West Coast Active Riders Organization Announces Final Results for Spruce Meadows Prix de Nations Teams
Equestrian News Release
Del Mar, CA- May 19, 2005- The West Coast Active Riders (WCAR) organization has reported the final results for the WCAR Spruce Meadows Prix de Nations Team Trials. These results reveal the top qualifiers for the Spruce Meadows event that will take place on July 6th. The Prix de Nations is a Nations Cup event with a qualification process similar to that of the Olympic Games.
Unlike the Grand Prix professionals who compete in the Olympic Trials, these team qualifiers are talented Junior and Amateur riders. They competed in a series of four trials with one “drop” score. The trials took place at the Palm Classic Horse Show, Oaks Blenheim Spring Classic I, the Del Mar National Horse Show, and the Showpark Ranch Coast Tournament. Four riders will compose each division team for the competition in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, with four teams attending in total.
The 1.10 Meters Division Team results ranked Richard Neal with Swish and Aimee Primm upon Riley in first place with identical scores of zero. Richard Neal and Swish had an impressive series of rounds, with zero faults in the first, second, and fourth trials. His drop score of only four faults occurred during the third trial at the Del Mar National Horse Show. Primm and her mount Riley scored five faults during the first trial at the Palm Classic Horse Show, yet she finished fault free in every trial that followed. Pam Buie and Sir Henry finished with a four fault score overall. This score earned her a place on the team and tied her with Troy Christiansen and his horse Donegal, who will also participate as a team member. The alternates for this team include Pat Hayward aboard PJ Khomedian, Paige Kirwin and Gangster, and Aimee Primm with her second horse Alaric.
A three-way tie earned positions on the 1.20 Meters Team for Richard Neal and Sbrutsch, Gretchen Privett and Lord Fee Z, and Kathryn Burdett with her mount Pre. After four consecutively faultless rounds, Neal and Sbrutsch earned a place on the team without need for a drop score. Burdett and Pre dropped their first score after successfully finishing the following three trials fault free. Similarly, Privett and her mount Lord Fee Z performed flawlessly in the last three trials and dropped their first score, while Rachel Kummer and Lunas earned a place on the team with an impressive final score of three faults. The qualifying alternates for the 1.20 Meters Team are Aimee Primm with Alaric, K. Herberger and Pepper, and Erica Buie with Ratz Fatz.
Fred Bauer, husband of the successful California trainer Karen Healey, ranked first among the 1.30 Meters Division qualifiers. Bauer will not participate in the Prix de Nations, as he will accompany his wife to show in California. Julie Hancock and Playboy ranked second with eight faults for the 1.30 M team, while Erica Buie and her mount Augustus tied with Crystal Hickey and Bolero with a total of twelve. Erica Buie and her second mount, Pastel, qualified as a team alternate, as did Ken Dickey with Miro and Stephanie Saperstein aboard Overtime.
Lauren Hester topped the rankings for the 1.40 Meters Team with a total of sixteen faults. Kelly Connor earned second in the order with Evening Star, while Hannah Selleck ranked third with her horse Cirka Z. Tiffany Hickey and Lotus earned the fourth position on the team with 29 faults.
Tammy Chipko will move up from her alternate position and join the team with her horse Amnesty, as Lauren Hester will be unable to attend.
Hester’s trainer, Karen Healey, explains, “Lauren competed in the Prix de Nations last year and would like to attend the North American Young Riders competition this summer. Unfortunately, the two shows are very far apart, and she cannot do both.”
Because Healey has commitments in California, her other Prix de Nations students will attend under the guidance of other professionals. Healey comments, “I’d like to give my riders a chance to get experience under other top professionals. I think it is beneficial for them to gain new perspectives and approaches.” Tammy Chipko, one of Healey’s students, will work with Francie Steinwedell-Carvin during her first experience at the Prix de Nations competition. Crystal Hickey, also a student of Healey, will return to Spruce Meadows for the second time and will train with Bernie Traurig. Healey comments, “I’ve only been to Spruce Meadows once, but it was a fabulous experience.”
The current alternates for the 1.40 M team are Ken Dickey with Miro and Eva Gonda with her mount EC Landstreicher.
Gabriella Salick, WCAR executive director, offered congratulations to all competitors, and said, “We have four fantastic teams, and super alternates to back us up! Well done, everyone!”
For information about WCAR programs and memberships, please visit their website at http://www.westcoastactiveriders.com.
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