United States Eventing Association

Prince William and Mary Burke Maintain Lead after Cross-Country at Aspen Farms

Late this afternoon, hundreds of spectators gathered to watch the Adequan USEA Gold Cup division run cross-country at Aspen Farms Horse Trials (AFHT) in Yelm, Washington. Mary Burke and her own Thoroughbred gelding Prince William held their overnight lead, maintaining a score of 35.6.

Three of the four starters completed the Advanced cross-country course designed by Tremaine Cooper. The course consisted of twenty-three numbered questions over 3,800 meters with an optimum time of 6 minutes and 40 seconds.

Burke stated, "I felt challenged with the course today but he [Prince William] gave an excellent effort. It felt great as our first Advanced and we came of course with more confidence for the future. Tomorrow in show jumping I am going to try and stay focused and ride my best."

Allison Sparks and Mystic Mojo picked up ten time penalties, gathering a score of 54.7 to stand in second place.

Jonathan Elliott, the show organizer and owner of Aspen Farms, was pleased with how the course ran. "It was a great day of cross-country today, I was pleased to see so many people out watching the Gold Cup. The support we have received from the local community in sponsorship and in volunteers is wonderful and makes this Event possible!"

Tomorrow the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Advanced show jumping will begin at 8 a.m. Pacific time with horses and riders entering the arena in reverse order of standing.

For full results, go here.

About the Adequan USEA Gold Cup and PRO Tour Series

Qualifying for the 2015 Adequan USEA Gold Cup began last fall with the Plantation Field CIC3* (PA) and the Woodside CIC3* (CA) and features 11 qualifying competitions throughout the United States at the Advanced Horse Trials and CIC3* levels. The final will take place at the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships September 2015 in Tyler, Texas. Riders who complete a qualifier earn the chance to vie for $40,000 in prize money in the Adequan Advanced Division and the title of Adequan USEA Gold Cup Champion.

The 2015 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of its many loyal sponsors: Adequan, Broadstone Equine Insurance, FITS, Merck Animal Health, Nunn Finer, Nutrena, Pyranha and Standlee Hay.

The PRO Tour Series consists of 13 premier destination events in the United States and Canada, featuring the best riders and most entertainment. Riders and horses are awarded points on the PRO Tour Rider Leaderboard. The Professional Riders Organization would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of the 2015 PRO Tour Series: KER Optimum Time, Tex Sutton, Triple Crown Nutrition, and SSG Riding Gloves.