U.S. Team Ready to Pull Out All the Stops For Super League Final

Barcelona, Spain- September15, 2005 - McLain Ward rode Oasis to a third place finish Thursday in a warm-up competition for the Samsung Super League Final. The United States is trying to capture the title for the first time.

Ward of Brewster, N.Y. piloted the nine year-old gelding owned by Double H Farm to an error-free round in the Trofeo Diputacio de Barcelona, but the time was 3.10 seconds slower than the winner, Robert McGuire of Britain on Retreats Oakie Doakie.

After seven competitions at the finest European venues, the United States sits atop the Super League leader board in only its second year competing in the world’s premier series of show jumping events. The U.S. team has won two of the seven events: the kickoff at La Baule, France and at, perhaps the most competitive, Aachen, Germany last month.

However, the final event counts for double points. The United States, in the lead with 43 points, followed by Germany with 39 and Britain with 37 points are considered most likely to battle for the top spot in the double round team competition.

Aside from Ward, the U.S. team in Barcelona comprises Lauren Hough of Wellington, Fla. with Casadora, Laura Kraut of Oconomowoc, Wis. with Anthem, Aaron Vale of Aiken, S.C. with Artur 28, and Jeffery Welles of Ridgefield, Conn. with Armani.

George Morris, Chef d‘Equipe of the U.S. team, watching the class that all of the team members except Vale competed in and Ward finished third in, said, “We’ve definitely got the product. We couldn’t have a better group of riders and horses. We’re ready to pull out all the stops.”

In Thursday’s competition, Hough and Casadora finished ninth, Welles and Armani in 15th, while Kraut retired before finishing the course on Anthem.

Photo Credit: McLain Ward riding Oasis to third place finish Thursday in warm-up class for Samsung Super League final in Barcelona, Spain. Photo By: Ken Braddick-HorseSport USA