WELLINGTON, FLORIDA – December 15, 2003 – The Outback/Sidelines Equestrian Triathlon has announced the members of the four teams that will compete on December 27, 2003, at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club show grounds in Wellington, Florida. The three-phase event features dressage, show jumping and polo. The teams are:

DENIM & DIAMONDS: Jimmy Torano, Ruth Hogan-Poulsen, and Mike Azzaro.

RV SALES OF BROWARD: Nona Garson, Bent Jensen, and Martin Estrada.

INTERNATIONAL POLO CLUB PALM BEACH: Candice King, Lynda Alicki, and Luis Escobar.

EQUIDRY DISTRIBUTIONS, LLC: Aaron Vale, Shawna Harding, and Gabriel Crespo.

Gates open at noon with a Children’s Fair, silent auction vendor shopping, and a parade before competition begins at 1pm. General admission tickets are $10, children under 12 are admitted free, and VIP seating is available in the Jockey Club with an Outback buffet at $750 for a reserved table of six, or $150 per person on the day of the event. Net proceeds of the Outback/Sidelines Equestrian Triathlon benefit the Make A Wish Foundation® of Southern Florida. For tickets and tables, contact Mason Phelps, Jr. of Phelps Wilkes & Associates, Inc. at (561) 753-3389 or at info@phelpswilkes.com

THE PLAYERS

TEAM DENIM & DIAMONDS

The three members of the Denim & Diamonds team were partnered in the last Triathlon and won the Gold Medal.

Show jumper JIMMY TORANO of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, was the Leading Open Jumper Rider at Madison Square Garden in 2001. This is his second time competing in the Triathlon. “Mainly why I’m doing it is for the charity. I did it last year at the last minute when they needed one more person, and I stepped in. It was a fun event, so I figured I could take time out to do it again, especially being for charity. I haven’t done dressage or polo since the last Triathlon, but hopefully my partners will help me at least one time before the actual event.”

Dressage rider RUTH HOGAN-POULSEN, of Plainfield, VT, and Wellington, FL, earned both her USDF Gold Medal and USDF Freestyle Gold Bar in 2003. This is her second time competing in the Triathlon. “I’m doing the Triathlon again this year because it was some of the most fun that I had last season. It’s a great opportunity to get to know other equestrian athletes of the other disciplines. We watch the jumpers and the polo, but you have no idea until you try them what the other disciplines are all about.”

Polo player MIKE AZARRO of San Antonio, TX, was rated to 10 goals in 1993. This is his third time competing in the Triathlon. “It’s a great opportunity to give with my ability towards the need, and also experience other equestrian sports. I’ve been a rider all my life, and the Triathlon opened up my eyes so that I appreciate how difficult jumping and dressage are. Those guys are unbelievably talented.”

TEAM RV SALES OF BROWARD

Show jumper NONA GARSON of Lebanon, NJ and Wellington, FL, was a member of the 2000 US Olympic Team in Sydney, Australia. This is her second time competing in the Triathlon. “I think it’s a fabulous event for great reasons. Our equestrian sports are humbling anyway, and to come and try different disciplines that we haven’t trained in is humbling times ten. I think polo is one of the most incredibly hard things I’ve ever done.”

Dressage riding BENT JENSEN of Wellington, FL, was a member of the 1992 Danish Olympic Team in Barcelona, Spain. This is his fourth time competing in the Triathlon. “I do it for fun! It’s fun to be with all the other people and do the other sports. It’s just a fun, fun day. Having the event at the new place, it’s going to be easier for people to watch. It was good at Outback too. They did a great job. The Triathlon is a great idea. We’re doing it for a cause and it has a purpose.”

Polo player MARTIN ESTRADA of Wellington, FL, played on the winning team at the US Open in 1997. This is his first time competing in the Triathlon. "I jump a little – I crash most of the time. I think it’s fun to learn from all different types of disciplines involved with horses. One thing adds to the other one and it’s good if you can do everything. The Triathlon’s great.”

INTERNATIONAL POLO CLUB PALM BEACH

Show jumper CANDICE KING of Wellington, FL, won the Queens Cup in Hickstead, England. This is her second time competing in the Triathlon. “I’m doing it because I think the charity is a very good cause. My plan for the day of the competition is to have fun. It’s a great event for people and everybody has a great time. It’s nice to put everybody together and have a unique event like this.”

Dressage rider LYNDA ALICKI of Wellington, FL, was a member of the US Gold Medal Team at the 1999 Pan American Games. This is her second time competing in the Triathlon. “I really love the animal of course, and anything in the public eye I love doing. Polo excites me and I used to jump as a kid on little fun horses. I love all three disciplines. It was a huge crowd last year so I hope each year we get more and more of a crowd. It’s an exciting event and fun for anybody to watch.”

Polo player LUIS ESCOBAR of Wellington, FL, played in the Finals of the 1996 US Open. This is his first time competing in the Triathlon. “I think it’s great to be able to participate in the Triathlon. I’ve always thought Make-A-Wish was a good foundation for the kids and I just love that I can support it. I’ve never done dressage and I’ve only done jumping a couple of times. I’m looking forward to it as a fun and challenging event.”

EQUIDRY DISTRIBUTIONS, LLC

Show jumper AARON VALE of Aiken, SC, is the current US record holder for most Grand Prix wins in a single year. This is his first time competing in the Triathlon. “Last year I did a couple of three-day events. I’ve always enjoyed different aspects of horses, different horse sports, and this looks like a great opportunity for a little diversity. I tried to stick’n’ball about 20 years ago and I’m going to practice so hopefully I can hit the ball instead of missing it.”

Dressage rider, SHAWNA HARDING of Wellington, FL, won six Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I classes at her first season in Florida, 2003. This is her first time competing in the Triathlon. “A girl that was in our stable met Debbie McDonald through the Make-A-Wish Foundation; it’s a wonderful opportunity for children who are really down to meet someone who is a role model. The Triathlon should be a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to the jumping and playing well on the polo field, which I’ve never done before.”

Polo player GABRIEL CRESPO of Aiken, SC, played in the 2000 US Open. This is his first time competing in the Triathlon. “I helped put it together, I umpired a bunch of times, but I never actually played in the Triathlon. I’m always very involved with anything that is helpful for anybody or to have fun – I’m up for it. Last year I brought 14 polo ponies to the field for everybody to ride. That’s how I feel about charity events.”

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