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Four Americans who competed at the Mandatory Outing for the Squad for the WEG, at the Horse Park of New Jersey on July 18th will have important runs at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park in just over a week. Gatcombe Park is the home of Anne, The Princess Royal.

Steve Bradley and Karen O'Connor, each of whom had serious glitches at the Mandatory Outing, will be trying to show they deserve a spot among the six who will be heading for Aachen on the 23rd of August. (Karen and Upstage are pictured at the right jumping a Duck in The Head of The Lake at Rolex Kentucky, in May.)

Steve and Brandenburg's Joshua had a fall as well as a later refusal at the last water. Steve, a former Olympian (Barcelona, 1992) as well as a Burghley CCI**** winner the following year with Sassy Reason, will be hoping to show that Joshua's problems in the 100 degree weather in New Jersey were an abberation.

Karen, who had problems in the woods at a corner at the Mandatory Outing, is a three time Olympian (Sydney, 2000; Atlanta 1996, and Barcelona 1992) who has made vast strides in improving Upstage's Dressage and is normally solid Cross Country. She will be trying to solidify Upstage's confidence at Gatcombe, where surely the temperatures will be more condusive to comfortable runs than New Jersey was.

Sara Mittleider will be prepping El Primero, who finished 14th at the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** in early May, for a run at the Blenheim CCI*** (August 31 - September 3). (Sara and El Primero are pictured at the left jumping into The Head of The Lake at Rolex Kentucky this spring.)

Bonnie Mosser, who is listed on the Squad with Jenga, a former Foxhall CCI*** winner who placed 21st at Rolex Kentucky this year, will be running Close The Deal, the third place finisher at the Jersey Fresh CCI*** in early June. This pair is also prepping for the Blenheim CCI***. (Bonnie and Close The Deal are pictured at the right below jumping the oxer in the water at Jersey Fresh, in June.)

Also in Advanced Section 2 with these four are three other Ameicans all of whom are based in the UK.

Aimee Mowbray will ride Hulla Boaloo VI who finished 17th at Tweseldown in the Open Intermediate and then withdrew before Cross Country and Show Jumping at Aston Le Walls.

Phillip Adkins has entered Hippolyte who finished 42nd at the Osberton CIC** and 48th at the Burnham Market CIC**, both last year and retired at Tweseldown this year.

Elisabeth Halliday runs Silken Crisp who has finished 24th at Tweseldown in an Open Intermediate, 17th at the Tweseldown CCI**, and 12th in an Open Intermediate at Hambledon.

Other well known competitors in this Section include Zara Phillips with Ardfield Magic Star; Mary King and Apache Sauce; William Fox-Pitt riding Parkmore Ed and Cavalcade; and Italy's Susanna Bordone with Nova Top, formerly a ride of Phillip Dutton's. 52 competitors are named in this Section.

There is only one American in Advanced Section 1 - Cindy Rawson, who is also based in the UK, will ride Ashdales David's Way, who is partially owned by Bob and Sally Futh. (Cindy and Ashdale Davids Way are pictured at the left.) This pair most recently finished 21st at the Luhmuhlen CCI****, in Germany. Cindy comes up against Zara Phillips and Toytown and Daisy Dick and Spring Along. Both of these pairs are named to Great Britain's Squad for the WEG. 51 competitors are entered in this Section.