Gladstone, NJ-June 20, 1998

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) has selected four-in-hand drivers James Fairclough of Newton, NJ; Sem Groenewoud of Pocantico Hills, NY; and Tucker S. Johnson of Oldwick, NJ to represent the United States in the Four-In-Hand World Championships at the World Equestrian Games in Rome, Italy, September 30 - October 11.

World renowned four-in-hand trainer and competitor Felix Brasseur of Belgium will serve as the squad's coach and trainer and USET Vice President for Driving Jack Wetzel will serve as chef d'equipe.

The World Championship squad was announced following the final four-in-hand selection trial, sponsored by the Gladstone Equestrian Association, at USET Headquarters during the 1998 Bayer/USET Festival of Champions June 18-21. According to USET Director of Driving Activities Pauwla Groenewoud, "The four- in-hand drivers on this squad are all experienced in international competition. Each has demonstrated consistent success and together they give us an excellent team to challenge for the World Championship title." Fairclough, who will drive Jane Forbes Clark's team in Rome, earned the right to represent the United States in Rome with outstanding finishes in the Selection Trial Series, including victories at Live Oak Farm in Ocala, FL and Yellowframe Farm in Southern Pines, NC. Fairclough previously represented the U.S. at the 1980 and 1982 Four-In-Hand World Championships. He also qualified for the 1992 USET Four-In-Hand World Championship squad. In 1991, he was a member of the USET's Gold Medal Team at the World Pairs Championship in Zwettl, Austria.

Groenewoud will drive Sascha M. Rockefeller's team in Rome. He has been selected to nine World Driving Championship teams, five for the United States Equestrian Team and four for his native Netherlands whom he helped to the team Gold Medal in 1982. He won the USET Four-In-Hand Championships in 1986, 1989, 1990 and 1991 and was reserve Champion in 1987.

Johnson will drive a team owned by Mr. & Mrs. James L. Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Duke. He put in many solid performances in 1997, including his win in the Cosequin/USET Four-In-Hand Championship at the Fair Hill International. He previously competed in the Four-In-Hand World Championships in The Hague, Holland in 1994 and he was Fairclough's teammate on the Gold Medal team at the 1991 World Pairs Championship.

The USET is the non profit organization responsible for selecting, training and funding athletes of the highest possible standard to represent the United States in international equestrian competition. For more information on how you can support the USET, please visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org, or call (908) 234-1251.