Lindsay Kelley and Cooley Cruise Control are the winners of the inaugural VHT CCI2*. Photo by Brant Gamma Photography.
The 2016 Virginia CCI/CIC and Horse Trials wrapped up yesterday at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington with great competition and gorgeous weather to conclude the fall season for many East Coast riders.
Lindsay Kelley and Cooley Cruise Control jumped the only double clear round in the inaugural CCI2* division to hold their overnight position and win on their dressage score of 51.8.
“He’s a super show jumper. I was a little bit nervous about how he would feel after pushing him so hard yesterday but he jumped better than he ever has today. He must have known it was the real deal,” Kelley said of the 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse.
Boyd Martin and his homebred Ray Price, an 8-year-old Thoroughbred/Warmblood owned by Windurra USA and Amy Lindgren, dropped a single rail to finish second.
Woods Baughman and his and James Baughman’s 9-year-old Thoroughbred Montesquieu made a steady climb up the leaderboard, placing 13th after dressage, moving up to sixth after a double clear cross country round and finishing third overall with just one rail down in the final phase.
Kim Severson and Ringfort Fighting Chance won the CCI*-A division. Photo by Brant Gamma Photography.
Kim Severson and Ellie Brown’s Ringfort Fighting Chance led CCI*-A from start to finish, adding nothing to their dressage score of 40.6 to top the 39-horse division in the 11-year-old Irish Thoroughbred’s first FEI appearance.
Boyd was second again in the one-star, this time with Barry, a 7-year-old Thoroughbred he owns, finishing on their dressage score of 43.0. Lucia Strini piloted Plain Dealing Farm’s 6-year-old Irish Sport Horse MTF Cooley Classic to third place, adding only 2 show jumping time penalties for a final score of 43.8.
Cornelia Dorr and Pia Münker’s former ride Louis M also led the CCI*-B division from the start. Cornelia, 18, and the 11-year-old Rheinlander gelding scored 40.2 in dressage and added only 4 penalties in show jumping to finish with the only final score in the 40s out of 20 talented juniors and young riders in the class.
Charlotte Collier and Parker Collier’s 10-year-old Holsteiner Clifford M moved up from sixth place after dressage to finish second on 50.5. Will Zuschlag and his 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding RF Southern Command added only time penalties in show jumping to finish third overall on 51.0.
Annabelle Kress and Batteries Not Included are the 2016 Area II Junior Beginner Novice Champions. Photo by Brant Gamma Photo.
Area II Championships and Adult Team Challenge
Virginia Horse Trials also hosted the Area II Championships, which added Junior Championship classes this year. Congratulations to the 2016 Area II Champions:
- Intermediate: Sydney Solomon and Early Review C
- Junior Preliminary: Katherine Christopher and Frodo of the Shire
- Open Preliminary: Allison Springer and Fairvoya S
- Junior Training: Olivia Hayes and Beaujeste
- Training: Colleen Rutledge and Paul Just Paul
- Junior Novice: Charlotte Stillfried and Pepper
- Open Novice: Leslie Chelstrom Lamb and Quinn Lane
- Junior Beginner Novice: Annabelle Kress and Batteries Not Included
- Open Beginner Novice: Lauren Chumley and Nikolas
The War Horses — Carrie Irwin riding Clifden, Cheryl Ray riding IntotrickU, Cynthia Holbrook riding Blue Ridge Breckenridge and Hugh Wrigley riding Master the Moment — won the Training Adult Team Challenge. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
The Area II Adult Rider Team Challenge has long been a popular activity at the fall Virginia Horse Trials. This year, 17 teams made up of adult riders from Areas I, II and III competed in a friendly team competition at the Beginner Novice through Preliminary levels. More information about the USEA Adult Rider program can be found on the USEA website.
“My team and I are very pleased with the success of the competition this week and grateful to all the riders, owners and volunteers for their participation. For me it’s about providing a high-quality but personable event that makes everyone who attends feel special,” VHT organizer Andy Bowles said.
“This event is the final competition of the year for many riders, and we hope it will continue to be a destination event for eventers around the country. Thank you to everyone who makes Virginia Horse Trials an important part of their year. We will see you at the next one in May.”
Final scores for all divisions can be found on Event Entries. Visit the Virginia Horse Trials website for more news and information on future competitions and find Virginia Horse Trials on Facebook.
