Wellington, FL – January 28, 2013 – The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is pleased to announce that reigning Show Jumping World Cup Champion Rich Fellers of Wilsonville, OR, is the recipient of the 2013 Whitney Stone Cup. The award is presented annually to an active competitor who displays consistent excellence in international competition and high standards of sportsmanlike conduct while serving as an ambassador for the United States and equestrian sport. Fellers was the winner of the 2012 FEI Show Jumping World Cup Finals aboard Mollie and Harry Chapman’s Flexible in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands. The pair then went on to be the highest placed American competitors at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Fellers was unable to be present the USET Foundation Reception on January 25th, in Wellington, Florida. Accepting this award was his friend and U.S. Show Jumping Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland, who also read Fellers’ acceptance speech.
“I would like to thank the USET Foundation for honoring my achievements with this prestigious award,” commented Fellers. “I am humbled to be included with the elite group of former winners. We all talk about having the horse of a lifetime. Mollie and Harry Chapman have, without a doubt, been owners of a lifetime. Their support, confidence, and trust in Shelley and me over the years have been amazing. The majority of my success in the sport has been a direct result of their commitment. Looking forward, my biggest wish for the success we enjoyed this past year to in some way to inspire the future stars of our sport.”
After a whirlwind year, Fellers was named the 2012 USEF Equestrian of the Year, while 16-year-old Flexible took home the honor of 2012 USEF International Horse of the Year. Fellers was the first American to win the Show Jumping World Cup Finals in 25 years after a nail-biting jump-off in Europe. When they returned to the United States, Fellers and Flexible went on a winning streak that featured all four of their Olympic Observation Events, including the $100,000 Hermes Grand Prix of Del Mar and the $200,000 CN Performance Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows.
Selected as the anchor rider for the U.S. Show Jumping Team at the Olympic Games, Fellers and Flexible helped the Team place sixth. They also returned to the arena for the individual competition, finishing eighth as the highest placed American duo.
Fellers and Flexible will continue to compete in 2013 and hope to return to the Show Jumping World Finals to defend their winning title.
Whitney Stone Cup Winners
The Whitney Stone Cup is awarded in honor of the late Whitney Stone, who served as President and Chairman of the Board of the United States Equestrian Team from 1953 to 1973. Mr. Stone was instrumental in the creation of a civilian equestrian team when the Army retired from competitive horse sports after 1948. Previous Whitney Stone Cup winners are:
1980 – Michael Matz
1981 – James C. Wofford
1982 – Norman Dello Joio
1983 – Melanie Smith (Taylor)
1984 – Carole Grant
1985 – Joe Fargis
1986 – Conrad Homfeld
1987 – Katie Monahan Prudent
1988 – Bruce O. Davidson
1989 – Gregory A. Best
1990 – William Long
1991 – Hap Hansen
1992 – Lana DuPont Wright
1993 – Carol Lavell
1994 – J. Michael Plumb
1995 – Robert Dover
1996 – Anne Kursinski
1997 – Leslie Burr Howard
1998 – David O’Connor
1999 – Valerie Kanavy
2000 – Karen O’Connor
2001 – Tucker Johnson
2002 – Guenter Seidel
2003 – Peter Wylde
2004 – Debbie McDonald
2005 – Chris Kappler
2006 – Elizabeth (Beezie) Madden
2007 – Elizabeth (Beezie) Madden
2008 – Miranda (Randy) Caldwell
2009 – Steffen Peters
2010 – McLain Ward
2011 – Tucker S. Johnson
2012 – Christine McCrea
The United States Equestrian Team Foundation (www.uset.org) is the non-profit organization that supports the competition, training, coaching, travel and educational needs of America’s elite and developing international, high-performance horses and athletes in partnership with the United States Equestrian Federation.
For more information on the USET Foundation, please call (908) 234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org.
Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
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