Cross country course or mini golf? Loved the the pirate ship on course at Carolina International. Photo via EN’s Instagram @goeventing.
What a weekend it was in the Eventing Nation! In addition to the headliner event, the Cloud 11~Gavilan North LLC Carolina International CIC & H.T. in Raeford, NC, Poplar Place Farm hosted its March H.T. in Hamilton, GA, and the inaugural Southern Arizona H.T. took place in Tucson, AZ. Let’s recap and raise a toast to the winners!
- A warm welcome to a brand new event on the USEA calendar, Southern Arizona H.T. — v.1.0 down, many more to come! Held at the Pima County Fairgrounds, the event has been years in the making and is a huge boon to Area X. The event’s weekend debut was a smash hit by all accounts, attracting 104 starters contesting Introductory through Prelim/Training divisions. We spoke with its organizers earlier this year — check out the story of how the event came to be here.
How pretty is this portable start box? Photo via the Southern Arizona Eventing Association Facebook page.
- After cancelled January and February horse trials and a change of ownership, Poplar Place Farm is back up and running, hosting its first of four 2018 events over the weekend. New owner Launa DesPortes has big plans for the venue (see “Sale Ushers in New Era for Poplar Place Farm“), and the work is already underway — new jumps and even the construction of a big new pavilion! Already looking forward to that competitors party. Training Rider winner Mellisa Warden reflected, “What a special event … This was the first weekend I’ve ridden at this event in nine years and it hasn’t down-poured, but as always, the most friendly competitors and awesome spirit! I’m glad to see Poplar shining again, as it should.”
Mellisa Warden with Poplar Place organizer Shelley Page and Secretary Rick Dunkerton. Photo via Mellisa Warden.
- The lowest finishing score of the weekend goes to Holly Payne Caravella and Marilyn Payne’s SF Double Entendre, who won the Open Training C division at Carolina International on their dressage score of 20.5. Holly had a very successful weekend, also winning Open Intermediate with Shelby Corliss Godfrey’s Bruisyard Hall, who also earned the TIP Award — a fantastic debut at the level for an exciting combination. She was third in the same division with the CharmKing LLC’s CharmKing. And, of course, Holly’s brother Doug had a not-too-shabby weekend as well!
Photos via the Holly Payne Equestrian Facebook page.
- We’ve been enjoying watching Libby Head‘s Badminton dominator Sir Rockstar continue his career with Erin Jarboe. The pair has been out and about this winter, placing 2nd over the weekend in the Training Rider A division Carolina International. Erin was a teammate of Libby’s from the University of Georgia Eventing Team, and she first competed “Rocky” as a catch-ride for the USEA Intercollegiate Championships last year. The pair clicked and it’s been a win-win for all ever since — 20 years young, Rocky! Great to see Libby out as well in a division of Open Training with Sir Real … no relation to Sir Rockstar, but a fun coincidence!
- Another sweet not-quite-retirement story: Kate Chadderton‘s Advanced mounts Buckharo and Collection Pass have both retired from the upper echelons of eventing and are happily teaching their new young riders the ropes of eventing. “Whenever they see each other in the warm up they nuzzle up to each other to say hi!” Kate reports. Both competed at Carolina International in the Prelim Rider division; “Bucky,” ridden by Julia Luce was 4th and “Cole,” ridden by Grace Gaynor, was 2nd. Well-done!
Fantastic weekend at Carolina for my first event in a year! Hal was so good and we added just a rail and a handful of…
Posted by Libby Head on Sunday, March 25, 2018
Cole and Bucky in the warm-up at Carolina International. Photo by Kate Chadderton.
- The name game: At Poplar Place there was a Schikeria, who won Training Rider with Mellisa Warden, and a Hips Don’t Lie, ridden to 5th place by Sommer Matheny in Jr. Beginner Novice. Close enough! We also appreciated the trifecta of Sandra Phillips’ Six Pack Event, Barb Crabo’s Guinness, and Manuela Propfe’s BoozeTraveler at Southern Arizona H.T. Honorable mention to Hailey Benton’s Mon Petite Chou, an adorable French term of endearment that translates to “My Little Cabbage.”
Your weekend winners:
Carolina International CIC & H.T. [Website] [Results] [EN’s Coverage] [EN’s Instagram] [EN’s Twitter]
CIC1*: Elinor MacPhail O’Neal & Zick Zack (25.7)
CIC2*: Katherine Coleman & Billy Bandit (32.5)
CIC3*: Doug Payne & Vandiver (29.6)
Advanced: Will Coleman & Off The Record (45.5)
Intermediate Rider: Ryan Keefe & Flintstar (37.7)
Open Intermediate: Holly Payne Caravella & Bruisyard Hall (36.5)
Open Preliminary-A: Jordan Linstedt & Staccato (28.1)
Open Preliminary-B: Ryan Wood & Fernhill Flame (24.6)
Preliminary Rider: Janelle Phaneuf & Cougar Bay (28.8)
Open Training-A: Tik Maynard & SW Lhittle Rascal (26.6)
Open Training-B: Paige Crotty & Cooley Dawn Raid (27.1)
Open Training-C: Holly Payne Caravella & SF Double Entendre (20.5)
Training Rider-A: Elizabeth Ricklefs & Idlehour Patriot (25.0)
Training Rider-B: Natasha Jane Austin & Timeless Secret (30.7)
Poplar Place H.T. [Website] [Results]
Intermediate/Preliminary: Werner Geven & L’Avventura (41.1)
Open Preliminary: Lesley Grant-Law & Lady Chatterley (34.9)
Preliminary Rider: Alese Lyle & Princess Leia (46.0)
Open Training: Zachary Brandt & Fernhill Can Do (37.4)
Prelim/Training: Laurel Massey & In High Heels (43.5)
Training Rider: Mellisa Warden & Schikeria (36.0)
Jr. Novice Rider: Ella Kay Lane & Dark Shadows (35.9)
Open Novice: Zachary Brandt & City So Cool (26.4)
Sr. Novice Rider: Abby Blackburn & Celtic Steel (33.1)
Jr. Beginner Novice Rider: Emma Hilbert & A Hero’s Tale (38.1)
Open Beginner Novice: Nicole Maynard & Thunderstruck (32.8)
Sr. Beginner Novice Rider: Meredith Hunter & Classic Imp (28.6)
Starter: Ashley Templeton & Jackazoom (38.5)
Southern Arizona H.T. [Website] [Results]
Open Preliminary/Training: Frederic Bouland & K-Cosimo SE (39.1)
Open Training: Laura Borghesani & Mr Z (33.5)
Training Rider: Mary Hanson & Dance All Night (36.9)
Open Novice: Angela Carmitchel & Prima (26.9)
Novice Rider A: Peyton Klein & Davinci (32.9)
Novice Rider B: Carolyn Leblanc & Jack Leblanc (32.9)
Beg. Novice Rider A: Ruth Mock & Wodie (35.1)
Beg. Novice Rider B: Carrie Matteson & Pretend to Fly (36.1)
Open Beg. Novice: Laura Borghesani & Lf Dozer (32.1)
Introductory: Debra Haber & Pik Encore (31.1)
Go Eventing.
