The US selectors have a real challenge ahead of them for all the good reasons after 11 of 12 US Olympic hopeful pairs finished on clear rounds at Barbury today. Three US pairs finished the competition in the top 10. I will run the risk of being redundant by saying that the cross-country time penalties and therefore final placings will not have a big impact on US team selection. Will Faudree and Andromaque were the only US pair to make the time and I think that slightly helped their chances. Tiana Courdray and Ringwood Magister were just two seconds over and finished the competition as the highest placed US pair in 4th–that helps their chances for sure.
In the overall competition, Andrew Nicholson of New Zealand finished in the top two places aboard Avebury and Quimbo respectively. All of the US finishers completed the weekend in the top half of the field. The cross-country at Barbury caused quite a few problems, including 8 retirements, 9 eliminations, and 14 rounds with at least a stop.
The lone problem of the day for Team USA occured when Boyd Martin fell from his normally perfect cross-country partner Neville Bardos. Boyd told us after the round that he just hit a half-stride coming out of the water, causing Neville to hang a leg. Fortunately both horse and rider were fine and Boyd went on to ride two clear rounds with Remington and Otis.
Barbury CIC3* Final Results:
1. Andrew Nicholson and Avebury +0 41.6
2. Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo +0 49.8
3. Lucy Wiegersma and Simon Porlow +1.2 50.2
4. Oliver Townend and Pepper Anne +0 50.8
5. Tiana Coudary and Ringwood Magister +0.8 51.2
6. Boyd Martin and Remington +6 53.4
…
10. Will Faudree and Andromaque +0 56.0
12. Allison Springer and Arthur +4 56.2
14. Phillip Dutton and Mystery Whisper +9.2 57.2
15. Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen +4.4 57.8
23. Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere +11.6 60.4
33. Karen O’Connor and Mr. Medicott +14.0 66.4
34. Will Coleman and Twizzel +11.2 66.6
36. Sinead Halpin and Manoir De Carneville +13.2 67.2
39. Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice +10.8 68.0
Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos — Elim
Go USA.
