western Complex in Denver Colorado for the 34th annual National Vaulting Championships. This is the largest and most comprehensive vaulting competition in the United States and vaulting clubs from 25 states are expected to attend.

This intense four day competition will begin August 7th and culminate on August 10th with the final round of A Team, Gold and Pas de Deux freestyle. This will be the first opportunity for American vaulters to earn qualifying scores for the 2004 World Championships to be held in Stradl Paula, Austria.

Spectators can expect to be amazed by these top level vaulters, including Devon Maitozo, Acton, CA who has earned more medals in World Championships in the Men's Division than any other man in the world. The sport of vaulting has long been recognized in Europe as the perfect way to introduce children to equestrian sport. Since the 1950's the sport has developed with dramatic levels of difficulty as vaulters perform gymnastics and dance moves to music on their horses. Modern Vaulting is a visual and auditory spectacle of elegance and drama in motion.

"We are excited to be returning to Denver for our Championships," Nancy Stevens-Brown, President of the American Vaulting Association said in a recent interview. "The quality of competitors is incredibly high this year, and this competition should be the best ever."

The competition is open to the public and admission is free. Spectators can view classes in 24 divisions which include Freestyle (Kur) and required compulsory events from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., August 7-10 at the National Western Complex, 4655 Humbolt Avenue, Denver Colorado. The preliminary schedule can be found at http://home.att.net/~avafest/natentry2003.pdf. For more information contact Marianne Rose, American Vaulting Association Vice President of Competitions, at marianne_rose@worldnet.att.net or Ph/Fax: 408/867-1789.

Please visit our website at www.americanvaulting.org for more information about vaulting. The American Vaulting Association is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational organization dedicated to the promotion of Vaulting, an equestrian sport in which vaulters perform gymnastic and dance movements in harmony with their equine partner.