United States Eventing Association

Temecula, Calif.—March 31—Sunshine was Friday's first star at Galway Downs International after Thursday's long afternoon of heavy rain, and Tamie Smith ended the day in her same starring role with the first, second, and third spots in the CCI4*-S after show jumping.

Temecula, Calif.—March 30— "World class." That's what Galway Downs Spring International dressage judges Helen Brettell and Robyn Fisher said in unison of the two rides that put Tamie Smith in the one and two spots in the CCI4*-S after dressage.

The difficulty level and influence of cross-country suited James Alliston and his international horses perfectly this week. Alliston rode his wife Helen's 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding Paper Jam (Papparazzo x Reely Jamin XX) to top the Re/MAX CCI4*-L and Alliston Equestrian's 8-year-old Oldenburg mare Karma (Escudo II x Travita) to win the CCI3*-L.

Cross-country shook up the standings in the Re/MAX CCI4*-L with James Alliston and the 3-year-old Hanoverian gelding Paper Jam (Papparazzo x Reely Jamin XX), owned by Helen Alliston, emerging atop the leaderboard. Alliston continues a super year with only time faults on Clayton Fredericks' demanding track.

World Championship Team Silver Medalist Tamie Smith is getting a lot of well-deserved attention since returning to her California home turf. But it was her daughter, young professional Kaylawna Smith-Cook, who took the Re/MAX CCI4*-L spotlight following dressage at Galway Downs.

When Andrea Baxter won the CCI4*-S at Twin Rivers this past April, she explained that there is no such thing as a "home field advantage." Andrea's family owns the competition venue and she bases her training business there. Yet, her long-time mount Indy 500 had no trouble sizing up the Sept 24-26 weekend as "show time" for the win.

Memorable Memorial Day Weekend at Woodside.

With 400 horses accepted and 100 on the waitlist, there were enough exhibitors and support team members at The Spring Event at Woodside to make it seem that spectators were once again fully allowed to come. Especially for the Preliminary Challenge, a popular West Coast tradition that draws all to the Grand Prix ring Saturday evening. But the spectator who mattered most to Preliminary Challenge Horse division leader, James Alliston, wasn't there for the show jumping finalé.