Ratoath, Co. Meath, Ireland – A strong contingent of U.S. combinations tackled The Irish Field CCI3* at the Tattersalls International Horse Trials on May 31-June 4. Land Rover/USEF eventing competition grant recipients Phillip Dutton and Z were the top U.S. finishers in a solid international field, taking home fifth-place honors. Three other U.S. combinations finished in the top 12 at the challenging competition.
Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) had two mounts in the CCI3*, Z and Fernhill Revelation. With Z, Tom Tierney, Simon Roosevelt, Suzanne Lacy, Annie Jones, and Caroline Moran’s 2008 Zangersheide gelding, Dutton rode a quality dressage test to score a personal best score at the three-star level of 45.00. The pair had a fantastic, double-clear cross-country round and one time penalty in the show jumping phase to finish in fifth place on a score of 46.00.
“The trip was a great experience for Z and me to come to Tattersalls,” Dutton said. “I could not be more proud of his performance and excited for his future.”
Z’s stablemate, Fernhill Revelation, was not far behind in the final standings, finishing in seventh place. Dutton and The Revelation Group’s 2006 Irish Sport Horse gelding earned a personal best dressage score with a smooth test that received a score of 40.60. They had a double-clear cross country round, but had two unfortunate rails in the show jumping phase for eight jumping penalties to end on a score of 48.60.
Buck Davidson (Unionville, Pa.) and Carlevo finished in sixth place between Dutton’s two mounts. Despite going in some of the worst of the rainy weather on Thursday, the pair had a lovely dressage test to score 39.00. Davidson and Carlevo LLC’s 2007 Holsteiner gelding incurred 9.20 time penalties on cross-country, though delivered a double-clear show jumping round to finish on a score of 48.20.
Katherine Coleman (New Orleans, La.) and Back to Business began the competition with a respectable test in the horse’s first CCI3*, scoring 57.7. Coleman and her own 2007 Irish Sport Horse mare went double-clear in the cross-country phase and had two time penalties in the show jumping phase to end on a score of 59.70 in 12th place.
The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members.