Sharon White and Claus 63. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Sharon White was all smiles on the final day of the first ever CCI3*-L at the MARS Great Meadow International with her rising star Claus 63.
Sourced by German eventer Dirk Schrade, Claus, an 8-year-old Holsteiner (Catoo x Tina II) has been in Sharon’s program for two years, but their budding partnership has proven mature for its age.
“I’m not one to rush a horse, I’ll never be accused of that,” Sharon laughed.”He suits my style because he’s very sensitive, so I take it as a compliment when I am told my horses look easy to ride because that’s just time and dedication.”
Sharon White and Claus 63. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
This weekend was a big test for the up-and-comer, his first three-day at this level, and Sharon couldn’t ask for more. He had double clear show jumping round to win on 31.1, leading the division from pillar to post.
“He is quite a competitor. He tried so hard today not to touch a rail. He rubbed one and then he just went for it,” she said. “I think [this win] actually sets him up really well. He could do a few Advanced this fall easily, so therefore he’d be ready to do a four long next spring. He’s a super horse, so I can pick and choose a little bit now and just make sure he goes to good venues, and things like that that will educate him and develop him.”
Kimmy Cecere and Jessica Bortner-Harris’ Bishop de Selah left all the poles up to grab second place. She and the 11-year-old Zweibrucker/Thoroughbred (Begat Pfaythe x Slew Dinkum) finish on their dressage score of 33.7.
One pesky rail dropped Young Rider Benjamin Noonan and his own Keep Kitty, a 9-year-old Hanoverian (King Julio x Hauptstutbuch Emelie), into second place. The pair finish on a score of 35.2.
Charlotte Collier piloted her own Fidelius 35, a 10-year-old Oldenburg (Fidertanz 2 x Happy Hour) to a fourth place finish. This duo went double clear yesterday, but lowered on fence in the show jumping for a result of 39.7 points.
Alexandra Baugh and I Spye were the third and final pair to achieve a fault free trip around Chris Barnard’s track. A final score of 39.9 gives them fifth place. Sixth place was earned by Katherine Brown and her own Carnaby. They dropped two poles for a score of 42.2.
Also lowering two, Rebecca Brown and her Fernhill Fortitude finish in seventh place on a result of 42.7. Jorgen Olijslager finished in eighth place with Nick Olijslager’s Northern Quest Lady’s Man after having two rails (67.1), and our final finishers Melanie Smith and Shakedown Street, who is owned by the rider, are ninth after two rails (70.1).
While a small field, we saw only 33.3% of riders jump clear. If you want to relive the minute-by-minute action, check out our live updates.
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