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“The Chef’s de Mission from France, Great Britain and the United States met in the Olympic Village this morning to discuss the controversy surrounding the result of the equestrian three-day eventing competition last night. In the interests of the athletes, fair play and the integrity of sport, all parties have agreed to jointly pursue all available avenues of appeal, and, if necessary, to take this matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport,” the statement read.

The three teams have informed the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) of their decision to proceed, and legal teams representing the French, British and American delegations are currently preparing the case, which they expect to lodge over the coming days.

For more information, please contact Maria Partlow, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications on (859) 225-6941 or via email at mpartlow@usef.org. USEF press releases are available on our web site – www.usef.org.

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FEDERATION EQUESTRE INTERNATIONALE
OLYMPIC UPDATE 18 AUGUST 2004

Eventful Eventing Day

A roller coaster of emotions preceded the medal presentations for the Eventing competition at Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre, with double gold for Bettina Hoy individually and with her German Team.

The Appeal Committee had to consider an appeal received from the German Federation against the time penalties awarded to Bettina Hoy at the conclusion of the Eventing Team Jumping and Individual Qualifier, which had pushed Germany off the podium. Bettina Hoy had crossed the starting line
twice at the beginning of the round.

The Appeal Committee concluded that the clock had been restarted, and that an error in the management of the competition shall not put a rider at disadvantage. "Bettina Hoy had no way to believe that her round had started," explained Hugh Thomas (GBR) member of the Appeal Committee, "As the clock was restarted when she crossed the line for the second time". The
Committee therefore removed the time penalties formerly given by the Ground Jury and the German team earned the gold medal with a result of 133.80 penalties, ahead of France (140.40) and Great Britain (143). The medals were presented by HRH (The) Princess Royal (GBR), IOC Member and former Olympian in Eventing.

Twenty years after being part of the bronze team medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the 41-year-old Bettina Hoy, married to Olympic champion Andrew Hoy (AUS) won on a score of 41.6. Ringwood Cockatoo had one rail down in the Individual Final round and caught 2 time penalties, after a clear round in the team Jumping competition. The complete German Jumping
team had come to support and advise her before and during the competition.

Silver went to Leslie Law (GBR) for his second clear round of the day. His Gelding Shear L'Eau stayed on 44.40 points although the much feared plank moved back and forth almost until he crossed the finishing line.

Kimberly Severson (USA) won the bronze after Winsome Andante had a fault in the double combination to finish with 45.20 points.

French rider Nicolas Touzaint, who was among the big favourite for the individual title, had four rails down, and with Galan de Sauvagere, finished 9th, after having dominated the dressage and cross country day.

Over and Over Had to Be Put to Sleep

The horse of Joris Vanspringel (BEL), Over and Over, who suffered a serious injury on fence
26 of the cross country yesterday had been immediately brought to the Veterinary Clinic. Prof Leo Jeffcott (GBR), President of the FEI Veterinary Commission and Dr Nigel Nichols (AUS) Foreign Veterinary Delegate today issued the following statement: "The horse : "The horse was prepared for surgery in the evening of 17 August. During the operation, Prof Jack Snyder
(USA) found that in addition to the fracture of the left femur, there was an extensive soft tissue and articular damage causing severe instability of the stifle. This made a satisfactory repair of the fracture impossible. After careful consideration for the future welfare of the horse, it was reluctantly decided that the only option was to put to sleep the horse before it recovered from anaesthesia".

What's in a Horse's Name?

Poggio II (Amy Tryon, USA): Tryon, a fire-fighter from Washington State, found the horse that was to become her Olympic mount from a classified ad in her local newspaper, the Seattle Times. She and a friend bought him for just 2500 dollars. Then aged five, he was being used as a pack-horse in the mountains. Prior to that he had been on the track and even won a race. His official name was 'Chester's Time to Fly', his track nickname was Pogo, as in pogo stick. Bouncy from the
start, he proved his jumping ability by jumping in and out of his field for fun, which he still does.
After a double clear round in her first Olympic Games Amy commented: " He has never been easy, but I never lost faith in him. It has been a long haul, as I have had to adapt my style of riding to how he wants to be ridden. But I trust him 110 per cent." Bouncy, individual and with his own style, Poggio was named after the bottle of Italian wine Amy and her friend were drinking while discussing his future.

Mr. Noppus (Hendrik Degros, Belgium): When a Dutch horse breeder decided to breed one mare to the stallion Boy B, the stallion owner made him the offer that if he could produce another mare, he could also use the stallion for her, for free. The mare was Jeanette, and the foal went on to come to Athens aged just nine to compete in the Olympic Games. A free horse perhaps, but not bad for one whose name translates as 'Mister Nothing'.

Oaklea Groover (Rebel Morrow, Australia): In 1999 Rebel Morrow spent 300 dollars on a failed racehorse destined for the knackers' yard. Now she has just competed at her first Olympic Games on the same horse, who likes to take life in the groove. "Groover is an amazing horse, but when he is not competing he takes life easy - just to eat and sleep.

Drunken Disorderly (Mark Kyle, Ireland): Mark Kyle's wife Tanya bought this horse as
a four-year-old. His previous owner, Duncan, was nicknamed 'Drunken Duncan' not for any reason of insobriety but because his friends thought it tripped off the tongue. But it was over a beer or two that his former horse became 'Drunken Disorderly'. Tanya said: " He's a super horse but he has always liked to do things hisown way and as a young horse he was a bit wobbly and unco-ordinated."

Air Jordan ( Frank Ostholt, Germany):is named after the US Basketball star. (Michael Jordan)

Miss Ferrari (Harald Ambros, Austria): Dentistry student Harald Ambros (24) bought Miss Ferrari as an unbroken three-year- old and was the first person ever to ride her. His father deals
in cars, all Italian marques, so it was to the motorsport world that they turned for a name. "It was easy" recalls Harald, who is riding at his first Olympic Games on the now nine-year-old mare. " She is fast, reliable and very, very cool!"

Muriel Faienza
Communication Manager
Federation Equestre Internationale
m.faienza@horsesport.org
www.horsesport.org
T +41 21 310 47 47

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Contact: Jennifer Ward
tel: (613) 569-2423 - August 18, 2004
For Immediate Release

Canadian Eventing Team Ends Olympic Bid in 12th Position

Athens, Greece – Following the three phases of competition in the equestrian discipline of eventing, the Canadian Eventing Team ended its Olympic bid in 12th position overall in Athens, Greece.

Canada was sitting in 12th position following the opening phase of dressage, dropped to 13th following Tuesday’s cross-country competition, and moved back into 12th on Wednesday following the third and final phase of show jumping, with a final score of 301.20 penalty points.

Mike Winter, 30, of Toronto, ON, was the top-placed Canadian rider in the Individual rankings, finishing in 40th overall. After incurring eight penalties in show jumping, Winter’s final score was 88.00 penalty points riding Balista. (Mike and Balista are pictured at the right in the Show Jumping Phase at the Markopoulo Equestrian Center.)

“Balista is such a super horse,” praised Winter of the 14-year-old thoroughbred gelding owned by Emeline Loughlin. “He was difficult when I purchased him, but our goal when we bought him three years ago was to go to the next Olympics and I am very happy that I have been able to deliver! He’s a special horse for me, and my groom, Shannon, takes such good care of him.

“There are certain things I wish had gone better, but I am not disappointed in myself or in the team’s performance,” continued Winter, who was part of the Silver Medal effort at the 2003 Pan American Championships that qualified Canada for Athens. “Everyone put forth a good effort and Canada sent five horses and riders to Athens who were prepared and looked like they belonged here. Now we have to look towards the future, invest in ourselves, and start riding at a higher standard. Before, our goal was to finish a team and now that we have accomplished that, we have a good foundation to build on and become more competitive in the future.”

Bruce Mandeville, of Summerland, BC, placed 41st overall in his second consecutive Olympic Games appearance riding Larissa, a 15-year-old Canadian-bred mare owned by breeders Franz and Elke Hollenbach. Mandeville finished with a final score of 89.20 penalty points after having three rails down for 12 penalties in the show jumping phase. Mandeville, 44, had been the highest-placed Canadian athlete following the cross-country phase where he jumped cleanly and incurred only 10.80 time penalties.

Garry Roque, 44, of Caledon East, ON, finished in 55th place with a final score of 124 penalty points. Riding Wiakura, a 13-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding owned by Gustav Quast, Roque had three rails plus three time faults in the show jumping phase to move up four spots in the overall standings.

Winter, Mandeville and Roque’s scores were counted towards the final Team standings where the best three out of five team members’ scores are added together.

The top Canadian performer in the opening phase of dressage, Hawley Bennett, 27, of Langley, BC, finished 64th overall in her Olympic debut. Riding the 14-year-old Canadian thoroughbred gelding Livingstone, her partner of ten years, Bennett incurred 12 jumping penalties in show jumping phase to bring her three-day total to penalties.

Ian Roberts, 45, of Port Perry, ON, placed 67th with a final score of 229.60 penalty points riding Mata-riki, an 11-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding owned by his wife, Kelly Plitz.

In total, 75 horse-rider combinations contested the equestrian discipline of Eventing at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. The next equestrian discipline to take center stage at the Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Center is Dressage, with the first Horse Inspection scheduled for Thursday, August 19. The opening phase of Grand Prix will be held over two days, Friday and Saturday, with Team medals being awarded at the conclusion. The Grand Prix Special will be held on Monday, August 23 with the Grand Prix Freestyle to Music on Wednesday, August 25, determining the Individual medals.

For complete results, please visit www.athens2004.com

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