The biggest attraction of the day was the CIC3*, part of the $20,000 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series. Riders have travelled from all across the country to contest this impressive division, and battle it out for top honors. Allison Springer and Arthur, who flew from their hometown in Virginia, began their weekend with an incredible 11-point lead after the dressage, and today tacked on only two time penalties to their dressage score of 37.4. Currently, they remain ten points ahead of Canadian Hawley Bennett-Awad and Linda Paine’s feisty mare Gin N’ Juice. Ballynoecastle RM’s quick and tidy round moved him and Buck Davidson up into third place with a 50.4, a mere point behind Bennett-Awad.
"The footing was great and the course really rode like it walked; there were no surprises. I went for a gallop this morning because Arthur has been beside himself with excitement," said Springer, from Upperville, Virginia. "It is so stunning to be here and look at the mountains all around. I didn't realize until I went to warm up how many spectators there were. Holy cow - there were a lot of people out there. And everyone is so friendly and helpful."
Davidson said his horse enjoyed the festive atmosphere and large crowd. "It's always exciting on him," he said. "He is 11 years old and has been to Hong Kong and all over the world. Everything seems to go better when there are a lot of spectators."
"My goal was to come out and make time," said Bennet-Awad. "Ginny was foot-perfect and very bold at that first water. It was easy for her. Crowds are her thing. She hears the crowd applause and she just goes. She's like a little Ferrari. Hearing the crowd today when we went through the big water was so cool."
?Looking to the show jumping, Davidson, who competed here for the first time last year said that the course, designed by Richard Jeffery, is one of the toughest he's jumped. "It's a difficult course with big jumps in a small ring. Plus, the crowd on the hillside feels like it's on top of you - it's a bit of a tense atmosphere."
"Buck is right," said Bennet-Awad. "This is one of the toughest show jumping courses in the world. Tomorrow is going to be very interesting. A rail or two will make a huge difference. Last year one rail cost me $4000."
"It's going to be a good, tough show jumping," said Springer. "This is exactly why I came."?
The course seemed to ride extremely well this afternoon, with only a few riders having trouble. Tamra Smith and Mar De Amor had an unfortunate technical elimination only mere fences from home after jumping the wrong jump, and John Michael Durr popped off of Warrick at an ‘egg’ in the Jurassic Park complex, though none the worse for wear. The rest of the riders accumulated only a few time faults, with Martha McDowell and Gaelic Marriage posting the fastest time, just a second over the optimum time.
Davidson is also in second place in the CCI2* with Nancy Bissenger’s All The Aces, while Canadian Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti hang tight to their overnight lead. Both riders had double-clear rounds. Ronald Zabala-Goetschel, riding for Ecuador, remains in third with his veteran partner Wise Equestrian Mr. Wiseguy. A few riders had some trouble on course—Jolie Wentworth had an unplanned dismount in the sunken road, and Zabala-Goetschel’s new ride Wise Equestrian Master Hill took a serious dislike to a cart table “pulled” by a spooky horse sculpture, and opted to retire on course. Kristin Schmolze had the ‘save of the day’ aboard Ballylaffin Bracken, after being nearly jostled out of the tack during a hard rub over the first element in the old Western town complex, she scrambled back in to the saddle and had to settle for 20 penalties after circling in the AB complex.
In the Advanced, yesterday’s leader Karen O’Connor and Veronica dropped to ninth with a run-out in the final element of the ‘Jurassic Park’ complex, opening the door for Pam Fisher and Simply Priceless who added 7.6 time faults to take the lead over Kristi Walker and Myelusivedream and Phillip Dutton and Ben, who sit in third. Only 1.2 points separate the top three.
James Atkinson, who makes up a third of the CIC2* division, leads the field with Gustav, picking up just 2.8 time faults for a 61.9 heading into tomorrow’s show jumping. He also had a quick stop in the Western town complex, marring an otherwise beautiful round with Annie Oakley III—both horses are owned by Carolyn Hoffos. Laramie Maxwell and Hunterville’s quick round propelled them two places into second, while Jordan Taylor and Cambridge slipped into third.
Jolie Wentworth and Bally Quinn had a faultless round to remain in the lead in the CCI1*--meanwhile, Tamra Smith and Fleeceworks Fernhill keep the pressure on as they hang onto second place, less than a rail behind. A few riders had some misfortunes on course, some parting ways, while others picked up refusals, or opted to end their day early. Luckily, no one was seriously injured.
The CIC1* riders kicked off the day bright and early this morning at 7:30AM. After a double-clear round, Karen Laidley and Snow Globe Effect widened their lead over Alexa Perkiel and Apres Ski. Former USEA President had a wonderful fault-free round with his gelding Jefferson D’Aurois to slide into third.
In the Training Three-Day, part of the SmartPak USEA Classic Series, Therese Russell was thrilled with her longtime partner Dante, as the chestnut gelding ran boldly around the long-format course to hang onto the lead.
"Dante was amazing, he has been so good throughout the whole competition," said Russell. "He's really finally coming together and saying, 'Mom, I think I know what I'm doing now."
She also took advantage of the many educational opportunities offered throughout the week. "They gave us so many great learning opportunities," she explained. "We had the opportunity to do a course walk [with Phillip Dutton], and Karen O'Connor and [Max Corcoran] talked us through the ten minute box. It doesn't get much better than that."
Kathy Cain and Sidecar remain in second, only 2.5 points behind, while Natalia Gurmankin and Legate move up one spot to third.
The final day of The Event at Rebecca Farm begins tomorrow, July 24 when the show jumping competition takes to the three arenas from 8AM to 4PM. CCI3* riders will begin competing at 2:50PM.
For more information, visit www.rebeccafarm.org. For live results, visit http://eventingscores.com/eventsr/rebecca/ht0711.
The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of its many sponsors: Title: Adequan; Legacy: Nunn Finer, Nutrena; and Patron: Broadstone Equine Insurance Agency, and Succeed.
Adequan is proud to be the official joint therapy treatment of the USEA.
The SmartPak Equine/USEA Classic Series is made possible through the support of its many sponsors: Title Sponsor: SmartPak Equine; Presenting Sponsor: Stackhouse Saddles; Silver Level Sponsor: Fleeceworks; Legacy Sponsor: Five Star Tack Elite Sponsors: FITS and Nunn Finer.