In a few moments I’ll get to the eventing news and notes from a great weekend around Eventing Nation, but first I want to take a moment to talk about something much more important. Today is an opportunity to express our eternal gratitude for the men and women who have given their lives in service to the USA. As always, nothing we can say can compensate for the sacrifices made by so many brave soldiers, but know that we are thinking and praying for you today. Please take a moment today to remember our soldiers.
Now for your eventing news and notes…
–If this weren’t Memorial Day, then surely William Fox-Pitt would have won this post being named after him. After all, he won everything else this weekend. William won the Tattersalls CCI3*, CCI2*, and CCI* in Ireland. That’s not quite as impressive as winning first and second at Rolex, but it is undoubtedly one of the most impressive eventing performances of 2011. William won the three divisions on Oslo, Bay My Hero, and Lady Voltaire respectively. Oliver Townend was second in both the CCI3* and CC2*. The Brits dominated the entire competition, finishing first through third in the 3*, and first and second in the 2* and 1*. [Update: Zara Phillips was first and fifth in the CIC3* after the show jumping. Sadly, she fell and retired on the XC, which ran after the show jumping.] [SportingLife, Results]
–It was a busy holiday weekend of eventing here in the US, and still is. Fair Hill ran novice and training level yesterday and the prelim and intermediate divisions run today. Phillip’s Young Man, William Penn, and Mighty Nice are back in action in the intermediate, Ringwood Magister is entered in the intermediate to prepare for their trip to Luhmuhlen, and Tipperary Liadhnan is making his debut with Nina Ligon. I love eventing on Mondays–good luck to all of the competitors. [Fair Hill Live scores]
–Robin Walker placed first, second, and fourth at the Open Prelim at May-Daze in Kentucky, finishing on his dressage score with all three horses. Megan Lynn and Hoosier Daddy won the prelim rider division on a 24.2 and I’ll bet they are University of Kentucky fans. The low score of the weekend at May-Daze goes to Lisa Mendell and Ripplin’ Waters with a 23.2 in the training horse. [Final Scores]
–It was a good weekend for everyone with the last name ‘Walker’ it seems. Kristi Walker won the advanced at Woodside in California. [Woodside Scores]
–Texas Lions Camp Charity H.T. at Meadowcreek [Live Scores]
–Mystic Valley Hunt Club H.T [Website]
–Alec Lochore, of the Eventing Nation favorite Lochore family, is the London 2012 eventing manager. He told BBC radio that preparations for the test event are well underway and that the British riders are under a lot of pressure to do well. Listen to the interview [here]
–Australian eventing’s Bill Roycroft has passed away. Bill was a 5 time Olympian and member of the Equine Australia Hall of Fame. Bill competed at his first Olympics in Rome, 1960, when he was 45…do the math about when he competed in his last. He competed at Olympic Games alongside with each of his sons, Barry, Wayne and Clarke. Bill was 96. Horsetalk includes this absolutely epic story about Bill from the Rome Olympics:
…after [Bill’s] horse, Our Solo, somersaulted over a jump and fell on him during the cross-country.
He remounted, suffering concussion, bruising and muscle damage, and completed the course. He was then flown by helicopter to a hospital near Rome. But the problems began for Australia when team-mate Brian Crago’s horse was injured and out of the competition. The team already had Laurie Morgan and Neale Lavis ready to jump on the final day, but they needed three riders to complete the event to take the gold medal.
Doctors would not let Roycroft out of hospital but he signed himself out.
Harry Gordon, Australian Olympic Committee historian, said: “He was 45, laced heavily with pain killers, unable to bend, and his comrades had to dress him for the last ride. He was virtually folded onto Our Solo, and the reins were placed in his hands.
“Stiffly yet flawlessly, he completed the round, ensuring team gold for Australia.”
–Our friends at the Horse Radio Network are putting together a great radioathon fund raising drive to benefit the people and horses affected by the recent flooding and tornadoes all throughout the country. It’s on June 6th and We’ll host the radioathon player right here on EN for you to listen to and hopefully donate. There is also a giving back retail day June 7th where 5% of purchases at many equestrian retailers goes to supporting the disaster relief. [Details]
–The FEI is embroiled in yet another warm-up horse abuse mess, this time involving reining. I confess that I don’t know enough about reining to feel like I completely understand the situation, but the pictures do not look good. Epona TV wrote yesterday that the FEI is changing their story about what happened in the warm-up in question. [Epona TV]
–An EN annual tradition Memorial Day video: please take a moment to check out this video to remind yourself what today is all about.
–That’s all for now. We have a busy week here on Eventing Nation leading up to Bromont week next week and then Luhmuhlen. As always, wherever you might be, thanks for making Eventing Nation part of your day. Stay classy Eventing Nation.
