Katherine Coleman and Billy Bandit. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Time proved to be the deciding factor in the CIC2* at the Cloud 11~Gavilan North LLC Carolina International, with Katherine Coleman and her own Billy Bandit cruising around as one of only four pairs to make the optimum time to take the win on 32.5.
Billy Bandit, a 10-year-old Anglo European gelding (Billy Congo X Furisto Clover, by Furisto), is a new ride for Katherine, having just come into her yard from Flora Harris in December. He sat third after dressage on 28.5 and had one rail down in show jumping to slip to equal seventh place ahead of cross country. Considering they are still getting to know each other, Katherine said she was thrilled with how he handled Ian Stark’s beefy track.
“I think it was a really tough track — really testing. It was one of those courses where you had to get gritty and do a bit of riding,” Katherine said. “I didn’t know what to expect since I don’t really know him that well yet. He was so clever, and he was between the flags and jumping beside me. He was thinking and forward and going no matter what. He just answered all the questions.”
Katherine gave all the credit for the win to her team: “This sport is highs and lows, and I have a wonderful team behind me. I’m just really thankful to all of them. Huge shout out to my lead girl Caz Hewer; Sophie Charles; and Tracie Robinson, who came over from England to help me with the dressage. I definitely wouldn’t have gotten that score without her help.”
Caroline Martin and Sherie Martin’s Jump Jet, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Captain Clover X Kilmullen Cruisalier, by Cavalier Royale), jumped clear with 0.40 time penalties to finish in second place on 32.9.
Courtney Cooper and her own Who’s A Star, her own homebred 15-year-old Irish/New Zealand Thoroughbred (Aberjack X Heavenly Star, by I’m A Star, cruised around for a clear round with 6.4 time penalties to finish third on 36.4.
Three other pairs made the optimum time and enjoyed big jumps up the leaderboard. Clark Montgomery and Caribbean Soul moved from 28th up finish fourth on their dressage score of 36.8. Tim Bourke and Quality Time moved up from 53rd to 12th on 44.7. Katherine Coleman and Longwood moved up from 61st to 18th on 46.8.
Click here to view full scores from the CIC2*. No major injuries have been reported due to falls.
Ellie O’Neal and Zick Zack Win CIC1*
Ellie O’Neal and Sally Cox’s Zick Zack jumped clear in show jumping to take the win in the CIC1* on 25.7. The 9-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare (Blue Hors Zack X Mercedes, by Master) began her career as a dressage horse and only started jumping a year ago.
“She’s really forward-thinking and has the right brain for it. She was really green (on cross country), but she’s really a trier. She wanted to go and get it done. On the cross country she is very natural and very quick. She’s never seen a brush corner before, let alone in water, so I was really proud of her,” Ellie said. “I think she’s the real deal. I’m going to be really careful with producing her because she is really green, so we’ll take our time and do some CIC2* this fall and give her time to develop.”
Leslie Law and Beatrice Rey-Herme’s QC First Class, a 7-year-old Oldenburg (Furstenball X Laguna, by Lortino) who led after dressage, delivered a clear show jumping round to finish in second place on 25.9.
Phillip Dutton and Annie Jones’ The Manager, an 8-year-old Thoroughbred (The Cliff’s Edge X Misty Sabin, by Al Sabin), jumped clear in show jumping to finish third on his dressage score of 26.7.
Click here to view full scores from the CIC1*.
Will Coleman and Off the Record. Photo by Miranda Akins.
Will Coleman and Off the Record Lead Advanced
The Advanced division went cross country in a torrential downpour this afternoon. Will Coleman and Off the Record, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse (VDL Arkansas X Drumagoland Bay, by Ard Ohio) owned by the Off the Record Syndicate, powered through to lead on 45.5 with 14.4 time penalties in the horse’s debut at the level.
“I’ve had him since he was 4, and every time you move a horse up to Advanced you see a little more of what they’re made of. I couldn’t be any more impressed with how he ran today. It was pissing down rain. Three- and four-star horses were bombing out at the water, and he was just really superb the whole way around,” Will said.
“I’m not going to put any ceiling on him. At the moment he needs to continue to develop. I’m impressed with the blood he has on cross country and his gallop. He’s a bit of a beast and just continues to get better. … A big part of the sport is giving the horse time to develop blood and develop confidence.”
Boyd Martin and Long Island T, a 12-year-old Oldenburg/Thoroughbred (Ludwig Von Bayern X Haupstsbuch Highlight, by Heraldik xx) owned by the Long Island T Syndicate, led after dressage and picked up 21.6 time penalties to slip to second on 46.8.
Will Coleman is also holding third place with the Conair Syndicate’s Tight Lines. The 11-year-old French Thoroughbred (Turgeon X Merindole, by Tel Quel) had the fastest time in the division, jumping clear with 12.8 time penalties to move from 15th up to third on 47.0.
“He’s one of the best cross country horses I’ve ever ridden,” Will said. “He’s incredibly fast. I went out with a little bit of a plan to be steady, but he wants to go for time every time he goes out on course. I really have no complains other than I hope he stops pulling my arms out! He lives for the cross country. It’s a work out, but a very cool feeling.”
Click here to view full scores from the Advanced division, which concludes with show jumping tomorrow morning. No injuries have been reported from falls.
Click here to catch up on all of EN’s coverage of Carolina International. Go Eventing.
Carolina Links: Website, Ride Times, Schedule, Live Stream, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter
