Paso Robles, CA - Gina Miles and McKinlaigh galloped away with the win in the CIC3* at Twin Rivers Horse Trials, this year's last USEA/Adequan Gold Cup series event. The pair incurred only a single time fault in show jumping, but left all the rails neatly in their cups to finish with a score of 72.7. The stunning 17-hand Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Thom Shulz and Miles performed beautifully this weekend, after having just come back from the Pan American Games in Rio, Brazil with a bronze individual medal and team gold. Miles said making the time on cross-country wasn't a huge issue for her, as she mainly hopes to keep McKinlaigh sound and healthy for next year's Olympic Games. A local Californian, Miles was glad to support her local event and was even more thrilled with Mac's efforts around the solid course.

Jennifer Wooten and The Good Witch dropped a single rail to fall from second to third place, and Andrea Baxter and Estrella were quick to pick up the slack and take over her position. Baxter and her and her mother Connie's mare were the only competitors in the division of eight to complete a double-clear show jumping round. The Baxters own the prestigious Twin Rivers Ranch event facility and Andrea had quite the cheering squad after her fantastic round. Canadian Hawley Bennett and Pamela and John Hudson's handsome chestnut SplendoroftheSun dropped several rails, but maintained their fourth place position.

In the Intermediate division of the Gold Cup series, which happened to be the CIC2*, Leigh Mesher and Mar De Amor maintained their overnight lead with a lovely double-clear round on Sunday afternoon, one of only two in the 13-strong division to finish fault-free. The bay gelding competed in jumper classes as a youngster, so he made the last phase of the competition look like a piece of cake as he cantered nimbly around the course, not touching a single rail. Mesher admitted that she was a little nervous yesterday on cross-country because skinny jumps are usually a little hard for her, but she said her horse was honest straight out of the gate and answered every question the course presented.

Tory Smith and her Bantry Bay V maintained their second place standings even after dropping a single rail, as did Julie Ann Boyer and Rumor Hazit. Saturday's fourth place contender Barbara Crabo and Groovy dropped in the standings after pulling two rails, and Shar Martin and Drumerone were quick to take over their position.

Thanks to the generosity of the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series sponsors, Miles will go home with $500 cash, a seven-dose pack of Adequan, pair of SCS3 boots from Mountain Horse, fly sheet from Back on Track, Nunn Finer American Style brushing boots, saddle pad from Ogilvy Horse, grooming tote with a three-month supply of Wellpride Omega-3 fish oil, Nutrena feed, and a gift certificate for $175 worth of products from World Equestrian Brands.

Mesher received all of the above for his CIC** win, but instead of the SCS3 boots will receive a Cirrus 3-season jacket from Mountain Horse.

Both Baxter and Smith received a pair of Nunn Finer brushing boots, No Bow wraps from Back on Track, and a gift certificate for $75 worth of products from World Equestrian Brands.

Stay tuned for more USEA/Adequan Gold Cup updates as the series champions will soon be announced!

The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of its many sponsors: Title: Adequan; Legacy: Nunn Finer, Nutrena, and World Equestrian Brands; Contributing: Cover-All, UlcerGard, and Wellpride; and Patron: Back on Track, Mountain Horse, Ogilvy Horse, and Platinum Performance.

For more information on the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series, click on the Gold Cup logo on the USEA website homepage. For more information on the Twin Rivers Horse Trials, including complete results, visit www.twinriversranch.us.

By Emily Daily