MEDIA CONTACT: Kenneth Kraus of PhelpsSports.com at (561) 753-3389 or at pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com WEB SITE: PhelpsSports.com Press Releases are available at www.PhelpsSports.com PHOTO CREDIT: The West Coast Active Riders Team at Royan, France. A WCAR photo Joie Gatlin Claims Leading Lady Rider Title as West Coast Active Riders Begin Three Stop European Tour in France Royan, France – July 27, 2006 – The West Coast Active Riders (WCAR) have once again sent a team of top riders to compete in Europe this summer. The contingent of riders from California made their first stop in France a success as they picked up seven top placings, including a win and as icing on the first week’s cake, the Leading Lady Rider title as well. The team is comprised of Joie Gatlin, Francie Steinwedell Carvin, Jenni Martin, and Susan Artes. Bernie Traurig is George Morris’ associate Chef d’ Equipe for the West Coast. On the first day of competition at CSI*** Royan, Joie Gatlin lead the way with a win in the Table A Speed on SunCal’s King, and a fourth place finish in the Power and Speed on Cruise Master. “The Table A speed was a quite big course, and in the end, had to be ridden like a grand prix with a fast time allowed,” explained Traurig. “In the beginning, all of the riders underestimated the difficulty of the course and went too fast. Joie had the luck of the draw,” he said, “and put in a very calculated perfect ride, just fast enough and secured first place.” Day two was highlighted when it was announced that Joie Gatlin had won the award as the 2006 Leading Lady Rider at Royan. Earlier in the day, Jenni Martin ended up just out of the money in the 1.40m Speed Derby Prep, scored under the Faults Converted format. In the same class, Joie Gatlin had the time for a second place finish, but pulled a rail. On the final day of action in France, Jenni Martin and Spy Girl started out the morning with a fifth place finish in 1.40m Small Grand Prix. The main event, the Grand Prix De La Ville De Royan, was held at night and was designed by Jean Francois Morand. His challenging course produced only five clear rounds out of the forty-eight that started. Francie Steinwedell Carvin and Ness Go, one of the five to advance, had the next to last fence down in the jump-off, but still took home the second place prize on Ness Go. “The course designer was excellent,” said Traurig. “He told me before the class he would not build too big, but it would be very technical, and it had the ‘night factor’. He was quite nervous, as there was only one clear until the 31st horse.” Traurig was happy with the performances in the big class. “Joie on SunCal's King jumped unbelievably well with the strangest rub at the first oxer downhill. That was a bummer. She rode brilliantly the rest of the way around a very long course. She was fast enough to be the fastest four faulter and finished sixth,” he said. “Jenni, on her young horse V De Pomme, showed their true class and had a beautiful round,” Traurig explained. “She only had the slightest rub at the boat jump, which had one of those small square yellow poles in front and was hard to see at night.” “Francie was the super star of the night on Ness Go,” smiled Traurig. “She had a perfect ‘ten’ ride,” and he added, “We were so close to having three clears in the grand prix.” “The girls were super and represented the West Coast and the USEF well,” Traurig said. “George Morris (USEF Chef d’Equipe) was impressed and told me that those are the best results all summer in grand prix competition.” Traurig had praise for the event, the facility and the surrounding French countryside. “The facility is really nice with a beautiful grass arena. The grass footing was great and the stabling was very nice. It has a great atmosphere, and the crowds are enthusiastic,” he revealed. “The announcer was really complimentary to the American riders.” On the next tour, the team might pick a different hotel, however. Traurig explained that while they were housed right on the ocean in a resort town, “The hotel rooms had no air conditioning. They were hot. No, they were a sauna.” The WCAR sponsored team will move on now to Gijon in Spain with a Nations Cup competition and then wrap up the tour in Valkenswaard, Holland. WCAR RESULTS - ROYAN LEADING LADY RIDER GRAND PRIX 1.50m TABLE A SPEED 1.40m POWER AND SPEED 1.45m TABLE A JUMP OFF 1.40m SMALL GRAND PRIX OFFICAL RESULTS- GRAND PRIX DE LA VILLE DE ROYAN 1 JACQUES BONNET -FRA - GRACIEUX ARDENT 0.00/ 1.00 48.56 |
Home | Who We Are | Services | Schedule | Sponsorship | Press | Spotlight | Links | Contact
