Andrea and Mensa
You can’t have a more exciting finish than we did in the Jersey Fresh CCI3* today as everyone waited on Brian O’Connor to announce the time for Andrea Leatherman’s round. To set the stage, all but two riders had finished with time penalties in the CCI3* show jumping. The 3rd through 6th placed riders all had rails and then Nina Ligon and Fernhill Fearless delivered a clutch ride with a few rubs and finished with 5 time penalties, giving Andrea a 5.6 point lead when she trotted in aboard Mensa. Mensa and Andrea jumped clear but took their time around a big final loop in the course and everyone knew that they would have time penalties, the only question was how many. Brian announced that they had exactly 5 and they finished with the win by 0.6 points.
CCI3* Results:
1. Andrea Leatherman and Mensa +5 61.0
2. Nina Ligon and Fernhill Fearless +5 61.6
3. Doug Payne and Running Order +6 67.3
4. Katie Ruppel and Sir Donovan +10 70.2
5. Alexandra Slusher and Last Call +12 71.9
Here are a few quick notes from the CCI3*:
–Second placed Fernhill Fearless is an absolutely amazing horse and jumped spectacularly out of a couple sticky spots. Of all the horses to bet on to be in the Olympics next year, that might be the one, representing Thailand.
–Doug Payne and Running Order moved up 3 spots to third by adding just 6 time penalties.
–Katie Ruppel and Sir Donovan finished up a great redemption weekend with a 4th placed finish after their disappointing elimination at Rolex. Katie again got big cheers from the crowd when she finished.
–Buck should be proud of his students this afternoon. Andrea, Katie, and Alexandra, all work with Buck and finished in the top 5 of the CCi3*.
–There were just 4 clean rides and no double-clears in the show jumping.
The CIC3* is underway now as the last division of the day at Jersey. Stay tuned for a report from that shortly and until then go eventing.
