Jennie and Cambalda at their last three-day win–just a few months ago at the Jersey CCI2*
Alexandra Slusher and Last Call jumped a clean round to put all of the pressure on Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda when they entered the show jumping at Galway. Jennie and “Ping” answered with a clean round and took home the Galway CCI3* win. Fittingly, they were the only Galway CCI3* pair to finish on their dressage score, which is an impressive achievement considering that the Galway field was packed with talented jumping horses, many of whom have 4* experience. Jennie will take the Galway trophy back to True Prospect Farm, but she was a hometown favorite at Galway having ridden and trained just across the street from Galway for many years.
1. Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda +0 46.0
2. Alexandra Slusher and Last Call +0 49.2
3. James Alliston and Jumbo’s Jake +1 55.8
4. Kristi Nunnink and R-Star +4 61.6
5. Kristin Bachman and Gryffindor +12 62.6
6. Allison Springer and Arthur +4 69.0
7. James Alliston and Parker II +14 75.6
Link: Full Galway results
Looking at the CCI3* leader board, James Alliston also had a great weekend by adding just 15 penalties on two horses for the entire weekend. There were four double-clear show jumping rounds out of 12 CCI3* rides. I’m not sure that it means anything, but Arthur’s 4 time penalties today meant that Jennie would have won even if Arthur’s stop had been reversed.
Looking at the other divisions, Alexandra Slusher and Juicy Couture finished a great weekend by leading the CCI2* wire to wire and winning by 5 points. Maxance McMannamy and Project Runway won the CCI1* and Maxance also won an open prelim division on Beacon Hill. Katherine Groesbeck led from wire to wire in the CCI1* classic…on two horses. Oz The Tin Man was second after the dressage but jumped his stable mate Oz Proof of Purchase in the show jumping to grab the classic win.
Overall, the West coast’s first CCI3* seems to have been a wonderful success. It’s a great sign for North American eventing not just that we can have such a fantastic event and course in California but that so many quality horses showed up to compete this weekend. Chelan will have a full show jumping recap with video in a few.
