Happy weekend EN! Samantha had to hit the road from Ocala to race a blizzard back to Kentucky. I want to give a big thanks to Lily, Harry, and Samantha for a great Friday of reporting for EN. Ali is at Paradise HT in Aiken and we’ll be hearing from her later this evening. If you are out and about this weekend and want to join the EN iTeam, please fire your event report, crazy photos, or Peter Atkins dirt bike helmet cam videos to [email protected]. Now for a smorgasbord of notes from around EN…
–Four USEA events are active today around Eventing Nation. The Area X eventing season starts this weekend at Las Cruces HT in New Mexico. The third Area VI competition of 2012 is active in California with beginner novice through preliminary division at Ram Tap. Paradise is Aiken’s event for this weekend and Rocking Horse is hosting its second event of 2012.
The obligatory links to live scores:
[Ram Tap Horse Trials Live Scores]
—Team Slezak has made a big rebound from last weekend’s tragedy with a win at the Rocking Horse advanced A for Karl and Ulando H. Karen was 2nd with Veronica, and Peter and Henny were 3rd. The European imports dominated the advanced B division with Marilyn winning on Demeter and Karen was second with Mr. Medicott. The scoreboard shows that Maggie Deatrick and Diviine Comedy finished 50 seconds under the time in the advanced, which is possible but still very fast at Rocking Horse. As the season develops I hear more and more good things about both Veronica and Mr. Medicott and at this point it looks like Karen has just the arsenal she needs to make a big run this year.
–The US High Performance program has shifted its focus to California this weekend with training sessions for Shannon Lilley, Max McManamy and MacKenna Shea Saturday and Sunday morning at Red Fox Farm in Gilroy, California. Show jumper Lauren Hough will be coaching up the Aiken riders Monday and Tuesday at Bridle Creek. Also, due to a scheduling change up, Sandy Phillips will be coaching Will Faudree and company at Will’s training facility, Gavilan Farm in North Carolina this coming Monday and Tuesday. Spectators are welcome and I strongly urge our Southern Pines readers to take advantage of the opportunity. Spectating is open to the public and the address is 242 Tilley St, Hoffman, NC.
–As a quick road to the Olympics note, I have heard from the Ligon’s that they will not be making the trip over to either Ireland’s CCI3* at Ballindenisk or Italy’s CCI3* at Montelibretti this week. Recall that both of these events were started to boost the FEI eventing points rankings for Irish and Italian riders in their competition to get Olympic births. I think Nina is safely in, but fingers crossed that 9 people from these competitions don’t pass her in the points. [Background, FEI Olympic Rider Rankings]
–3dazey on the COTH forum has given a shout-out for volunteers at Pine Top next weekend that we will extend here on EN. Friday 2/24 is particularly packed with all advanced and intermediate dressage and XC. Contact Janet ([email protected]) if you’re interested in a fun week of volunteering at a great event.
That’s all for now Eventing Nation. Good luck to all of the competitors around Eventing Nation. Stay safe, have fun, and go eventing.
—-
Update: I have heard from Maggie that she definitely did not finish 50 seconds under the optimum. She wrote: “I was right on every minute marker and checked my watch at the finish. It read 5:52. I have no idea how they clocked me at 5:05. However, I didn’t realize the error in the timing until well after the scores were posted and then didn’t bother having it corrected as it wouldn’t have changed anything. I would appreciate if you would publish a statement from me to that effect, as I consider myself fast but not insane.” Good to hear Maggie, although ultimately we are all at least a little insane.
