For live results from the 2009 Fair Hill Internation CCI2* and CCI3*, click here. Scroll down for the CCI3*.
The Fair Hill International CCI2* and CCI3* Three-Day Event is the largest and most important Eventing competition in the United States this Fall. The top riders, whether they will admit it or not are all looking ahead to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games next summer, they know that a good weekend at Fair Hill will set them up perfectly for a good Spring, and thus a coveted spot on the Team. Eventing Nation will cover all the weekend’s action, which gets underway when Dressage starts Thurday. A few thoughts:
The first horse inspection (Wednesday) saw quite a few holds, and a few horses being eliminated. One competitor texted me that “over 20 horses were held and around 4 were spun.” In my opinion, the FEI should consider giving yellow cards for getting spun (eliminated) at a first inspection. I understand the pressure riders feel from all sides, and I understand that sometimes horses step on a rock or twist an ankle right before the jog. But, competitors and vets need to be responsible enough not to present a questionable horse before the competition even starts. Cross-Country is hard enough on these horses without asking them to compete while sore or lame.
Speaking of Cross-Country, I hear the CCI3* XC is extremely tough this year. One rider told me the track is “extremely long” and said it “doesn’t let up.” Look for technical elements late on the course to cause lots of run-outs as tired riders struggle to rebalance tired horses.
Just over 70 horses are entered in the CCI3* and 80 in the CCI2*, the vast majority competing for the US. These numbers suggest an improving depth of talent in the US, a very encouraging sign. A lot of young talent has the opportunity to make a name for themselves over the next few days.
If you are in the Maryland area, and like the sound of 47 and rainy, consider stopping by the event. The good news is that there will be a dog agility competition.
Check out this Fair Hill XC map. The CCI*** is 5700m long, which, off the top of my head, is about 3.54181 miles. The average speed of 570m/min is about 21mi/hr, which should be a cake-walk, considering that Secretariat ran the 1.5mi 1973 Belmont Stakes in 2.4minutes, which is an average speed of 36mph. “AND HE IS MOVING LIKE A TREMENDOUS MACHINE!” (1:42)
As I mentioned, Fair Hill is an important stepping stone for many of the riders seeking to make the 2010 WEGs squad. Most of the riders with a legitimate shot are on this Fall’s High Performance List. We will keep a special eye on these pairs as the weekend develops. Finally, I leave you tonight with a list of the CCI3* riders who were entered at the beginning of the competition:
| Anees, Imtiaz | Interwin |
| Ashker, Laine | Anthony Patch |
| Atkins, Peter | HJ Hampton |
| Beebee, Susan | Prowler |
| Bennett-Awad, Hawley | SplendoroftheSun |
| Bennett-Awad, Hawley | Gin N Juice |
| Blackman, Madeline | Gordonstown |
| Brannigan, Jennie | Cooper |
| Brown, Kate | Mojito |
| Byyny, Jan | Inmidair |
| Chambers, Nate | Rolling Stone II |
| Coleman, William | Nevada Bay |
| Costello, Robert | Dustin IV |
| Coudray, Tiana | Ringwood Magister |
| Crabo, Barbara | Eveready |
| Davidson Jr., Bruce | Triomphe |
| Davidson Jr., Bruce | L.A. Albert |
| Davidson Jr., Bruce | Titanium |
| Davidson Sr, Bruce | Jam |
| Davidson, Colin B. | Draco |
| Dean, Mara | Nicki Henley |
| Dutton, Phillip | Kheops Du Quesnay |
| Eagles, Christian | The Gingerbread Man |
| Fiore, Gina | Feral Errol |
| Halpin, Sinead | Manoir de Carneville |
| Hepp, Holly | Last Monarch |
| Hicks (Ditchey), Kate | Belmont II |
| Holman, Bob | Catmantoo |
| Holstein, Ralph | Franklin |
| Holstein, Ralph | Arctic Dancer |
| Howard, Rebecca | Riddle Master |
| Kozak, Chelan | Tasman Sea |
| Lambert, Lauren | Baba Creek |
| Leatherman, Andrea | Mensa |
| List, Kelly | Minstral |
| Loiacono, Olivia | Subway |
| MacVaugh, Ashley | All’s Fair |
| Martin, Boyd | Rock On Rose |
| Martin, Boyd | Neville Bardos |
| Martin, Boyd | Remington XXV |
| McDowell, Martha | Gaelic Marriage |
| McEvoy, India | Jumbo’s Jake |
| McKissock, Casey | Special Blend |
| Mendivil, Escipion | Azteca |
| Mesher, Leigh | Mar de Amor |
| Mittleider, Sara | El Primero |
| Moon, Pippa | Ribbo |
| Morris, Heather | Slate River |
| Mosser, Bonnie | Merloch |
| North, Dornin Anne | Jimminy Cricket |
| North, Dornin Anne | Lion Display |
| Nunnink, Kristi | Corner Street |
| Nunnink, Kristi | R-Star |
| O’Connor, Karen | Radio Flyer |
| O’Connor, Karen | Mandiba |
| Prather, Kelly | Ballinakill Glory |
| Rhodes-Bosch, Stephanie | Port Authority |
| Roberts, Ian | Napalm |
| Ruppel, Jessica | Naughty By Nature |
| Ruppel, Katie | Sir Donovan |
| Schmolze, Kristin | Castle Jordan |
| Schmolze, Kristin | Cavaldi |
| Sexson, Jolie | Killian O’Connor |
| Slezak, Karl | Braveheart |
| Slezak, Karl | Charley Farley |
| Southam, Wendy | Ruba Z |
| Springer, Allison | Destination Known |
| Sult, Kelly | Hollywood |
| Thieriot, Frankie | Fric Frac Berence |
| Treis Petersen, Erika | Under The Influence |
| Walton, Jil | My Sedona |
| White, Sharon | Rafferty’s Rules |
| Williams, John | Sweepea Dean |
| Willis, Katie | Polar Storm |
| Zabala-Goetschel, Ronald | Che Italica |
Thanks for reading, please vote in the poll, and please keep checking back throughout the weekend. We have some exciting surprises in the works for our readers this weekend.
Props: little black agility dog, my sources, readers. Mad props: Secretariat owning. Fail: rain this weekend.
