United States Eventing Association

Cornelia Fletcher Caps Her Postpartum Return to FEI Competition with a Win in CCI4*-L at The Event at TerraNova

Myakka City, Fla.— Nov. 17— Cornelia Fletcher (USA) and Daytona Beach 8 were the only pair to jump double clear in the B&D Builders CCI4*-L at The Event at TerraNova, claiming the win with a final score of 41.4 penalties.

Overnight leader Jessica Phoenix (CAN) and her 16-year-old Canadian Sport Horse mare Fluorescent Adolescent (Gaudi x Amelia II) finished in the time allowed but had two rails down – the first and last elements of the triple combination – and finished second on 47.1. Brooke Burchianti and Karin Burchianti’s 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Cooley Space Gray (Harley x Zaylanda), with one rail down and .8 time faults, placed third overall (49.6). The top three finishers in this division moved up from 15th, 14th, and 17th after dressage, respectively.

Fletcher said of the HCS Syndicate's 14-year-old Oldenburg mare, “From the beginning Daytona got here and she knew what she was here to do, and I think she wanted to go and do it. Dressage is not her favorite phase, but she was a good girl and stayed calm. Then she went and did what she’s best at, which is double clear. She helped me out a little bit yesterday on cross country and I helped her out a little bit today in the show jumping and I think that shows our partnership and bond.”

Fletcher said that she had set the goal to go double clear on cross-country yesterday and was thrilled to meet all of her mile markers and make the time. Fletcher gave birth to a daughter in June and said, “It was hard to take the time off to have her, but I think it’s one of the best things I’ve done.”

Her husband, Jacob Fletcher, competed Daytona in the CCI3*-L at TerraNova in March, finishing 15th overall.

“Jacob is also a four-star event rider and Grand Prix show jumper and he put his show season on the back burner for me to be able to do this and try to come back after taking twelve months, essentially, off,” she said. “So it’s been challenging and it takes a village. They don’t lie about that! In the long term, I think [motherhood] will make me more compassionate and a little more careful, too. As a rider I tend to not be too careful on cross-country and I think that it will add a new dimension to my riding.”

Lucia Strini and the 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding DHI Kevin G (Dakar VDL x Vaira), owned by Plain Dealing Farm, won The Event at TerraNova CCI3*-L presented by The Estates at TerraNova and Laughlin Tanner Group at Premier Sotheby’s International Realty. Lauren Nicholson and Landmark’s Jungle’s Gold, (Diarado x Jungle Tale), a nine-year-old Holsteiner/Irish Sport Horse cross owned by Jacqueline Mars,
finished second overall. Alexa Thompson and her own 9-year-old American Warmblood gelding Clear Candidate (Diktator Va De Boslandhoeve x La Vie En Rose) rounded out the top three.

Following her victory gallop Strini commented on her horse, “He’s a really good show jumper, he’s really careful. There was a lot of atmosphere, but I try not to do too much in the warmup. It’s kind of on me to go clear, because he wants to do a good job, and he was really, really brave, I was proud of him. He feels amazing after yesterday. He was quite ‘up’ this morning. It felt good that I got him fit enough, it’s always sort of a test.”

Congratulations to All Competitors, Grooms, Owners, Trainers, and Connections on Your Success at The Event at TerraNova

B&D Builders CCI4*-L - Cornelia Fletcher, Daytona Beach 8
Insurance Offices of America CCI4*-S - Phillip Dutton, Azure
The Estates at TerraNova and Laughlin Tanner Group at Premier Sotheby's International Realty CCI3*-L - Lucia Strini, DHI Kevin G
Leibold Irrigation CCI2*-L - Isabelle Bosley, Conner
Stephex USA CCI1*-L - Elinor O'Neal, DHI Noteworthy
Miakka Golf Open Intermediate - Meg Pellegrini, Gorgeous DHI
Equestrian Services International Open Preliminary - Leila Saxe, FE Ducatti
Equestrian Services International Preliminary Rider - Zach Ketelboeter, PDQ Leigh
Akerman LLP Open Training - Robin Walker, Rock Island
Akerman LLP Training Rider - Elle Snyder, Oakland Quality
Firehorse Rescue Kits Novice Rider - Molly Adams, Cougar Crest
Firehorse Rescue Kits Open Novice - Lee Maher, Compromise Elsewhere
Marsh McLennan Beginner Novice Rider - Kamran Fatehdin, Fernhill Sao Miguel
ACCI Technology Solutions Open Beginner Novice - Margaret Stocker, Smilla's Sense of Snow
Sarasota Ford Starter - Carol Tresan, EPA Cullen

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