World Cup 2002 - Robertson, South Africa
US Saddle Seat Teams Capture Gold, Silver
The United States Saddle Seat Equitation Five- and Three-Gaited teams competing in the 2002 International Saddle Seat World Cup brought home gold and silver medals respectively. The event, held October 2-5, 2002 in Robertson, South Africa, featured four days of competition and included both rail work and individual workouts. Five nations, including the US, Canada, Great Britain, Namibia and South Africa competed in the Three-Gaited event while the US and South Africa were the only teams to participate in Five-Gaited competition. The riders were evaluated by a four-person international panel, two each from the US and South Africa. The US judges were World Cup co-founder Anne Judd and Lewis Eckard. Judges for South Africa included Johan Kotze and Martie Olivier.
| Click on photo for larger image |
|
Opening Ceremony
|
5 Gaited Team at Welcome Dinner
|
The Show Ring
|
The US Five-Gaited team included Jonelle Chovanec (Captain), Ashley Birdsong, Lucinda Hartley, Abby Reising, Kelcy Smith and Rachael North (alternate). Scott and Carol Matton served as the Coach and Manager respectively for Five-Gaited Team USA.
|
5-Gaited Scores
|
 United States |
5,278 |
 South Africa |
5,195 |
After a tight competition, the US team finished the event with a total of 5278 points, beating the hosting South African team's score of 5195 by a margin of just 83 points. This marks the first gold medal for the US in World Cup-level Five-Gaited equitation competition since it was first featured at the event in 1998. During that year, the US team earned silver against the hosting South Africans at the competition held in Paarl, Republic of South Africa. When the US hosted the 2000 Saddle Seat World Cup in Madison, Wisconsin, Team USA again finished with silver.
In contrast to the Invitational status it has carried for both the 1998 and 2000 events, 2002 marked the first time that the Five-Gaited competition enjoyed full official status as a Saddle Seat World Cup event. The Five-Gaited team received a stunning perpetual trophy donated by Saddle & Bridle magazine. As with the World Cup for the Three-Gaited event, the beautiful silver bowl is awarded to the gold medal team in each Saddle Seat World Cup and then remains in that country’s possession until the next event.
In Three-Gaited competition, Team South Africa defeated the US by a margin of 264 points, earning a total score of 5343 while the US finished with 5079. Team Canada, coached by American trainer Jan Lukens, earned the bronze with a final score of 4804. The teams from Namibia and Great Britain earned the fourth and fifth place finishes respectively. The US Three-Gaited team included Matthew Williams (Captain), Kristen Ahern, Tate Bennett, Devon Garone, Brooke Jacobs and Melinda Young (alternate). Sarah and Rob Byers served as the Coach and Manager of Three-Gaited Team USA respectively.
| Click on photo for larger image |
|
Group Pratice
|
Lucinda Practicing
|
The Officials
|
The US has had a strong record in international Saddle Seat competition, earning the gold in the first multi-national World Cup competition in 1996. The US would earn back-to-back gold medals with a repeat win in 1998. Team USA fought hard to defend their gold medal title in 2000, but finished with the silver by the slimmest of margins. US World Cup Chairman Nancy Becker was pleased with this year's competition overall. "Of course I would love to have seen two gold medals for the US, but our riders represented us well both in and out of the ring. I also think that winning the gold in the five-gaited division will help further that division here at home."
| Click on photo for larger image |
|
Flags in the sunset
|
Bonnie & her new friends
|
"Building Bridges"
|
Congratulations to Team USA on their strong performances and exemplary representation of the United States in international competition.