Michael Pollard and Hanni
Team USA has guaranteed themselves 1st place in the Pan American Games team competition at the end of today with a double-clear from Michael Pollard and Schoensgreen Hanni. Michael and Hanni absolutely dominated the course as Hanni looked for the flags with determination in every combination. All of the pressure in the world was on Michael for a good ride after taking a tumble at Burghley and retiring at Boekelo, but Michael is one of the toughest mental competitors I have ever met and he stepped up big time today. The US Team knows it will have the lead tonight, but they can’t quite break out the tequila yet because Shannon Lilley and Ballingowan Pizzaz are a few rides away from getting started on course.
Riding for Canada, Rebecca Howard and Roquefort were up on the time about 30 seconds at the halfway point, but Roquefort looked like he got a bit tired and behind Rebecca’s leg on the long uphill pull of the course. They finished 9 seconds over the time to add 3.6 penalties to their dressage score. The sun is burning down on the Santa Sofia Golf Course and the heat is starting to be a factor. Before the last fence, Roquefort had to gallop by a horse who had retired and was walking home in the middle of the galloping lane. So far stupid incidents like that have not caused any problems, but it’s a race to get everyone home safely.
Hawley Bennett-Awad just finished up her round with Five O’clock Somewhere with 20 penalties at #7A, a rake shaped jump early on the course. Five O’clock Somewhere looked better late on the course and made up time to finish with just over 6 time penalties. Hawley’s score was not one of the three scores being counted by Canada after the dressage, so it doesn’t have an immediate impact on the team results, but it does put all of the pressure on Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High.
Lauren Billys and Ginger were 7th after the dressage for Puerto Rico. They looked fabulous early on the course and I was sure they would get home clear, but they took a tumble at the table before the coffin late on the course. I spoke with Lauren briefly back in the barns and she and Ginger are thankfully both fine.
Go eventing.
