Only Three West Coast Qualifiers Remain Before Selecting the West Coast Representatives for the 2005 World Cup Finals

Indio, CA – Richard Spooner, Joie Gatlin, and Nicole Simpson are one step closer to securing their spots as U.S. representatives from the West Coast League for the 2005 World Cup Finals in Las Vegas, April 20-24. Each separated by a mere point, Spooner stands at 63 qualifying points, Gatlin at 62, and Simpson at 61.

While Spooner placed first on Hilton Flight at the $75,000 HITS Grand Prix February 6, the sixth qualifier for the West Coast League, it was actually his fourth place finish on World Cup horse Robinson that ensured he would keep his first place spot on the West Coast’s qualifying list. One of seven horses to jump clear in the first round, Spooner and Robinson picked up four faults in the final jump off, at 40.69 seconds.

Joie Gatlin and SunCal’s King tied for ninth place, picking up nine points—just enough to retain a second place standing in the overall list. Meanwhile, Nicole Simpson and El Campeon’s So Long added 17 points to her fifth place ranking, bringing her into the top-three this week. They were one of three horse and rider teams to jump a double clear round in the qualifier, with a final time of 45.27.

Francie Steinwedell-Carvin and Ness-Go were the top ranked World Cup combination at this qualifier, earning 20 points for a double clear round, with a jump off time of 45.03.

These standings will be tried again later this week as yet another West Coast qualifier gets underway at the HITS Desert Horse Park in Indio. Points amassed at these final three qualifiers will determine the three West Coast League riders who will be invited to compete in the 2005 FEI World Cup Finals in Las Vegas, April 20-24. These riders will join the seven chosen from the East Coast League, and two undetermined wild card riders afforded to the host country.

Top Finishers at the $75,000 HITS Grand Prix
Indio, CA

• 1. Richard Spooner, USA, Hilton Flight, 0-0 faults, 42.96 seconds
• 2. *Francie Steinwedell-Carvin, USA, Ness-Go, 0-0 faults, 45.03 seconds, 20 points
• 3. *Nicole Shahinian-Simpson, USA, El Campeon’s So Long, 0-0 faults, 45.27 seconds, 17 points
• 4. *Richard Spooner, USA, Robinson, 0-4 faults, 40.69 seconds, 15 points
• 5. Laura Linback, USA, Quintin, 0-4 faults, 42.87 seconds
• 6. *Jeff Campf, USA, Lady-D, 0-4 faults, 43.59 seconds, 13 points
• 7. *Guillermo Obligado, ARG, Carlson, 0-8 faults, 46.22 seconds, 12 points
• 8. *Duncan McFarlane, NZL, Eezy, 1 fault, 11 points
• 9. *Gabriella Salick, USA, Sandstone Laurin, 4 faults, 9 points
• *Joie Gatlin, USA, SunCal’s King, 4 faults, 9 points
• *Laura Linback, USA, Remember Me 9, 4 faults, 0 points
• Richard Spooner, USA, Bradford, 4 faults
• *Rich Fellers, USA, McGuinness, 4 faults, 9 points

*World Cup Rider

To receive the complete results in an easy to read table for publication, please e-mail slane@usef.org.

For the latest in World Cup standings for the East and West Coast Leagues, log onto www.usef.org, click on High Performance, and then Show Jumping. Rankings are updated regularly under the World Cup header.