August 12, 2001

William Coleman Wins 2001 NAYRC Individual Eventing Gold

William Coleman, of Charlottesville, VA and USA Area 2, won the eventing Gold on Ratzi with a three-phase score of 55.00 penalties. Riding in his first NAYRC, Coleman, 18, trained by U.S. Olympic medalists David and Karen O’Connor, won the opening dressage phase with a score of 51.00 and then completed the cross country phase with no additional penalties and stadium jumping with no jumping and 4.00 time penalties.

“I really enjoy all three phases,” Coleman said. “I’m not crazy about riding dressage tests, although I do enjoy training in dressage, but cross country and jumping I love.”

USA Area 5 won the team Gold with Heidi Hewlett of Venton, LA on Ocotillo, Clark Montgomery of Bryan, TX on Cape Town, Will Faudree of Midland, TX on The Big Easy and Amy Smith of Dallas, TX on Ringwood Ventura combining for a score of 261.40 penalties.

In the one-star eventing competition, Laura Sauer of Ipswich, MA won the Young Rider Gold Medal with a score of 49.40 on Perryfield’s Max and Jenna Jacobson of Houston, TX won the Junior Gold Medal with a score of 58.20 on Disorderly Senate. Sauer also teamed with Jennifer Fitch of Perkinsville, VT on Seaborne’s Flagship, Julia Ryan of Rochester, NYon Adam, and Julian Stiller of Shelburne, VT on Peter Shambles to win the one-star team Gold for USA Area 1.

“I was worried about the jumping coming in and felt really nervous this morning,” Sauer, 18, said, “but I’m really happy with the way it turned out.”

Jacobson, 15, said that nerves were not a factor for her. “This whole experience was so much fun and there was such a supportive and friendly atmosphere that I really didn’t get nervous.”