United States Eventing Association

The 2009 Bit of Britain/USEA American Eventing Championships left a lasting legacy at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL. The weather was gorgeous, the atmosphere was festive, and the competitors put in their best efforts that resulted in a wonderful event.

Over $100,000 in prizes and $50,000 in prize money was on the line as top riders from across the country of every level competed for national honors.

Special thanks to all the volunteers, sponsors, organizers, staff, and everyone who made this year's AEC one of the best!

Advanced Division

Complete Results - Dressage Photos - Cross-Country Photos

Leslie Law claimed his second AEC Advanced Championship aboard Beatrice and Guy Rey-Herme’s Selle Francais gelding Fleeceworks Mystere du Val. After dressage, Law and "Bean" were sitting in fifth place, but a fast and clean round on the cross-country course bumped them up to second. When the leader, Nate Chambers, had a very unfortunate rail down with Rolling Stone II, Law was able to defend his title.

"It is a little bit different from last year," Law explained. "The weather is totally opposite, and last year the cross-country got rained out and it ended up being a combined competition. So, it was nice to come back and do a full event and win it with all three phases."

The end of Law's show jump course left spectators holding their breath as the back rail of an oxer shook in its cups quite precariously for several seconds.

"I have been struggling with that jump all day," Law explained. "With my Intermediate horse I had the back rail off the oxer, and then I went in on my other Advanced horse and had the first part down. When I came in on this horse, I was getting a bit edgy, and I knew I jumped it a bit quiet. When I heard him come down on the back bar, and I heard it bounce, I just thought well here we go again! Fortunately, I took a little peep after the finish and it was still there."

The Advanced division also served as an Adequan Gold Cup event. With Law's win, he was boosted to the top of the Gold Cup Leaderboard, and will most likely be taking home a check for $10,000 at this year's USEA Annual Meeting in Reston, VA. He said that winning the Gold Cup Series would just be "icing on the cake."

In second place were Phillip Dutton and Acorn Hill Farm's Woodburn who added only a little bit of cross-country time penalties to his dressage score to finish on a 35.7.

In the yellow ribbon spot were AEC veterans, Nate Chambers and Rolling Stone II. The pair has won both the Preliminary and Intermediate divisions at the AEC and were hoping this year would be their year to win the Advanced. Despite being the only pair to have a double clear cross-country round, one rail kept them from their win.

In addition to his third place win, Chambers was also the recepient of the Arete Trophy which is given to the Advanced horse who finishes closest to optimum time on cross-country. The Trophy is dedicated in the memory of R.G's Renegade, a Selle Francais/Thoroughbred who represented the U.S. in many international competitions.

Intermediate Division

Complete Results - Dressage Photos - Cross-Country Photos

The final leaderboard in the Intermediate division looked quite a bit different from the original standings after dressage. Jennie Brannigan riding the young gelding, Cambalda, rose from tenth place to win the division on a score of 41.7.

"Cambalda is still young and developing, but he has three lovely gaits," Brannigan said. "This is only his fourth Intermediate event, and I think it is a great testament to the horse that he has gone and won something this big. I have no question that this horse is going to jump around Advanced. Coming into show jumping I did not think I had a chance of winning so it was a huge excitement for me that I won."

Chrissy Hollnagel riding Harlan's Flight also moved impressively up the leaderboard rising from 12th place to finish in second. The pair put in one of the fastest cross-country rounds of the day, adding only two time penalties to their dressage score.

Rounding out the top three was Julie Wolfert and Wondaree Merlin who finished only .4 penalites behind Hollnagel on a 42.7.

Preliminary Amateur Division

Complete Results - Dressage Photos - Cross-Country Photos

In the Preliminary Amateur division, top honors were given to Lynne Partridge and her very successful six-year old Oldenburg, El Cid. The pair led from start to finish not adding a single fault to their dressage score of 25.4.

"I am just elated," Partridge exclaimed after finishing her stadium round. "El Cid has just had the best year ever, and he has won almost everything, and this just tops it all off. He was absolutely fabulous in all three phases - he has just grown up so much this year. I thought the Preliminary cross-country course was pretty beefy, and he just stepped up and got it done."

Kaitlynn Chambers riding Enchanted also held onto her second place position throughout the weekend. The pair added no penalties to their dressage score to go home with the red ribbon and a trailerful of prizes. Meghan Moore and her partner Tucker's Blackstone finished the competition in third place.

Preliminary Horse Division

Complete Results - Dressage Photos - Cross-Country Photos

Local Illinois rider, Kristen Rozycki and her Thoroughbred mare, Full Circle, won the Preliminary Horse division by finishing on their dressage score of 29.2. In second place after the dressage and cross-country, Rozycki was able to take home the blue after the leader had a rail down in stadium.

Rozycki has only been competing Full Circle since May of this year, and the AEC were only the pair's third Preliminary competition.

In second place is Philippa Humphreys and Courtney Ainsworth's Skyz The Limit. The pair moved up from sixth place after dressage to finish the competition as the Preliminary Horse Reserve Champions.

Rounding out the top three was another Illinois rider, Jamie Price. Riding her own Overdraft, the pair also finished on their dressage score. Price also placed 9th with her other entry, Poker Run.

Preliminary Jr/YR Division

Complete Results - Dressage Photos - Cross-Country Photos

Talented Young Rider, Elinor MacPhail and her own Woodstock II took home the blue in the Preliminary Junior/Young Rider division. MacPhail was second after dressage with a very respectable, 30.8, but when the overnight leader had a stop on cross-country, MacPhail was able to rise to the top of the leaderboard and remain there throughout the weekend.

MacPhail purchased Woodstock II from Amy Tryon two years ago and the pair have been very successful, even being named to the USEF's Developing Rider list. Unfortunately, Woodstock has been having some lameness issues so MacPhail moved him back down to Preliminary and is easing him into retirement.

"I love coming to the AEC, and I love having it at Lamplight," MacPhail said. "I show here a lot, and I always love coming here."

Jacyln Burke riding the very eye-catching, Chance of Flurries, added only 1.6 time penalites to her dressage score to finish the competition in second place. Cora Katz-Samuels and All or Nothing maintained their third place position throughout the entire weekend.

Training Amateur Division

Complete Results - Dressage Photos - Cross-Country Photos

Tracey Corey and SuperNova did not just earn the lowest dressage score in their division, but the lowest score in the entire competition. The pair added nothing to their 24.7 to hold onto their first place ribbon throughout the entire competition.

The second place winner, Tera McDonald, is an AEC veteran having won the Novice Horse divsion last year aboard Cheryl Quick's Savvant. This year she partnered with her own La Tee Da to earn the Reserve Championship placing in the Training Amateur division. Her last AEC partner, Savvant, competed this year with junior rider Amanda Gnatek to finish sixth in the Novice Junior divsion.

Third place went to Kelly Beaver and Legacy who finished on their dressage score of 31.1. Beaver was also the winner of the Ovation Cross-Country Pace Award. The award is given to the horse and rider combination in the Training Amateur division who come the closest to the optimum time. For winning this award, Beaver will be decked out from top to bottom with an array of prizes donated by Ovation including an Ovation 4-Star Eventing saddle, an Ovation plain raised patted Eventing bridle, a pair of Ovation Microweave DX Optimum Stick Breeches, an Ovation Dri-lex polo shirt, Macwet gloves, and RSL Rotterdam Gloves.

Training Horse Division

Complete Results - Dressage Photos - Cross-Country Photos

Kerry Torrey and Carlin Vickery's Wellfeet started out the weekend tied with the legendary Phillip Dutton. When Dutton added 1.2 time penalites to his dressage score, it was smooth sailing for Wellfleet and he clinched the win at the end of the competition.

Dutton finished in second place aboard Ann Jones' Young Man by keeping all the rails nicely in their cups on Saturday.

Carol Kozlowski finished third and fourth on Fuzzie's Hero and Good Earth Bit O' Honey, respectively.

Training Junior Division

Complete Results - Cross-Country Photos - Show Jump Photos

Julia Spatt entered the show jumping ring lying in third place, but when the first and second placed riders both had rails down, Spatt got to lead the victory gallop riding her Thoroughbred, Tazzmania.

Michelle Mercier, an Illinois local, rode Prufrock into second place after keeping all the rails up in show jumping.

Third place went to Erin Strader and J.M. Yukon who had led the competition from dressage, but had an unfortunate rail down to settle in the yellow ribbon position.

Novice Amateur Division

Complete Results - Cross-Country Photos - Show Jump Photos

Cindy Bonamarte riding her own Trakehener mare, Eva, sat in second place after the dressage phase. When the overnight leader was eliminated in cross-country, Bonamarte was able to take hold of the first place position and maintain it until the ribbons were handed out. The pair finished on their dressage score of 29.0.

The second place ribbon went to Darlene McInnes riding Warlord. The pair traveled all the way from Colorado and the trip was definitely worth it as they added no penalties to their dressage score and were able to take home a hefty check and load of prizes.

Third placed winner, Robin Mershon, had two horses entered in the Novice Amateur division. Mershon placed third aboard Undeniable Grace and seventh on Charlie.

Novice Horse Division

Complete Results - Cross-Country Photos - Show Jump Photos

Chrissy Hollnagel riding Sherry Hohn's Saki ran away with the win in the Novice Horse Division. Hollnagel, who also placed second in the Intermediate divsion, added no penalites to her dressage score of 26.3.

"Saki is a fabulous horse," Hollnagel said. "I am so happy to get the experiance of riding her. Sherry Hohn is her owner, and she allowed me to bring her to the AEC, and we just got our qualifications in the nick of time. Saki was great all weekend; her dressage test was just rock solid and obedient. Her cross-country round just couldn't have been better--she didn't put a foot wrong. For show jumping, Saki just stepped up to the plate and took care of it all."

Phillip Dutton and Ularinka, owned by Nina Gardner, finished just two points behind Hollnagel to earn second. Sydney Conley-Elliot and Permesso rounded out the top three.

Novice Junior Division

Complete Results - Cross-Country Photos - Show Jump Photos

Evelyn Bulkeley riding Freya II began the competition tied for first place with Nicholas Hansen and Grand Cru. When Hansen had .8 time penalites on the cross-country course, Bulkely was able to hold the title alone. She kept all the rails up in show jumping to earn the grand prize.

"I am just so happy," Bulkeley explained after her stadium round. "At this time last year I had broken my back, so to come this far in a year makes me so happy."

Hansen, who competed at the AEC last year with his 14.2 hand Connemara pony, finished second this year with his brand new 17 hand Oldenburg gelding, Grand Cru. The pair has already moved up to Training, but were qualified at Novice so decided to head to the AEC for the extra experience.

Third place went to Lucia Menozi and Agent Bradley J.

The recepient of the Novice Mark Phillips Pony Rider Award was Mackenzie Kurtz and the 13.2 Welsh pony, Harry Houdini. For the honor, Kurtz was awarded a medal, ribbon, and monogrammed saddle pad. This was the inaugural year of the award.

Beginner Novice Amateur Division - Sponsored by Broadstone Equine Insurance

Complete Results - Cross-Country Photos - Show Jump Photos

Ellen Guthrie drove for two days from Utah with Ideal Life to compete in the Beginner Novice Amateur division where they were able to claim first place. She said the hard driving was well worth it however, and she would come back in a heartbeat. This was Guthrie's first time competiting at the AEC, and she said it was a dream come true since was able to win with a horse that she bred, started, and did all the training with the help of her coach.

Ideal Life has a very interesting story. "I won a silent auction bid at the USEA convention in Portland," Guthrie explained. "Drinking wine, bidding on a stud fee (in a benefit auction)--I got the breeding. He is now six-years-old, and he is like a magical pony. I went to go get him to tack him up for show jumping, and he was flat out on his back snoring."

Second place went to Geri Washausen and Darth Vader. The pair were the overnight leaders after dressage, but some unfortunate time penalties dropped them to second after cross-country where they finished out the weekend.

Victoria Bennett and Dunlavin No Pajamas kept a tight hold on third place throughout the entire competition and were able to go home with a yellow ribbon and a ton of prizes.

Beginner Novice Horse Division - Sponsored by Broadstone Equine Insurance

Complete Results - Cross-Country Photos - Show Jump Photos

First prize in the Beginner Novice Horse division went to the utterly adorable Sammy D and his rider Susannah Lansdale. Sammy D is only four-years-old, and the AEC was just his fifth competition. Lansdale bought Sammy D as a seven-month-old and trained him. He was then bought by one of Lansdale's clients, Melanie Helms, who Lansdale rode Sammy D for at the AEC.

"My weekend started out a little bit sticky when my Preliminary horse had a stop out on cross-country, but Sammy D made my day when he placed first in dressage," Lansdale said. "The atmosphere is great, and I just love coming to the AEC."

Elissa Goad and My High Stakes Ante were tied with Lansdale after dressage, but had to settle for second after Lansdale broke the tie by coming in closer to optimum time on cross-country. Goad was able to take home the red ribbon and lots of great prizes for her fantastic weekend.

Third Place was earned by Jenna Brown and Replika who finished on their dressage score of an even 30 points.

Beginner Novice Junior Division - Sponsored by Broadstone Equine Insurance

Complete Results - Cross-Country Photos - Show Jump Photos

Katherine Hauck and California Girl led the competition from start to finish to earn the privelege of leading the victory gallop in the Beginner Novice Junior divsion. Hauck travelled with her 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare from Iowa to compete in this year's competition.

Second Place went to Michaela Holcomb and Christi Pope's Scully who finished on their dressage score of 27.0. Rounding out the top three was Kate Trieschman and Allie Coretca. Trieschman and Coretca were also the recipients of the Beginner Novice Mark Phillips Pony Rider Award.

Wonderful Sponsors

Thank you to all our wonderful sponsors who make the AEC truly a destination event: Title Sponsor: Bit of Britain; Legacy Sponsors: Amerigo, Nutrena, Sponsor Saratoga Horseworks, Contributing Sponsors: Adequan, Cover-All Building Systems; Platinum Sponsors: Broadstone Equine Insurance Agency, Charles Owen; Gold Level Sponsors: Fleeceworks; and Silver Level Sponsors: SmartPak Canine, Auburn Laboratories Inc., FITS, Revitavet, Mackinnon Ice Horse, Dubarry of Ireland, Horse Quencher, SSG Gloves, Spalding Labs, and SUCCEED; and Supporting Sponsors: ThinLine.

Show Photographers

The official AEC show photographers were Brant Gamma Photography and Xpress Foto. All AEC media inquiries can be directed to Emily Daily at [email protected].