2001 Nations Cup USA Team Announced

 

The United States Equestrian Team has announced Team USA members for the 2001 Festival of Champions Nations Cup Reining competition. Repeat representative Craig Johnson welcomes new teammates Tim McQuay, Clint Haverty and Pete Kyle. Not new to the USET Competition in Gladstone, New Jersey, Haverty, McQuay, and Kyle are all previous qualifiers for the Cosequin/USET $100,000 added Reining Championship Presented by Bayer.

Nations Cup team members are selected based on past performances at the Festival of Champions. By reining standards, this foursome of top National Reining Horse Association trainers epitomizes the loftiest level of accomplishment. All are world champions and McQuay is the NRHA’s All Time Leading Money Earner, with over a million dollars won aboard reining horses.

The Festival of Champions Nations Cup spotlights heavy competition in a worldwide arena. Four reiners are nominated from each country to vie for the Nations Cup medal and it is the winning team’s honor to stand in the arena’s center as its national anthem plays.

This year’s competition has received early participation commitments from Austria, Germany, and the U.S.A. With 17 countries invited the Nations Cup also hopes to include Italy, Great Britain, Canada, Japan, Holland and others.

High-octane performance has been the key to success from the inception of USET reining and Craig Johnson on Smokin Chic Olena along with fellow riders Pete Kyle, on Dun It The Hard Way, Clint Haverty on Jumping Jack Whiz, and Tim McQuay on Mr Tori Kid are perfect examples.

McQuay said he was honored to be a part of the Nations Cup. “It’s quite a feeling to be a member of the U.S. team.”

The Festival of Champions reining is slated for June 21-24, in Gladstone, New Jersey.

The National Reining Horse Association is the governing body of the sport of reining, responsible for promoting the sport, working to insure the highest standards of competition and educating its members and the public about reining.

For information on the NRHA, call 405-946-7400 or visit the web site at www.nrha.com.