SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA-September 18, 2000-The husband-and-wife team of David and Karen O'Connor of The Plains, VA turned in strong rides for the U.S. Equestrian Team (USET) on cross country day but the Team USA fell to fourth place in the Olympic eventing team competition.

Australia is holding the lead after Andrew Hoy had a brilliant cross country with no time faults in spite of being held on course due to the fall of Belgian rider Constantin van Rijckevorsel. Great Britain is in second, with New Zealand now in third position.

Riding anchor and knowing that she needed a score for the team to stay alive after two falls had eliminated rookie Linden Wiesman, Karen O'Connor had a magnificent ride on Prince Panache, her 16-year-old, British Thoroughbred gelding owned by Jacqueline Mars. O'Connor's penalty-free ride gave the USET a score of 160.8 after the dressage and cross country phases with the culminating stadium jumping phase set for Tuesday.

Two-time defending champion Australia leads the competition with 114.2 penalties followed by Great Britain with 127.0 and New Zealand with 151.2.

"Nash gave me a great ride," said O'Connor who, with her husband David, was part of the USET’s Silver Medal team at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. "I made a few mistakes out there, but he helped me out."

O’Connor's two almost-miscues came at the sunken road and at the last jump on course. "I couldn't get him lined up the way I planned for the sunken road," she said. "I was off center and his legs slipped a little, but he did his job.

"At the last fence, he was just a bit tired and I couldn't get him straight, but again he got over. I'm very happy with him."

Riding his 1996 Olympic team event partner, Giltedge, David O'Connor finished the day with no jumping and 2.40 time penalties. "I am ecstatic with our ride," O'Connor said. "Tex is not a real fast horse and this is actually a little better than the time I was projecting."

O'Connor had one mishap on course on his 14-year-old, Irish Thoroughbred gelding owned by Jacqueline Mars. After jumping into the second water complex, he made his move to go for the four stride he planned, but Giltedge wasn't yet ready and he slipped a bit. O'Connor wound up on his horse's neck, but he popped back up and his veteran partner was able to complete the jump out.

"He's such a willing horse," O'Connor said. "It doesn't matter what I ask of him, he's always willing to do it. He loves doing this. He lives for it and he never says no."

O’Connor explained that he lost his time at a sunken road which was well into the course. "You really had to ride that at a slow canter and Tex just doesn't have the turbo boost to make up lost time. He did everything well today and I'm very happy with him. I'd say I had more run left in him at the end than I've ever had with him in a four star."

Nina Fout of Middleburg, VA and her 3 Magic Beans, a 10-year-old, American Thoroughbred gelding, went second for the USET. While she incurred no jumping penalties, her horse couldn't get comfortable on course and wound up with 20 time penalties on cross country after receiving 2.40 time penalties on steeplechase.

"He was very strong and was fighting me the whole way," Fout said. "He had problems on steeplechase and I could never get him to relax. I'm very disappointed because I know the team was counting on me."

Tennessee native Linden Wiesman of Blueridge, VA was eliminated after she had two falls on Anderoo, an 11-year-old, American Thoroughbred gelding owned by James and Barbara Wiesman. Her first fall came at the first water complex and the second at the sunken road.

"The first one was my fault," Wiesman said. "I came down the hill to the water a little off balance and it just wasn't there. As far as the second fall, I found out that he had lost his (left front) shoe and I think he was telling me that his foot hurt and he just didn't want to jump any more.

"I'm real disappointed because I didn't want it to go this way, but I guess it did."

Karen O'Connor, who has achieved tremendous success over the last 12 years, reminded Wiesman that she fell three times in her first Olympic Games in Seoul in 1988. "This will all take care of itself and I have no doubt that you have a wonderful career ahead of you," the USET veteran said.