Megan Johnston and Rapport lead the training junior/young rider championship

This afternoon is a whirlwind of eventing fun at the AECs with five novice and beginner novice dressage arenas in action and six full divisions of preliminary and training on the cross-country course.  After the tension of intermediate and advanced cross-country it’s refreshing to get into the fun portion of eventing where riders are loving competing in the biggest event of their year.  You see a heck of a lot more smiles on the training level cross-country than advanced and at a very fundamental level that is what eventing is all about.  Aside from a few exceptions, the riders continue to dominate the cross-country here at Chattahoochee Hills.

We have video of the junior training division and for good reason–these guys can ride.  I watched most of the training amateur, all of the training junior, and a few training horse riders, and those juniors can compete with anyone I saw in the amateur or horse division.  The horses were also doing a great job of keeping their young riders safe.  And don’t let the results fool you, there were some tough parts of the training course, particularly the water complex.

Meghan Johnston and Rapport made the XC look easy as pie and their double-clear keeps them in the lead by 0.7 going into the show jumping.  Megan and Rapport have prelim experience and that showed today big time. 

The leader board in the training amateur division changed when the dressage leader took a tumble.  Anna Kjellstrom and Blue Stockings took advantage with a double-clear to move into the lead from second.  There have been a few falls this afternoon, but fortunately everyone seems to be fine and the start times are running well on schedule.  The training horse division is just finishing up.

A fall befell the junior preliminary leader as well, who got a dunking in the water jump.  The second placed rider retired on course.  Collin Reynolds and Midas IV leapt into the lead from 3rd with a double clear and they are followed by less than a rail by Asa Cooper and Matchplay.

[Complete AECs Live Scores]

The top three places of the preliminary horse championship remains unchanged after the cross-country.  Just three of 31 starters had issues on course in that division and Julie Norman and Consensus carry the lead into Saturday’s show jumping.

The novice and beginner novice divisions have just finished their dressage.  The lowest score of the AECs so far goes to Emily Wendling and Magic of Spring with a 21.0 in the novice horse.  Only two of the divisions at the AECs currently have leaders with scores higher than 30.

Allison Springer was out all afternoon helping with the commentary and she coached a few of the riders all the way around the course and certainly made things entertaining for those of us listening.

Last but not least, be sure to stop by the  Devoucoux booth if you are out and about at the AECs.  They are hosting wine and other delicacies every afternoon and you can stop by to see their fantastic saddles and other tack.  

Go eventing.

The advanced cross-country course rode almost perfectly today.  Half of the 18 starters had double-clear rides, which is a very high percentage for advanced.  14 of the 18 starters had clear rides.  Two riders finished with stops, one retired, and one fell.  When a course produces such good results the question is always whether it was a relatively easy course or if the riders and horses just ran really well, and, as always, the answer is probably somewhere in the middle. 

The top 5 horses after the dressage all crossed the finish line clear and inside the time, so the leaderboard looks virtually the same as yesterday.  Allison Springer has a 3 point lead with Arthur ahead of Emily Beshear and Here’s To You.  Barbara Crabo and Eveready of Arizona round out the top three.

Advanced XC Standings:

1. Allison Springer and Arthur +0  27.9
2. Emily Beshear and Here’s To You +0  30.9
3. Barbara Crabo and Eveready +0  32.5
4. Buck Davidson and Ballynoecastle RM +0  32.8
5. Doug Payne and Running Order +0  33.8
6. Becky Holder and Can’t Fire Me +0  35.6
7. Buck Davidson and Titanium +0  35.5

[Full AEC Results]

A few notes on the cross-country:

–There were just a handful of issues on the course.  Detail Specialist had a run out early at the skinny at #4B and Melissa elected to save him for another day.  Brittany Kart was doing a really good job managing a very excited Llewellyn around most of the course, but they took a tumble at #15A.  Brittany was up quickly and Llwellyn took a canter back towards the barn.  Sara Kosumplik had a run out at the skinny combination after the drop.  Jessica Hampf of Canada had a very disappointing run out late on the course at the corners.  High Society was having a fantastic round until then and I definitely think they look like a Canadian contender for an Olympic spot next year despite the stop.

–Allison’s cross-country rides with Arthur are always either brilliant or heartbreaking and today it was brilliant.  With the exception of a big chip-in stride at #9, this advanced course caused no problems for them.  Allison had a slightly slower but quality ride on Destination Known.

Here’s the interview with Allison where I walk backward up hill and try not to fall over:
 

–Emily Beshear and Here’s To You had the best cross-country ride I have ever seen from them with an advanced double-clear.  If Quincy keeps running clear and fast this pair is going to be consistently in the top placings.

–Buck Davidson was the only other rider besides Allison in the advanced with two horses and he finished XC with both Reggie and Ty on their dressage scores.  After a win at Richland two weekends ago, Ballynoecastle RM seems to be really on the top of his game right now. 

–EN’s ‘grittiest rider of the day‘ award is a tie between Julie Wolfert and Lisa Barry.  Julie worked hard all round to come home clear and she has all the look of a rider who will be able to get it done on any horse.  Lisa Barry gutted it out with great riding in the skinny combination to keep her clean round alive.

–Last Call (Alexandra Slusher) was loving the cross-country as always and gave the selectors a nice reassurance that she was well picked for the Boekelo team in October.

–Doug Payne can breathe easier after a fantastic XC ride on Running Order.  After a few problems during the summer they looked to be approaching that tipping point of consistent problems.  But they are right back on track after one of the best XC rides of the day.

—Sara Gartland and Always A Lady had a great round that would have moved them up much more in the placings if there had been more issues on the course.  

–Jon Holling helped with the announcing all morning courtesy of PRO.  Jon and Kyle Carter are two of my favorite guest announcers, but for very different reasons.  As you would imagine, Jon’s commentary is less entertaining but much more intelligent.

The prelim cross-country is running right now with training level to follow.  Stay tuned for much more from the AECs.  Go eventing.

Kadi Eykamp and Double Rivers Really Cool

The intermediate division gave cross-country at the AECs a brilliant start this morning.  The riders truly rode up to the challenge of the championship with 21 out of 24 starters making it home clear in the intermediate.  The three that had issues were all in the top 7 after the dressage, but the top 3 placings were unchanged by the cross-country.  Thanks to good footing the intermediate riders could really attack the time and 12 of the starters had double-clears. 

Kadi Eykamp and Double Rivers Really Cool represented Australia well today as their countrymen fight it out for an Olympic team spot over in Blenheim and they maintained their huge lead.  This is a pair to keep a close eye on for the future because they have been destroying the intermediate competition so far at the AECs.  They will have a two rail margin over Katlyn McMorris and Clifton Peekachu for the show jumping tomorrow.

AECs Intermediate XC Results:

1. Kadi Eykamp and Double Rivers Really Cool +0  23.6
2. Katlyn McMorris and Clifton Peekachu +0.4  32.2
3. Buck Davidson and LA Albert +0  32.8
4. Lisa Barry and FIS Prince Charmig +0  35.4

[Full AEC Results]

Go eventing.

Allison Springer and Arthur jump a double-clear to maintain their 3 points in the advanced division at the AECs.  It has been a fantastic morning of intermediate and advanced cross-country. 

[Live AEC Scores]

Recaps and videos shortly.

I was young riders teammates with Melissa Miller, who is based out of Ohio, for two years back in the day.  Since then she has developed into a very nice rider and she keeps delivering solid results with her advanced horse Detail Specialist.  I spoke with Melissa on Thursday and she was kind enough to tell us how she plans to ride the one and only advanced water complex.  Go eventing.

Chattahooche Hills is an unbelievably beautiful setting for eventing with massive permanent barns, a huge main arena, and a beautiful cross-country course built into the side of a hill.  Several key improvements have been made this year to make the AECs even better than last year. 

As a rider, the most important issue to me at an event is the quality of the cross-country footing and design.  Last year a drought in Georgia caused major footing issues for the AECs.  This year Carl Bouckaert and his team at Chattahoochee Hills installed a world class irrigation system and started working on the footing well in advance of the competition.  Rains earlier this week and work with an aggravator have helped considerably as well and riders are going to be able to attack the cross-country course with confidence. 

As for the design, Rich Temple has put together a nice course with some tough technical questions such as a narrow combination following the big drop late on course.  A couple of the distances walk a little funny to me, but other than that the course is beautifully built and put together.  The venue is perfect for spectating because you can see most of the course from any place on course.  The terrain will be a bit of a factor since the horses have to run up and down the hill and several of the jumps are built jumping downhill.

Here’s a jump by jump look at the advanced course:

Kadi Eyecamp and “Revi”

Australian Kadi Eyecamp and Double Rivers Really Cool have picked up just where they left off after winning the CIC2* at Richland park by 6 points two weekends ago.  They lead the intermediate division at the American Eventing Championhsips by 8.2 points after a dressage test that was on a completely different level than the rest of the intermediate division.  I’m not sure what else a dressage judge could ask for–their test was collected, light, forward, smooth, and looked effortless.  *Katlyn McMorris and Clifton Peekachu, are in second with a 31.8.  Buck Davidson and LA Albert are third with a 32.8.  The intermediate division is very competitive with the 2nd through 24th places separated by less than 10 points. 

Intermediate Dressage Results:

1. Kadi Eyecamp and Double Rivers Really Cool  23.6
2. Katlyn McMorris and Clifton Peekachu  31.8
3. Buck Davidson and LA Albert  32.8
4. Susannah Lansdale and Buck Naked   33.0
5. Alexandra Slusher and Juicy Couture  33.6

[Full AECs Scores]

Kadi spoke with us about moving to America, first to New Jersey and then to Texas as well as her two lovely horses this weekend.  Her other horse, Dillon, is in 14th in the advanced, but as Kadi said, that is without any flying changes.

Three preliminary divisions competed today with 55 preliminary horses starting the competition.  Fie Ottosen leads the prelim amateur on a 32.7 with Clifton, but they are closely trailed by Sandy McCormack and Aphrodite of Virginia and Eventing Nation guest blogger Carrie Meehan and Blue Devil. 

The preliminary horse division is 31 horses deep , with a 20 point spread across today’s scores.  Julie Norman and Consensus are the unanimous leaders on 29.8.  Heather Morris and Master P of Texas are just behind them and Holly Payne third with Santino.  Marissa Hughes and Odie put together a great dressage test to take a 5 point lead in the 11 pair young rider/junior preliminary with a 25.9. 

25.9 is also the score for Melissa Town and Sienna, who lead the training amateur championship.  Blue Stockings and Anna Kjellstrom are representing Kentucky in second.  Four riders broke 30 in the training junior division–Megan Johnston and Rapport of Illinois lead the way on a 28.0.  One of Lauren Kieffer’s seven horses here this weekend, Czechmate, is leading the training horse championship going into the cross-country with a 25 even.

All of the divisions that competed today have cross-country tomorrow starting with the intermediate at 8:30am.  Novice and beginner novice get their weekend started with dressage on Friday.  The cross-country course is swarming with course-walking riders this evening.  Stay tuned to Eventing Nation for much more from the AECs tonight and throughout the weekend.

Go eventing.

During my college years I boarded my horses at Emily and Jeff Beshear’s barn, which is just north of Charlottesville, Virginia.  One of the things I always admired about Emily and Jeff is that they truly make eventing a family activity.  Jeff is a full-time sports medicine vet, a part-time eventer, and of course Emily’s full-time groom.  Emily runs a training and boarding program out of their farm and competes advanced with her horse Here’s To You aka Quincy.  Their son Nicholas is 8 and looks to have a promising future as an eventer if major league soccer doesn’t work out.  Furthermore, Jeff’s mother is an eventer in addition to being the first lady of Kentucky.  Emily and Jeff were both kind enough to chat with me today about their horses and eventing as a family.

Go eventing families. 

Buck Davidson attended Burghley last weekend as a spectator, which must have been the first time in a long time Buck went to an event without a million horses to ride.  Buck shared his thoughts with us on Burghley including the cross-country course and the quality of competition.  Every time I chat with Buck I am more and more impressed with how much he studies the sport of eventing and how he applies what he learns to help himself and his students.  Buck is riding three horses here at the American Eventing Championships.  Ballynoecastle RM and Titanium are both in the top 10 of the advanced division after the dressage.  Buck is well placed in the intermediate on LA Albert with several riders still set to compete.

Go eventing.

Arthur with a big smile for the crowd after his test

Chattahoochee Hills Farm is in exquisite condition for the 8th annual American Eventing Championships and the 2nd being held here in Georgia.  A combination of cool weather and rain earlier this week have made for great conditions on and off the cross-country course.  The mood at the AECs is a bit calmer that last year due to fewer competitors and the absence of the World Equestrian Games selection trials that was hosted last year.  The advanced dressage has just concluded and we have a full day of training, preliminary, and intermediate to continue in the four arenas running today. 

Allison Springer and Arthur had a couple of tense moments during their test but the majority was lovely and they have the lead in the AECs advanced division after the dressage on a 27.9.  Arthur has had a year of ups and downs including a win at Red Hills, a fall at Rolex, and then the show jumping mess at Rebecca Farms.  Allison and Arthur have handled all of that with class and I’m rooting for them to put it all together this weekend. 

Advanced Dressage Results:

1. Allison Springer and Arthur  27.9
2. Emily Beshear and Here’s To You  30.9
3. Barbara Crabo and Eveready II  32.4
4. Buck Davidson and Ballynoecastle RM  32.8
5. Doug Payne and Running Order  33.8
6. Melissa Miller and Detail Specialist  34.5
7T. Becky Holder and Can’t Fire Me  35.4
7T. Danielle Dichting and Tops  35.4

[Full AECs Scores]

Emily Beshear and Here’s To You aka Quincy just missed being named to the US Pan American squad/alternates last week, but they have bounced back in great form today.  Quincy nailed all of the four flying changes in the test and they are in 2nd.  I felt like their test easily could have been considered the nicest of the day.  Barbara Crabo and the beautiful Eveready finished the dressage on a 32.4.  They will go into the cross-country in 3rd place.

The advanced dressage scores are what you would expect from experienced horses at the AECs.  12 out of 18 riders broke under 40 penalty points although only Arthur broke under 30.  There are two judges in the main arena which hopefully increases the fairness of the marks.

Alexandra Slusher and Last call recently received a grant to travel over and compete at Boekelo in October.  Today they scored a 36.4 in the dressage and are in 10th place going into the cross-country.
 

Sara Gartland and Always A Lady are an advanced pair from Pennsylvania that I am not as familiar with.  Always A Lady shows nice suspension but was a bit hollow.  I’ll look forward to watching them for the rest of the weekend.

Doug Payne was very pleased with Running Order’s test, which finished on a 33.8.  Doug Payne has been going through a few growing pains with this horse this summer, which shows Doug’s intelligence in not going to Blenheim on a Land Rover grant.  When they put it all together on the cross-country they are not going to have any trouble winning at advanced.

The advanced division at the AECs offers $20,000 in prize money (winner gets $10,000) so competition will be fierce throughout the weekend and I expect riders to be running for the time tomorrow on the cross-country.  Fortunately the footing is much better than last year.

This morning also featured three arenas of preliminary competition.  Fie Ottosen and Clifton have the lead in the preliminary amateur championship division.  Marissa Hughes and Odie have the lead in the junior/young rider preliminary division.  Julie Norman and Consensus are leading the prelim horse division on a 29.8 with a few rides still to go. 

I want to give a big thanks to our friends at the USEA for being wonderful hosts at the AECs.  The USEA team has been here since Monday and everything is superbly organized as a result of their hard work.  They have given me a plug and shelter in the media tent and I am forever grateful.

Stay tuned for much more from the AECs.  Go eventing.

Allison Springer was kind enough to chat briefly after her dressage test this morning with Arthur.  Arthur was a bit spooky, but they still scored a brilliant 27.9.  Allison spoke with me about Arthur and what the AECs mean to US eventing.  It’s a beautiful morning here at Chattahoochee Hills as the advanced and preliminary dressage continues.  Good luck to Allison and Arthur for the rest of the weekend and to Allison’s second advanced horse, Destination Known, who competes later this morning. 

[Live AECs Scores]

Go eventing.

Blenheim Palace via Flickr

Eight North American US pairs will compete at the Blenheim CCI3* in Woodstock, England this coming weekend.  They are:

Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice
Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen
Will Faudree and Pawlow
Aimee Chambers and After Eight
Julian Stiller and Enjoy Me
Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister
Kyle Carter and Madison Park (CAN)
Kathryn Robinson and Let It Bee (CAN)

Phillip, Clark, and Will all received $15,000 Land Rover competition grants to compete at Blenheim.  The promising Mighty Nice will be competing in his first CCI3*, Pawlow is of course an experienced 4* horse who was 11th at Blenheim in 2009, and Loughan Glen won the Bromont CCI3* earlier this summer.  Aimee Chambers and Julian Stiller are US natives permanently based in England.  Tiana Coudray has been riding and competing in England since Luhmuhlen.  Kyle Carter and Madison Park rerouted to Blenheim after a fall early on the Burghley course last weekend.  Kathryn Robinson of Canada finished 28th at the Hopetoun International 3* in July.

[Blenheim Homepage, Ride Times and Results, KyleCarter’s Blog]

  One of the big story lines of the weekend is the duel between Japan and Australia for the one remaining Olympic team qualifier for their region.  The CCI3* dressage begins on Thursday and we will have Blenheim coverage throughout the weekend courtesy of ESJ.

Go Blenheim.