Forgive me if it’s a bit uncool to lead the News & Notes with one’s own Instagram post, but I’ve just about recovered from Luhmühlen madness – barely – and I’m still prone to the odd teary-eyed moment. Maybe your Monday isn’t treating you as well as you’d hoped it would; perhaps your weekend out eventing was a bit of a disappointment. Wherever your headspace is today, let me be that annoying little positivity elf, here to remind you that no matter how rough it gets, your dreams can still come true. Just keep on keeping on, folks, and catch 11:11 whenever you can.
National Holiday: It’s National Tapioca Day. Give it up for those little gooey blobs.
US Weekend Action:
Arrowhead H.T. (Billings, Mt.): [Website] [Results]
Fox River Valley Pony Club H.T. (Barrington, Il.): [Website] [Results]
Inavale Farm H.T. (Philomath, Or.): [Website] [Results]
Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Summer H.T. (Leesburg, Va.) : [Website] [Results]
Midsouth Pony Club H.T. (Lexington, Ky.): [Website] [Results]
Stable View Summer H.T. and Area III Championships (Aiken, Sc.): [Website] [Results]
UK Weekend Action:
Alnwick Ford: Results
Chillington Hall Area Festival: Results
Eland Lodge (2): Results
Farley Hall: Results
Launceston (1): Results
Global Eventing Roundup:
It’s been a busy weekend in Europe, with FEI events criss-crossing the continent – but at the forefront of them all was Poland’s LOTTO Strzegom Horse Trials, which ran up to CCI4*-L and hosted the second leg of the 2021 FEI Nations Cup. Though the home team put up a good fight to take the lead after dressage, it would ultimately be a win for the young German front in this leg.
Germany’s Jule Wewer took the win in the CCI4*-S aboard Ruling Spirit after rerouting from Luhmühlen, where they’d withdrawn after a disappointing dressage test. Just 16 of the 41 starters made it around this tough course clear, with dressage leaders Tim Lips and Herby among those caught out by its tough combinations and slippery ground, and no one managed to make the time. Jule and Sweden’s Frida Andersen, who rode Box Leo to fourth place, tied for the fastest rounds of the day, each coming in just two seconds over the 6:46 optimum time.
Poland took the win in the CCI4*-L, with Malgorzata Korycka and Canvalencia taking top honours in their fourth time at this level. They’ve only ever contested CCI4*-L classes at Strzegom, with mixed results: they finished 16th on their debut here in 2019, but failed to complete on their next two attempts. This time, they secured the bag – and Malgorzata’s first-ever FEI win – by delivering one of just eight clear cross-country rounds and then jumping clear on the final day to step up from first-phase eighth place to the lead. They’re followed by Italy’s Pietro Grandis and Go For S, who took second place in Pietro’s CCI4*-L debut. Pietro trains with and rides for Michael Jung, and deputises as rider for Go For S, or ‘Gerda’, who was originally the competitive mount of Michael’s wife, Faye. You can check out full results from Strzegom here.
This year’s European Championships venue, Switzerland’s Avenches Horse Trials, also hosted classes up to CCI4*-S over the weekend. France’s Maxime Livio took the win in the feature class, riding Api du Libaire from an initial second place after dressage and giving us all a sneak peek of what to expect from this exciting venue come September. Check out the full results here.
Your Monday Reading List:
It would hardly be an Olympic year without some scandal, and Ireland’s decision not to send its qualified dressage team – the first in the country’s history, no less – to Tokyo has got to be right up there among the juiciest. Pippa Cuckson‘s excellent Cuckson Report lays down the facts of the situation to help you get up to speed. [Last-Minute Scramble for Tokyo Places Puts Defeatist Ireland in the Shade]
What’s a top rider without their dog? Not much, if you ask top showjumper Beezie Madden. Get to know her rescue pup here. [Fast Questions With Fan Fave And Dog Lover Beezie Madden]
Riders Minds, the mental health charity created by late event rider Matthew Wright, has won an an award at the prestigious This Can Happen awards. The charity took top honours for its exceptional work in a niche environment, besting major entities including Walt Disney and Bloomberg. [‘Beyond a dream come true’: Riders Minds wins at global awards]
Tennis superstar Serena Williams isn’t heading to Tokyo. And she’s not alone: a number of high-profile athletes have withdrawn from consideration for this year’s Games for a variety of reasons. [Serena Williams Won’t Play At The Tokyo Olympics]
Athletes for Equity, a group that works to improve SafeSport processes for equestrians, is honouring the life and work of the late Mason Phelps, Jr, who passed away last month. A private donor has offered to match donations up to $25,000 in his memory. [Safe sport group honours equestrian legacy of Mason Phelps Jr]
We’re all swept up in Olympic fever as the team announcements come in thick and fast. Team USA was first out of the gate to announce their line-up – here’s what chef d’equipe Erik Duvander has to say about his representatives this year. [‘Top Three Riders are Well Deserving of Their Position’- US Equestrian Performance Director Eric Duvander Praises his Tokyo Olympics 2021 Team]
The FutureTrack Follow:
Though eventing takes up most of my heart and all of my time, I love to live vicariously through the boots on the ground at other disciplines’ major competitions. Photographer Jessica Rodrigues is my go-to when I want to catch up on the jumping world – her photos are truly top-notch daydream material.
Morning Viewing:
Eventing is a sport of serious ups and downs – but whether you’re experiencing the euphoric highs or the tumbling lows, you’re never alone. Vlogger and friend of EN Footluce Eventing might have had a tricky time in her most recent outing, but she’s staying positive and taking you along for the ride:
