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Kristy
McCormack Wins BET/USET Show Jumping Talent Search Final
- East
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Gladstone,
NJ—October 7, 2002—Kristy McCormack, 18, of Cape May
Courthouse, NJ, took top honors in the 2002 BET/United States
Equestrian Team (USET) Show Jumping Talent Search Final-East,
held at the USET Headquarters and Olympic Training Center in Gladstone,
NJ, October 5-6.
Amy
Lowrey of Armonk, NY, 20, finished second in her first Talent
Search Final and Courtney McKay, 17 of Ocala, FL was third. Krista
Freundlich, 17, of Locust, NJ, rounded out the top four.
The
third time was the charm for McCormack, trained by Frank Madden
of Colts Neck, NJ, who placed eleventh in 2001 and seventh three
years ago. McCormack could not believe her good fortune.
“It’s
really exciting,” said McCormack, who last month won the
$25,000 Calvin Klein Show Jumping Talent Derby at the Hampton
Classic Horse Show. “I can’t believe I won, especially
here in Gladstone, it’s such a special place.”
The
BET/USET Talent Search Finals on the East and West coasts are
open to equitation riders under the age of 21, who have qualified
through their placement in regional BET/USET Show Jumping Talent
Search classes held throughout the year.
The
BET/USET Show Jumping Talent Search Final, one of the nation’s
most prestigious equitation competitions, consists of four competition
phases designed to provide competitors with a challenging and
rigorous final and help the USET identify future international
competitors. In the flat phase, riders perform specific tests
of their riding skills without jumps; in the gymnastic phase,
riders jump combinations of obstacles. During the jumping phase,
competitors negotiate a grand prix style jumping course of fences.
Only the top four riders return to begin the fourth phase, a ride-off.
During this final phase, riders compete with their own horse over
a course of jumps, and then ride each of the other entries’
horses over the same course.
Started
in 1965 as the USET Medal program, the BET/USET Show Jumping Talent
Search encourages Young Rider development and awards USET Gold,
Silver and Bronze Medals to competitors who have won BET/USET
Show Jumping Talent Search classes held at horse shows throughout
the United States. In 1982, the program incorporated year-end
Finals as a further goal.
BET
initiated its USET sponsorship program in 1997. Black Entertainment
Television and BET On Jazz support the Team’s show jumping
program as title sponsor of the BET/USET Show Jumping Talent Search
and as presenting sponsor of the USET Show Jumping Talent Derby
held each year at the Bayer/USET Festival of Champions.
Results
– 2002 BET/USET Show Jumping Talent Search Final-East
Place/
Rider/ Hometown
1.
Kristy McCormack, Cape May Courthouse, NJ
2. Amy Lowrey, Armonk, NY
3. Courtney McKay, Ocala, FL
4. Krista Freundlich, Locust, NJ
5. Cody Parker, North Salem, NY
6. Addison Phillips, New York, NY
7. Maggie Jayne, Elgin, FL
8. Aimee Aron, Keswick, VA
9. Jaime Andrews, Woody Creek, CO
10. Caitlyn Shiels, Sheffield, MA
The United States Equestrian Team is a non-profit organization
that selects, trains, equips and finances equestrians of the highest
possible standard to represent our country in major international
competition, including the Olympic Games and the World Championships.
To accomplish this, the USET seeks out and nurtures the development
of talented athletes - riders, drivers and horses - and provides
the support and guidance they need to help them attain their fullest
potential. For more information on the USET, please call (908)
234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org
.
