USA! USA! Photo by Leslie Wylie.
The 2015 Boekelo CCIO3* was no dressage show, that’s for sure. Competitors were jumping their way up and down the leaderboard all weekend, with nothing written in stone (er, engraved on a trophy?) until the final rider crossed the show jumping finish today.
Double-clear rounds were far and few between; only six of 61 show jumping starters left the rails up and came in under the clock. Great Britain’s Nicola Wilson and Bulana moved from 5th to 4th to 1st when the top three came a bit undone, she herself collecting one time fault.
Nicola Wilson and Bulana. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
That extra bit of gravity that seemed to be permeating the air worked to the advantage of Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF, who jumped from 15th to 6th also on the wings of a one time-fault round. The pair had already made a big leap from 28th after dressage to 15th after cross-country, and with this being Matt’s first European competition he must be over the moon with their result. Super Socks, superstar!
Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Confirmation: He’s over the moon.
There were so many rails flying today around Jos Brinkman’s course that eight faults didn’t budge Lauren Kieffer and Landmark’s Monte Carlo much, lowering them just two places from 10th to 12th.
Lauren Kieffer and Landmark’s Monte Carlo. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
One unlucky rail marred Jonathan Holling and Downtown Harrison‘s otherwise beautiful round, and they still moved up one place from 24th to 23rd.
Jon Holling and Downtown Harrison. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Buck Davidson and Copper Beach picked up four faults for 31st.
Buck Davidson and Copper Beach. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Buck and Carlevo had a lovely clear round, with three time faults, to finish in 36th.
Buck Davidson and Carlevo. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Liz Halliday Sharp and HHS Cooley tucked in just behind Buck for 37th, having pulled two rails.
Liz Halliday-Sharp and HHS Cooley. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Lauren Kieffer and Vermiculus collected eight jump faults for 41st.
Lauren Kieffer and Vermiculus. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Katherine Coleman and Longwood, our rookie of the week, had 28 faults to finish 57th and won some invaluable experience along the way.
Katherine Coleman and Longwood. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
We’re all very proud of the Land Rover U.S Eventing Team for their big 2nd place finish in the Nations Cup competition. With Marilyn Little’s RF Scandalous withdrawn before this morning’s jog due to a minor coronet band injury, the pressure was on our remaining three representatives Liz Halliday-Sharp and HHS Cooley, Buck Davidson and Copper Beach and Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF to hold their own on a troublemaker of a course.
I’ll let chef d’equipe extraordinaire David O’Connor take it from here:
This weekend’s competition was a great example of consistency winning the race. It’s called a three-day for a reason and Boekelo was a true test of ability in each phase. Team USA’s impressive result is a mirror of the program’s well-rounded approach, and a sign that bright things are in store for us in the future.
Boekelo CCIO3* Top 20 Finishers:
Go Team USA. Go Eventing.
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