Gladstone, NJ-April 3,1998
The United States Equestrian Team (USET) has announced the 10 Show Jumping Riders who have qualified to compete at the XX Volvo World Cup Final, April 15-19, 1998, in Helsinki, Finland.

Heading the list of riders are Beezie Patton of Cazenovia, NY, winner of the U.S. East Coast League and Hap Hansen of Encinitas, CA winner of the West Coast League.

Patton has qualified for the World Cup Final for the sixth time. In 1993, she placed fifth in the World Cup Final at Gothenburg, Sweden. This year marks the second time she has won the U.S. East Coast League, duplicating the feat she accomplished in 1990 and continuing a hot streak she began last summer when she won the $100,000 Rolex/USET Show Jumping Championship presented by Ethel M Chocolates at the Bayer/USET Festival of Champions.

Hansen has qualified for his eleventh World Cup Final and has finished first in the U.S. West Coast League seven times. He has also placed sixth in the World Cup Final twice; 1985 Berlin, Germany and 1988 Gothenburg, Sweden.

Also qualified for the Final from the East Coast League are Katie Prudent of Middleburg, VA; Alison Firestone of Upperville, VA; Leslie Howard of Westport, CT; Margie Goldstein-Engle of Wellington, FL; McLain Ward of Brewster, NY; Mark Leone of Franklin Lakes, NJ; and Nona Garson of Lebanon, NJ. Richard Spooner of Glendale, CA also qualified from the West Coast League.

The USET is a non profit organization responsible for selecting, training, funding and equipping those athletes that officially represent the United States in international equestrian competition.