United States Eventing Association

Aiken, S.C.—Sept. 27—Day 2 at Stable View Oktoberfest was a mostly beautiful sunny day. Vendor row was full. Devoucoux, Forestier Sellier Saddlery, Land Rover, and VTO Saddlery were just a few of the many vendors selling everything from food to saddles to embroidery services and more. VIP ticket holders filled the second story of the pavilion allowing them a 360-degree view of competition.

Sponsors such as the Sharer Dale Team, GGT Footing, and GL Williams and Daughter gathered in their gazebos perfectly positioned with views of cross-country both in and out of the arena.

The Open Intermediate division started the day on cross-country while the CCI2*-S division show jumped and the Modified and Training divisions kicked off their weekends with dressage. Lucienne Bellissimo and Dyri maintained their lead in the CCI3*-S and finished the day with a 7.3 point lead. Boyd Martin and Miss Lulu Herself continued their climb up the leaderboard with one of the fastest rounds of the day to finish second. Coming in right behind him was Caroline Pamukcu HSH Sebastian to finish on a 35.0 Lucia Strini and Keynote Dassett kept their Open Intermediate lead to finish on a 36.6.

Moving onto the Advanced, Boyd Martin and Fedarman B also maintained their lead to finish on a 46.3. Following the Advanced was the CCI4*-S division. Pamukcu and HSH Tolan King were the first to leave the box. The combination was quick until unfortunately having a flag at fence 18, the first brush in the New Arena. The next two riders on course were unfortunately unseated making Olivia Miller and Cooley Starstruck the first combination to finish with no jumping penalties.

The crowds swarmed the GL Williams Water Complex and the Pavilion Field in hopes to catch most of the action. Caroline and her overnight leader, HSH Connor, jumped around Helen West’s track effortlessly only accumulating 10.8 time penalties. This however, left room for a new leader. Only two combinations were ultimately able to top the pair and one was Pamukcu herself. She and HSH Double Sixteen were the only pair to jump double-clear, winning the division on 33.4. Mary Bess Davis and Imperio Magic were the second fastest pair of the day finishing in second place on a 38.6. Davis shared, “I knew as soon as I left the box that he was just so ready and balanced and game. I just knew it was going to be a good day because he was just dead on the whole way around. It was honestly really fun because he was right there with me all the way around and just sailed through everything. You just realize how lucky you are to have the horse that I have.”

Pamukcu finished third with HSH Connor and fourth with HSH Tolan King. Aiken local Emily Hamel and Corvett finished in fifth place. Emily shared, “'Barry' was great. I couldn’t have asked for a better ride," said Hamel. "He just felt like it was easy. It rode exactly how I thought it would. I thought it was a great course and a really good prep for Pau. A really good confidence preparation run. I am so proud of Barry, and it is so special every time I get to take him out on cross country. He is my horse of a lifetime!”

Regarding her course, cross-country designer Helen West shared, “I was pleased with how the tracks rode. I thought that the combinations rode pretty much as I expected. I think the first combination in the all weather arena rode tougher than perhaps I expected. The first part of the course was very galloping and then I think going into the arenas was harder to make that adjustment. I think the ground was absolutely stunning and because the footing was so good the horses were traveling over it so well. You just watched them and they were wanting to gallop and jump. Overall, it was a really positive picture and a good day for the sport.”

Katie Malensek and STX Mex won the CCI2*-S, and Bellissimo and Hermine won the first running of the CCI1*-S. Ariel Grald and Obalix won the Open Preliminary and Carolyn May and Sky Moon won the Preliminary Rider. The rest of the national divisions will continue competition tomorrow. Stable View’s Barry Olliff shared, “As you’d expect, constant improvement is what Stable View is seeking to achieve for its April CCI4*-S. We’re developing the concept of separately roping the four-star so that it becomes its own track. This will mean that four-star riders will, wherever possible, have their own real estate. In addition, we’re taking out four of our paddocks. This will enable us to soften certain turns while offering significantly greater choices in terms of cross-country course design."

While the FEI part of Oktoberfest has now finished, Sunday concludes the national competition.

Full results can be found here.