Lauren Kieffer continued her domination at the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event by clinching the CIC3* win this afternoon with Jacqueline Mars’ Landmark’s Monte Carlo, jumping clear with 8 time penalties in the 9-year-old Irish/Thoroughbred gelding’s first CIC3* to finish on a final score of 54.4.
Only Jenny Caras and Fernhill Fortitude made the optimum time of 6 minutes, 58 seconds in this division, but we did see a number of speedy rides, including Ryan Wood and Frankie, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding he owns with Steven and Karri Guy; they stormed around the course clear with 3.6 time penalties to finish second on 57.0.
Kurt Martin and Delux Z put any cross country demons firmly behind them with a clear trip and 10.8 time penalties to take third place on 65.5. Colleen Loach and Freespirit finished fourth on 65.8 with a clear round and 6.4 time penalties, and Waylon Roberts and Kelecyn Cognac round out the top five after jumping clear with 5.2 time penalties to finish on 66.6.
Most of the trouble in this division came at the big brush wedge combination in the main arena complex, where Peter Barry and Kilrodan Abbott, Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Catchascatchcan, Erin Sylvester and Mettraise, and Karl Slezak and Yoshi picked up 20 jumping penalties. Erin retired soon after on course.
Caroline Martin and Spring Easy had two refusals at the Jersey Shore and went on to complete the course. She was sitting in second place in this division with Quantum Solace after show jumping clear this morning but withdrew him as planned, as he was only meant to do the combined test in preparation for the Tattersalls CIC3* later this month.
Boyd Martin was the only rider to fall in the CIC3* when he parted ways with Steady Eddie at the big corner on the final combination when the horse slipped between fences just two from home. Boyd was up and OK after the fall and returned later in the afternoon to ride SBF Cortez in the CIC2*.
Buck Davidson and Copper Beech, who won the CCI3* at this event last year, won the CIC2* today with a clear cross country round and 7.2 time penalties to finish on a score of 47.4. This is “Sean’s” final preparation for the Tattersalls CCI3*, where he’ll compete later this month. Carl and Cassie Segal, who own the 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding in partnership with Sherrie Martin, said they have never been to an event in Ireland and are very excited to make the trip.
Doug Payne and Lysander, who he owns in partnership with Kristin Michaloski, finished second in the CIC2* after jumping clear with 2 time penalties. He has produced “Big Leo,” an 8-year-old Thoroughbred Holsteiner gelding bred by Elizabeth Callahan, from the Beginner Novice level (and clearly I’m taking partial credit here since I talent spotted this horse back in 2012). It’s a big weekend for Doug, as it was announced yesterday that he has taken Jack Leary’s place on the USEA Board of Governors.
Joe Meyer and Madison Foote’s Clip Clop round out the top three with the fastest round of the division, jumping clear with .8 time penalties to finish on a score of 51.1. Sharon White and Clifford M finished fourth after jumping clear with 6.8 time penalties for a final score of 55.7, and Sally Cousins and Ideal Contini finished fifth with a clear round and 8.8 time penalties for a final score of 60.0.
The CIC2* division also rode very smoothly across the board. The only trouble came when Lucia Strini and Galway Bay Cooley picked up two stops late on the course, and she elected to call it a day. Sable Giesler and Devil Munchkin parted ways at the Jersey Shore water complex, and Bevin Dugan also fell from Kemmerlin on course.
It’s been a very busy day on EN with cross country running both here at Jersey Fresh and across the pond at Badminton, and your best bet to catch up on all the action is to take a look at all of our Jersey Fresh coverage at this link and all of our Badminton coverage at this link. If you missed our update on Jessica Phoenix’s condition following her fall this morning, you can find that at this link. Go Eventing.
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