Allison Springer and Arthur picked up just 2 time penalties with a strong ride in the Rebecca Farm CIC3* cross-country and they will take a huge 10 point lead into the show jumping on Sunday. Samantha said that Allison gave Arthur a really strong ride and he never wavered at the jumps. Hawley Bennett and Gin N’ Juice moved up one spot to second with just 0.8 time penalties. Buck and Carl Segal’s Ballynoecastle RM “Reggie” also moved up one spot to third with 1.2 time penalties, with what Samantha said was a very professional ride.
In a result that I don’t think I have ever seen in a CIC3* competition, none of the 20 starters had a refusal. There were 18 rides with only time penalties and two riders didn’t finish. Tamra Smith and Mar De Amor sadly jumped the wrong jump just three jumps from home. John Michael Durr fell from Warrick four from home.
Rebecca Farm CIC3* Results:
1. Allison Springer and Arthur +2 39.4
2. Hawley Bennett and Gin N’ Juice +0.8 49.4
3. Buck Davidson and Ballynoecastle +1.2 50.4
4. Heather Gillette and Our Questionnaire +4.4 52.8
5. Barbara Crabo and Eveready II +4 55.8
6. Carl Bouckaert and Cyrano Z +6.4 56.8
7T. Joe Meyer and Snip +6.4 58.2
7T. Alexandra Slusher and Last Call +6.4 58.2
[Full CIC3* Results, Jump by Jump]
Samantha said that Sharon White had the most impressive ride of the day with Rafferty’s Rule. There were just as many double-clears as there were rides with a stop–that is to say none. Martha McDowell and Gaelic Marriage had the fastest ride of the day, finishing just one second over the optimum.
Only one rider in the advanced horse trials division finished with 20 penalties and sadly that was overnight leader Karen O’Connor and the young Veronica in the mare’s first advanced. Pam Fisher and Simple Priceless had the fastest ride of the advanced with 7.6 time penalties and moved all the way up from seventh to take the advanced lead. Phillip Dutton and Team Rebecca’s Ben are in third going into the show jumping.
Update: As a quick note on Veronica’s 20 penalties, she stumbled off of the bank and had to circle to get to #22C.
As a couple of other notes on the cross-country, Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti completed a double-clear to maintain the CCI2* lead and more importantly got a qualifying run for Canada and the Pan Ams barring anything crazy on Sunday. In fact, all of the three-day leaders from the dressage maintained their leads through the cross-country. The open intermediate and open preliminary divisions will finish out cross country this afternoon at Rebecca Farm.
