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Teams Announced For Sidelines Equestrian Triathlon Presented By Outback Steakhouse

WELLINGTON, FL (March 5, 2003) — The third annual Sidelines Triathlon Presented By Outback Steakhouse will be held on Monday, March 10, 2003, at Outback Polo in West Palm, Florida, starting at noon. The 12 renowned riders selected to compete in the Triathlon include four 10-goal polo players (the highest rating in the sport) partnered with top show jumping and dressage riders, including four Olympians. Sidelines, Outback, Polo Gear, and The Dutta Corporation are team sponsors.

The four teams will compete in three phases: polo players and jumpers will ride a dressage test to music; dressage riders and polo players will jump a Gambler’s Choice course; and everyone on all four teams will play two chukkers of polo. The team that accumulates the highest number of total points from all three phases wins the Triathlon. Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Pewter medals will be presented in an Olympic-style podium ceremony at the close of the competition.

TEAM SIDELINES

Dressage: BENT JENSEN

Bent Jensen represented his native country, Denmark, in the 1992 Olympics. In 1989, Bent won the US World Cup finals in Florida. In 2002, Bent became a US citizen and currently resides in Wellington. He rides and trains out of Happy Endings Farm. Bent is competing two horses in this year’s Pan American Games qualifiers, with his sights set on representing the US at the upcoming Pan Am Games in the Dominican Republic. He is well prepared for this year’s Sidelines Equestrian Triathlon – he has competed in the two previous Triathlons and he has also won the WEF’s Windsome Dressage/Show Jumping Spectacular with his partner Anne Kursinski four out of five times, including the 2003 event where he placed 1st in jumping.

Jumper: NONA GARSON
Nona Garson rode on the US team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She won her first Grand Prix in 1995 at the final Pan Am Games selection trial at West Palm Beach and was on the Bronze Medal-winning US squad at the Pan Am Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She was one of 12 riders on the US team that won the inaugural Samsung Nations’ Cup in 1997. In 1998 she competed in the World Championships at the World Equestrian Games in Rome. In 1999, Nona and Rhythmical won the Budweiser/AGA Championship and the $100,000 Jaguar Gold Coast Grand Prix. In 2001 Nona won the Grand Prix at Garden State and the Grand Prix at Old Salem. In 2002 Nona had several second place finishes, including the Fidelity Grand Prix, The Wellington Cup, and the NAL Finals at Harrisburg. Nona began riding at age five in New Jersey. With her father, George, she established The Ridge Farm, which she now owns and operates.

Polo: MARIANO AGUERRE
In spite of being left-handed, Mariano Aguerre is one of the world’s most talented polo players. As many Argentines have done, he started riding as a baby and was playing polo by age four. He reached the 10 goals in 1995. Mariano has played with White Birch since 1986. He has won four Argentine Opens, twice with Ellerstina and once with Chapaleufu 1; six USPA Gold Cups; four World Cups; one Triple Crown in Argentina; five International Opens in the US; three Hurlingham Opens in Argentina; three East Coast Opens in Boston; and has several times won the C. V. Whitney Cup. Mariano is married to Tatiana Pieres, daughter of the legendary Gonzalo Pieres. The couple has a recently born daughter, Sophia.

TEAM OUTBACK

Dressage: ASHLEY HOLZER
A Toronto native, Ashley Holzer represented her home country at the 1988 Seoul Olympics where she was on Canada’s Bronze Medal-winning team. At the 1989 World Cup Final, she placed 6th overall. At the 1991 Pan Am Games in Cuba, Ashley earned a Team Gold and Individual Silver Medal. She represented Canada at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain, with Imperioso, a Dutch Warmblood stallion she recently purchased from her sponsor, Tess Gilder. Residing in New York City, Ashley, 39, is a regular competitor at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida. Ashley is married to show jumper Rusty Holzer, with whom romance began while both were competing at the 1991 Pan Am Games. They have operated Riverdale Equestrian Center in the Bronx since 1994. The couple has two children, Emma and Harrison.

Jumper: TODD MINIKUS

For his streak of grand prix wins in 2001, Sidelines, The Chronicle and USA Equestrian voted Todd Minikus as Rider of the Year. Todd started riding grand prix in 1985. In 1990 he won every open jumper class at Washington, including the President’s Cup, a record-setting performance that earned him Washington’s Ennis Jenkins Award as Leading Rider and Midwest Grand Prix Rider of the Year. Todd represented the US in the 1991 and 1995 World Cup Finals and was on the 1996 USET European Developing Rider tour. He had five Grand Prix wins in 1998 and six in 1999. In 2000, he rode Oh Star to 4th in the $250,000 AGA Championship and tied for 6th at the Budweiser World Cup. His 5th place standing at the US Olympic Selection Trials earned him the Alternate spot for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. At the 2002 National Horse Show in November, Todd had a nasty fall in the High Jump competition but was back in the saddle for the 2003 Winter Equestrian Festival and won the $25,000 WEF Challenge Cup in January with Gardenio.

Polo: ADOLFO CAMBIASO

Rated at the highest possible handicap in polo, 10 goals, Adolfo Cambiaso is truly one of the most remarkable young polo players in polo history. He was born in Argentina and grew up playing polo. He had a quick rise to the top and by the age of 17 became the youngest player ever to reach 10 goals. He has won all of the most important cups in polo. He took the Queens Cup in England three times, the US Open three times, the Argentine Open four times and the Hurlingham Open in Argentina five times. He holds the goal-scoring record for a single game in the Argentine Open. Adolfo is married to Maria and they have a daughter Mia.

TEAM POLO GEAR

Dressage: RUTH HOGAN POULSEN
Ruth Hogan Poulsen has been riding all her life, from 4-H to Pony Club to equitation Medals Classes, and was a Three Day Eventer at the Preliminary level before college. At the University of Vermont, she rode as captain of the team that won the 1988 Intercollegiate National Show Jumping Championships. After college, Ruth chose dressage as her discipline and worked her way up as a competitor with stints as a student, barn manager, and groom for Lorinda Seispers Lende, Ann Guptill, Robert Dover, Lynda Alicki, and Jane Savoie. Along with her husband, Danish rider and trainer Bo Poulsen, Ruth operates a farm in Vermont as well as winter quarters in Wellington. She coaches students, trains and imports horses, and competes at the Grand Prix level. She has successfully brought along her own horses as well as client mounts, including Aristocrat – winner of the Grand Prix Freestyle at Dressage at Devon in 1998, and Mastermind – Horse of the Year at First Level in 1994 who is now her Grand Prix mount.

Jumper: JIMMY TORANO
Jimmy Torano started his Grand Prix show jumping career in 1989 at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Based in Fort Lauderdale, Jimmy is married to hunter/jumper rider Danielle, and operates Jet Show Stables, Inc. Paired with several top Grand Prix horses owned by the Sir Ruly Group of Key Biscayne, Jimmy has been in the ribbons consistently with Lancier 4 and La Luna at top US shows including the $50,000 Budweiser Grand Prix in Tampa, FL; Grand Prix De Penn National in Harrisburg, PA; Budweiser American Invitational in Tampa; $75,000 Tommy Bahama Florida Open Grand Prix in Wellington; Sussex County Grand Prix in Augusta, NJ; Battenkill Grand Prix, in East Dorset, VT; and Monmouth Grand Prix in Monmouth, NJ.

Polo: MIKE AZZARO
Mike Azzaro has held the rating of 10 goals for 10 years – the longest of any American-born player since the legendary Tommy Hitchcock. He was born in Chicago where he started playing polo at the age of five with his dad, Vince. They moved to Texas where Mike’s career as a professional became obvious. He reached 10 goals at the age of 26. Mike has had an illustrious career in polo, playing in the world’s most important tournaments. He played in the finals of the Argentine Open twice – in 1996 with La Mariana, and in 2000 with Ellerstina. He won the US Open six times. He won four World Cups in Palm Beach, two Gold Cups of the America in Palm Beach, the Cartier International Open, and three Silver Cups in Houston. Mike also won the Prince of Wales Cup in England twice and made it to the finals of the Queens Cup.

TEAM THE DUTTA CORPORATION
Dressage: LYNDA ALICKI
Lynda Alicki won a team Gold Medal at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada, aboard her Impressario. In 1997, she earned a Team Gold Medal at CDIO Hickstead in England aboard Gino. That same year, she finished 4th overall in the USET Grand Prix Championship presented by Rio Suite Hotel & Casino at the Bayer/USET Festival of Champions. Her Grand Prix wins in 1997 included the USET qualifier and Special at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby; the qualifier and freestyle at CDI-W Raleigh; and the freestyle at Wellington Dressage. In 1996, Lynda was one of four riders who qualified to compete in the Volvo World Cup US League Final in Landover, Maryland. Her most recent Grand Prix wins were at the 2002 National Horse Show where she won the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Freestyle. Lynda starting riding in the second grade and now holds the USDF Gold Medal for Achievement. Linda moved to Wellington two years ago and operates her dressage business in Palm Beach Point East. Lynda trains, teaches and travels the country giving dressage clinics.

Jumper: CANDICE KING
Candice King made her debut on the American Grandprix Association circuit in 1989 with one 2nd place and two 3rd place finishes. In 1990 she was named to the USET Young Riders Show Jumping Squad. In 2000, partnered with John E M, Candice won the $50,000 Budweiser Grand Prix of Indianapolis, placed 2nd in the $150,000 Crown Royal Grand Prix presented by David Yurman at the Hampton Classic in Bridgehampton, New York, and received the USA Equestrian Horse of the Year award. In 2001, Candice and John E M finished 5th in the World Cup at Gothenburg, Sweden, and won the Queen Elizabeth Cup at Hickstead, England. That same year, Candice was named to the USET Developing Rider Program. In 2002 she placed in three World Cup qualifiers. Candice is married to Brandon King and the couple has a daughter, Alexandra.

Polo: ADAM SNOW
Adam Snow is the United States’ most recent 10-goal player. After playing at a 9 rating for the last four years, he not only attained 10 in 2002, but he won almost every tournament he played in, from 16-goal to 26-goal, including wins in Opens on both coasts. In a roster of 15 teams in the 2002 US Open in Florida, Adam’s Coca Cola team won seven straight games to make it to the finals. He also won the Pacific Coast Open in Santa Barbara, California. In January 2003, Adam won his first tournament at the new 10 rating in the Sunshine League at the Royal Palm Polo Club in Boca Raton, Florida. Adam was raised in a polo family in Hamilton, Massachusetts, and started playing at the Myopia Polo Club at age 12. A true horseman, Adam makes his own string, one of which, Pumbaa, won the Best Playing Pony Award at the 2002 US Open. He and his wife, Shelley Onderdonk, DVM, reside in Aiken, South Carolina, with their two boys, eight-year-old Dylon who loves soccer, and four-year-old Nathan who lives in cowboy clothes. Adam’s thrills in polo are centered on his horses and he gives full credit to his wife, Shelley, as his partner.

FREE PARKING AND ADMISSION
In previous years, the Triathlon was held as a charity fundraiser with a gate charge, but this year, admission is free. Sidelines and Tim Gannon of Outback, who is donating the use of his farm for the third year, are holding the 2003 event as a way to give back to the equestrian community. Lunch by Outback Steakhouse will be provided at $10 per person.

Directions to Outback Polo:

Main Entrance:

From Lake Worth Rd: West on Lake Worth Rd to the dead end — South Shore, turn right. At first right, South Fields Rd, turn right. Go around bend, one mile to Outback Polo Club, entrance on right.

From Forest Hill Blvd: West on Forest Hill Blvd to South Shore Blvd, turn left. Travel three miles (just past Palm Beach Polo Stadium) turn left on Pierson Rd. Travel 1/2 mile to South Fields Rd, turn right. Travel 1/4 mile to Outback Polo Club on left.

Back Entrance:

From Lake Worth Rd - Traveling west on Lake Worth Rd, turn right on 120th Ave just past the Polo Park High School. Travel 1/4 mile, turn in to first driveway on left.

From Pierson Rd - Traveling west on Pierson Rd, turn left at traffic circle onto 120th Ave. Turn in to third driveway on right.




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