Boyd and Crackerjack placed third in the Fair Hill CIC** over the weekend. (Photo courtesy of Holly Covey)
When I got home from Fair Hill last night, soaked to the bone and weary from sitting in several-hours’-worth of 95 South closure traffic, all I wanted was a hot shower and a long sleep. But on Facebook, posts about “Rolex” were already being auto-consolidated; my Rolex roster Chronicle had arrived in the mail; my suitcase suddenly needed expeditious unpacking so that I could re-pack it with copious amounts of rain gear (pack enough and it won’t rain). It’s finally that time, Eventing Nation: Rolex week is upon us. Stay tuned for what looks to be the craziest, most ridiculous, most awesome-awesome Rolex in EN history. Because sleep? Who needs it?
Your weekend winners:
Rain held out at Fair Hill until yesterday, when Michele Mueller and Amistad show jumped clean to win the CIC***; Doug Payne and Crown Talisman won the CIC**; Elizabeth Ricklefs and On The Rocks moved from second to first when overnight CIC* leaders Haley Tucker and Lion Display pulled three rails to finish third; Mélissa Boutin and Siamese Kat moved up from 17th after dressage to win the Advanced; Boyd Martin and new ride Trading Aces topped the Intermediate-A and Erin Brooke Freedman and Viola won the Intermediate-B; the Lowest U.S. Score of the Weekend Award went to Jennie Brannigan and Vamor, who won Open Preliminary-B on their dressage score of 17.7. [Fair Hill Scores]
On the other coast, Mackenna Shea and Landioso topped Sabrina Glaser-Levere and Yuri Zhivago and James Atkinson and Gustav in Twin Rivers’ 3-competitor CIC***; Bea di Grazia and Lad’s Night Out led wire to wire in the CCI**; Erin Kellerhouse and Bill’s Midnight Magic were also wire to wire winners in the CCI* (Erin also topped the prelim aboard Cat Ballou – Go Erin); Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against topped the advanced; Julie Ann Boyer and Rumor Hazit won the intermediate. [Twin Rivers Scores]
At Longleaf Pines, Mike Plumb, 72 years young, won the Open Novice-B with Tawny on a dressage score of 27 and placed second in the Open Novice-A with Donnybrook’s Dudley Street Station on a dressage score of 25.5. [Longleaf Pines Scores]
Mike Huber and Applause won Holly Hill’s advanced; Alyssa Phillips and Exploring won the JYROP; Noreen Corlett and Hawk’s Honor took the OP; Jennifer Boyer and Bound By Blood topped Junior Beginner Novice Rider-A and Gaby Stephens and To the Max topped Junior Beginner Novice Rider-B. [Holly Hill Scores]
A big EN congrats to Redland Hunt Pony Club HT’s training winners Chelsea Eldridge and Elektra, Nicole Coffey and Contortionist and Jamie Farah and Ash. [Redland Hunt Scores]
And last but not least: Excellent work, River Glen HT winners. Your names may not yet be posted online, but your achievements are none the less glorious. [River Glen website]
Have these four-star siblings gotten cooler since then? “When they were little, Doug Payne and his younger sister, Holly, would see who could change their clothes fastest after school and be ready to ride first, recalled their mother, Marilyn.” [Star-Ledger]
It’s like Mark Todd’s job is making history: “Equestrian icon Mark Todd is emerging as the frontrunner to be New Zealand’s flagbearer at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games… After carrying the flag at the 1992 Games in Barcelona, Todd would become only the third person in New Zealand Olympic history to carry the flag twice, after Les Mills and Arthur Porritt.” [Nelson Mail]
Show Jumper Rich Fellers and the 16-year-old stallion Flexible made their own history this weekend, becoming the first U.S. pair to win the Rolex FEI World Cup Final in 25 years. “Flexible doesn’t quite fit in with the large, powerful warmbloods that make up the majority of the European riders’ mounts. He’s a little thing, just barely 16 hands. And he’s got a bit of a frenetic style around the course, making the crowd gasp with incredibly tight turns and athletic jumping efforts.” [COTH]
70-1 longshot All Squared Away won the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland Saturday, paying $143.20, $45.80 and $17, and spoiling several Kentucky Derby contenders’ hopes. [ESPN] EN would like to congratulate All Squared Away’s owners, a partnership/syndicate which includes Robin and Carolyn Hoffos. The Hoffos are also owners of James Atkinson’s 3-star horse, Gustav. Thanks to Taren for the tip!
Equitrekking’s Darley Newman released a new video interview with Jane Beshear, Kentucky’s First Lady, who’s all about the Rolex water jump. [Equitrekking]
Best of the Blogs: Water, water, everywhere, but HRH Luke won’t drink it. “The irony of this whole incident is that it has rained EVERY SINGLE DAY I’VE BEEN HERE. And not just a little. DELUGE. I’ve been riding in it almost everyday that I’ve been here. So is it rude that I chuck his butt out in the rain, so that he can rehydrate through osmosis? “ [Colleen Rutledge’s Badminton Adventure]
Found on Facebook: Jim Wofford. “My plan is to use this page as both a bulletin board and a source of information about my clinics, articles, columns and books. I will look into posting the calendar that I have been maintaining on my blog. In addition, I will post a library of photos. I think you will be interested in these photos, as they will be an unusual mix of old and new. Once I master the technology, I will start posting links to my Practical Horseman columns. Stay tuned for more.” [Fox Covert Facebook Page]
Update: Will and Kate will be attending Badminton
A selection of Fair Hill clips:
Jeff Kibbie & Loki’s advanced XC, courtesy of Holly Covey:
Haley Tucker and Lion Display’s CIC* XC, courtesy of Holly Covey:
Mélissa Boutin and Siamese Kat’s advanced dressage:
