Team USA to Target Bramham CCI3* This Year

Aoife Clark and Fenyas Elegance, 2014 Bramham CCI3* winners. Photo by Samantha Clark for PRO. Aoife Clark and Fenyas Elegance, 2014 Bramham CCI3* winners. Photo by Samantha Clark for PRO.

The USEF posted spring grant applications online this week for Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event CCI4*Jersey Fresh International CCI3*Badminton CCI4*Saumur CCI3*Bromont CCI3*Bramham CCI3* and Luhmühlen CCI4*.

Bramham is a new targeted competition for U.S. eventing, held the week after Bromont on June 11-14. David O’Connor explained in his sessions with the High Performance riders at last month’s USEA Convention that he wants riders to get used to jumping in muddy conditions in front of large crowds, and Bramham’s atmosphere provides that.

The big, bold Ian Stark track combined with the high caliber field of horses and riders Bramham regularly attracts attracts makes it an ideal event for “getting off the island,” David said. “It’s not to make you feel uncomfortable just for the sake of making you uncomfortable. It’s doing it to build confidence and knowing you can beat it.”

Since 2004, which is as far back as BDWP tracks full Bramham results, only three Americans have competed in the CCI3*, with just one finishing it. Cindy Rawson accomplished that in 2004 aboard The Gatecrasher, finishing 13th. Americans have fared much better in the Under 25 CCI3*, with Will Coleman and Fox-In-Flight winning it in 2003, the year after Zara Phillips won with Toytown.

Jennie Brannigan and Cooper placed 14th in the Under 25 CCI3* in 2009, and Jules Stiller finished 18th with Mr Ramsay in 2007. Bramham also runs a CIC3* at this event, though the USEF grant can only be used for the CCI3*.

William Fox-Pitt has won the Bramham CCI3* an incredible eight times, including twice in 2012 and 2013 with his 2014 World Equestrian Games individual bronze medal partner Chilli Morning. It’s also notable that our new USEF Developing Rider Coach Leslie Law won it in 1999 aboard Shear H20, his team silver medallist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

While David said in the High Performance sessions at the USEA Convention that he wanted to avoid Saumur and Pau this year — in part due to the variation in footing at these tracks and in part because our riders have now seen a number of Pierre Michelet courses — Saumur is once again on the 2015 spring grants list.

All spring grant applications are due March 15 and can be access on the USEF website by clicking here.