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USET
Paving Way For U.S. Vaulters at World Equestrian Games
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Gladstone,
New Jersey –April 1, 2002–The United States Equestrian
Team’s (USET) preparations for sending squads to compete
in World Championships in seven disciplines at the 2002 World
Equestrian Games (WEG) in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain includes
unprecedented efforts on behalf of U.S. vaulters.
In
January, Adrienne Stang and Emma Drinker of the American Vaulting
Association (AVA) took part in a USET fact-finding trip to Jerez
to prepare for this year’s Games. Stang and Drinker worked
closely with Sally Ike, the USET’s Director of Vaulting Activities,
and joined the Team’s discipline directors of Dressage, Driving,
Endurance, Eventing, Reining and Show Jumping in touring the venues
and surrounding areas of the upcoming World Equestrian Games.
This was the first time vaulting representatives have ever had
the opportunity to visit a World Equestrian Games venue beforehand,
meet with the Organizing Committee, and be proactive about planning
for hotels, travel, etc.
“The
vaulting community is excited about the support the USET is giving
to our sport,” said J. Ashton Moore, American Vaulting Association
Co-Founder and Technical Advisor and USET Vice President of Vaulting.
“Not only will our athletes attend the Games better prepared
than ever before, but they will do so with a tremendous feeling
of unity based on being part of a genuine “team” comprising
athletes from all seven USET international disciplines.”
As
is the case with all its disciplines, the USET has established
a vaulting committee to serve as a liaison to the vaulting community
and to participate in developing procedures related to international
competition.
Members
of the USET Vaulting Committee for 2002 are: J. Ashton Moore,
Chairman; Adrienne Stang, Vice Chairman; Linda Bibbler; Emma Drinker;
Priscilla B. Faulker; Deborah P. Harrison, DVM; Christine Traurig;
Jan Weber; George Williams; and Sydney Frankel, Owner Representative.
Sally
Ike, who has served as the USET Director of Show Jumping Activities
since 1989, has been named as the USET Director of Vaulting Activities
to go along with her Show Jumping duties. Ike, a past Chairman
of the American Horse Shows Association (AHSA) Vaulting Committee,
has an extensive background in equestrian sports having been an
alternate member of the 1968 Olympic Three-Day Event squad as
well as having successfully competed in the Hunter, Jumper and
Dressage Divisions. She is also an AHSA Judge and Technical Delegate
for Eventing, a Jumper Judge and an FEI Steward for Show Jumping
and Eventing.
“The
USET is busy coordinating preparations for the World Equestrian
Games,” she said. “Our job is to take care of all the
details so that our athletes can focus on turning in medal-winning
performances. We are very excited about the prospects of our vaulters
bringing home medals from this year’s Games.”
The USET is in the midst of a fundraising drive designed to ensure
that U.S. squads in all seven FEI disciplines will have sufficient
funding to compete at the World Equestrian Games without distraction.
Donations can be earmarked specifically for vaulting, or for any
discipline, and will be used only for the specific discipline
and not for any administrative or other non-athlete related expenses.
To direct contributions in this way, vaulting supporters should
be sure to write: 2002 Vaulting Program on their checks and send
them to USET, Pottersville Road, Gladstone, NJ 07934.
The support of the American equestrian community is the surest
way to help athletes in vaulting and all the World Equestrian
Games disciplines turn in medal-winning performances!
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
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