DressageDaily: U.S. Stands Fifth After Day One at I.P.E.C. Dressage World Championships for Riders With Disabilities

Friday September 5, 2003

U.S. Stands Fifth After Day One at I.P.E.C. Dressage World Championships for Riders With Disabilities

Kathy Groves on Freek The United States stands fifth out of 22 teams in the fifth International Paralympic Equestrian Committee (I.P.E.C.) Dressage World Championships in Moorsele, Belgium.

The U.S. team, selected by the National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA) and fielded by the U.S. Equestrian Team (USET), has a score of 196.49 to trail Great Britain (216.87), Germany (211.48), Norway (203.81) and Denmark (198.50).

The team includes Robin Brueckmann of Summerfield, NC competing in Grade IV on Richmond; Barbara Grassmyer of Placerville, CA competing in Grade III on Polomius Millesine; Rebecca Hart of Erie, PA competing in Grade III on Phoenix B; and Lynn Seidemann of Coppell, TX competing in Grade I-B also on Phoenix B. After the first day of competition, Seidemann is fourth in her division with a score of 67.47 and Hart is fifth in her division with a score of 65.31. Kathryn Groves of Winter Garden, FL and Cynthia Ruiz of Houston, TX are also competing in the Championships as individuals.

The U.S. riders are among the more than 125 others with similar disabilities from 35 countries at the four-day World Championships. Participants are competing in Individual Championship tests and Musical Freestyles as well as the Team test. The team and individual finals are on Saturday, September 6 and the freestyle, a separate competition, is on Sunday, September 7.

In addition to the prestige of winning medals and championships, top-finishing teams and individuals at the I.P.E.C. World Championships will earn places for their country’s athletes to participate in the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece.