United States Eventing Association

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It was another non-stop day at the 2010 Land Rover/USEA American Eventing Championships at Chattahoochee Hills in Fairburn, GA. The upper levels took to the cross-country course beginning with Advanced at 8:30 AM and followed by the Intermediate and Preliminary Divisions. Back up in the main arenas the Beginner Novice, Novice, and remaining Training Divisions completed their competition with show jumping.

Advanced

The standings in the Merial Advanced Division were quite shaken up as potential members of the US World Equestrian Games Team decided to withdraw, run an abbreviated course, or go slowly. Becky Holder on Courageous Comet decided to go all out, and it paid off as they were only one of two double clear rounds of the day.

“The course rode great,” Becky said. “I was obviously nervous as there is a lot of pressure on the weekend. I needed for myself, for my confidence, and for him, to have a really good, positive last run, and that meant going out there and laying it down. To put that pressure on myself was really important for me in preparation for whatever might come next. I think we did that. He felt great. He was absolutely on, and he even kind of bailed me out of trouble a couple of times. So I feel really good about it as a preparation.”

Nate Chambers and Rolling Stone II moved up 14 spots with a “crackin’ fast round” as Boyd Martin described it as part of his guest commentating during Nate’s round. Boyd continued to poke fun at Nate as he thundered around the course, but it didn’t stop Nate from putting in a double clear round.

“The old man here put in a good day,” said Nate. “Quick with his feet, felt great, and it moved him up the placings quite a bit. He's starting to get quite seasoned at the level. I've had him ten seasons so I know him very well. If anything doesn't feel right or when things feel great I know exactly what's going on and can ride accordingly and enjoy it like I did today. He was spot on and it really a lot of fun. I love not being in first for a change; it takes the pressure off. My show jumping has not been spectacular lately, and that's my fault not his. Whatever happens happens. I'm thrilled with the weekend and it will be a last great run before Fair Hill. What I'd really like to get out of this weekend is a good show jumping round.”

Will Faudree riding Jennifer Mosing’s Pawlow moved up from ninth to third by adding only 6.8 time penalties to their round.

The Advanced Division completes their competition tomorrow in the Grand Prix Show Jumping Arena. Be sure to check back to find out who wins the largest chunk of the $25,000 purse.

Intermediate

The Intermediate riders had their chance to tackle Ritch Temple’s cross-country course this morning as well and time penalties as well as jumping faults were a defining factor in the current standings. Overnight leader, Clark Montgomery, withdrew Loughan Glen so the top spot was open for the taking. Lynn Symansky put in one of only three double clear rounds to move up ten spots in the standings with her mount, Donner.

“It's been better than I expected,” said Lynn. “Donner is seven and really green, too. I came here with lower expectations. He was very good yesterday and great cross-country. He was a little sticky at the beginning, but after the fifth or sixth fence he rolled right on. Time was tough to make but he has an amazing gallop so he ended up just a few seconds in. He was perfect and great, and I'm very happy. When I walked the course I was very excited because it gave him a chance to be a little spooky in the beginning then push him on a little after the two angled tables. Specific to him it was just being patient then you can put the gas on once you get a feel for him after the first few fences. It was a great course; it rode really well.”

Leslie Law and Troy Glaus’ Rehy Lux added a mere 2.4 time penalties to their eighth place dressage score to move into second. Becky Holder riding Richard and Aubrey Dunkerton’s Can’t Fire Me climbed the rankings from 14th to settle into the third spot.

The Intermediate riders get their chance in the show jumping arena tomorrow and with less than a rail separating the top five spots it is sure to be a nail biting phase.

Preliminary

The three Preliminary divisions all went cross-country this afternoon and the course proved to be a true championship test. Lynne Partridge and her trusty partner El Cid added nothing to their 26.3 dressage score to maintain their lead. Beth Weisberger and R. Hocus Pocus moved up from fourth to second while Erin Buttigieg and Big climbed up one spot to third.

Stops abounded in the Preliminary Horse Division, one of the largest of the competition. Overnight leader, Jonathan Holling riding Connie Holling’s Downtown Harrison was only two second over the optimum time, but those two seconds were quite costly as it dropped him out of the lead. Doug Payne and Crown Talisman, owned by Amelia and Larry Ross and the rider, moved up into the top spot while Kadi Eykamp and Double Rivers Really Cool maintained the third place position.

Time penalties were problematic for the overnight leader of the Preliminary Junior/Young Rider Division as well. Elinor MacPhail went only five seconds over optimum time but it dropped her down two places with Parador Mail. Local rider Felicia Bradley rose to the top of the standings with Garryndruig Albie while Carrie Meehan and Blue Devil moved up from fifth to settle in second.

The Preliminary divisions all show jump tomorrow in the lower Grand Prix arena beginning at 8:30 AM.

Training

Good Luck Charm truly lived up to her name in the Training Amateur Division by carrying Kerry Sachs to the win on their dressage score of 24.8 with double clear jumping phases. Natalie Epstein and Suits U maintained their second place ranking through show jumping while Rachel Taylor and Only My Life moved up into third.

The Training Junior division also finished their competition with show jumping today. The leader after cross-country, Nicholas Hansen aboard Grand Cru struggled to leave the poles in the cups and two rails down dropped them into third. Marissa Hughes and Odie then moved up to take the top spot with a double clear round. The pair finished on their dressage score of 25.9. Mackenzie Spaes and Ripple Effect began the weekend in eighth place, but a clean cross-country run moved them into fifth. They ultimately finished up in second place with no penalties added in the show jump phase.

Novice

All three Novice divisions completed their weekends today with show jumping. Anne Wilson and Axel held onto their overnight lead to win the Novice Amateur division on a 30.3. D. C. McBroom and Owl Hollow Farm’s Ground Force finished up in second while the third place finisher, Janet Mitchell and Dunlavin’s Royal Rebel made the biggest leap of the group from a tenth place dressage score.

Rails were raining down in the Novice Horse division, but Melissa Hyde and Sienna kept their cool to bring home the blue.

“I feel wonderful,” said Melissa. “She's a fairly new horse for me. I've been riding with Becky Holder who has gotten us together. This is her fourth event out and I couldn't be more pleased. She consistently puts down a good dressage score, and a great cross-country run. She's very bold and doesn't have any issues there. Every event we've been first after dressage and cross-country, but I've been incurring time penalty fault trying to keep this big mare together. Today we broke our streak and put down a fast enough show-jumping time. I've been out of it for many years so to all of the older competitors, it's never too late to get back into it once your kids are grown up, just hop right back in.”

Nicola Buckingham and Albey on Time put in a double clear show jump round to the delight of their supporters and finished the weekend in second. Candace Tribe and Caspar entered the show jump ring in sixth place but went home third place winners.

Local Georgian, Sarah C. Murphy and her own Flagmount’s Irish Riverstone were the winners of the Junior Novice division finishing on their score of 28.0. The pair started the weekend in second, but were able to take home top honors after fault free rounds. Alexa Easton and Carly Easton’s Tiger Lily ended in second while Lulu Shamberg made her and Merry Go Round’s long journey from California well worth the drive with a yellow ribbon to bring home.

Beginner Novice

The top three riders in the Beginner Novice Horse division did not budge a bit throughout the entire competition with each rider finishing on their original dressage score. Guy DeCorte’s aptly named Tulla Gold earned the top prize with Heidi Wardle in the stirrups. Heather Jans and Rickoshea earned the red while Sydney Conley Elliott riding Lee and Donna Phillips’ Saffario rounded out the top three.

Carroll Ann Bowers and Sportsfield Cocktail placed first in the Beginner Novice Amateur division. The pair added only two show jump time penalties to their dressage score. Jean Long and Full Circle finished second while Maria Di Giovanni and River Breeze took home the third.

The Beginner Novice Junior division was the final division to show jump today and there was a huge crowd on hand to witness Ashley Guidry and Mercedes put in a clear round and maintain their winning score of 30.3.

“It was really scary being in front of a huge crowd like this,” said Ashley. “I've never shown in this big of an arena. It was exciting. We've had Mercedes ever since she was a baby, so it's been a long haul to get her here. As soon as she gets into the show ring she turns on her show mode and gets out there and puts it out for us. We had such an amazing show season this year. We thought we could do well at the AEC so we decided to come. It takes a lot of hard work to get here.”

Skyler Decker and Robin Petrasek’s Nickles and Dimes moved up from fourth with a clean stadium round while Kaylen Moon riding Marcia Moon’s Scusami had one rail down to drop from second to third.

The final day of the 2010 Land Rover/USEA American Eventing Championships begins bright and early with Advanced show jumping along with Intermediate and Preliminary.

The AEC would not be possible without our wonderful USEA sponsors: Land Rover, Nutrena, Bit Of Britain, Merial, Adequan, Charles Owen, Broadstone, VTO Saddlery, Shai Steiner, Omega Alpha, Centaur Fencing, Antares, Saratoga Horse Works, The Chronicle of The Horse, Spalding Labs, SSG Gloves, Auburn Labs, Succeed, FITS, Point-Two, Back On Track, Fleeceworks, Finish Line, Dubarry, Equithrive, Flair, Mackinnon Ice Horse, SmartPak Equine, Stackouse Saddlery, and Equinature.