Megan Johnston and Rapport lead the training junior/young rider championship
This afternoon is a whirlwind of eventing fun at the AECs with five novice and beginner novice dressage arenas in action and six full divisions of preliminary and training on the cross-country course. After the tension of intermediate and advanced cross-country it’s refreshing to get into the fun portion of eventing where riders are loving competing in the biggest event of their year. You see a heck of a lot more smiles on the training level cross-country than advanced and at a very fundamental level that is what eventing is all about. Aside from a few exceptions, the riders continue to dominate the cross-country here at Chattahoochee Hills.
We have video of the junior training division and for good reason–these guys can ride. I watched most of the training amateur, all of the training junior, and a few training horse riders, and those juniors can compete with anyone I saw in the amateur or horse division. The horses were also doing a great job of keeping their young riders safe. And don’t let the results fool you, there were some tough parts of the training course, particularly the water complex.
Meghan Johnston and Rapport made the XC look easy as pie and their double-clear keeps them in the lead by 0.7 going into the show jumping. Megan and Rapport have prelim experience and that showed today big time.
The leader board in the training amateur division changed when the dressage leader took a tumble. Anna Kjellstrom and Blue Stockings took advantage with a double-clear to move into the lead from second. There have been a few falls this afternoon, but fortunately everyone seems to be fine and the start times are running well on schedule. The training horse division is just finishing up.
A fall befell the junior preliminary leader as well, who got a dunking in the water jump. The second placed rider retired on course. Collin Reynolds and Midas IV leapt into the lead from 3rd with a double clear and they are followed by less than a rail by Asa Cooper and Matchplay.
The top three places of the preliminary horse championship remains unchanged after the cross-country. Just three of 31 starters had issues on course in that division and Julie Norman and Consensus carry the lead into Saturday’s show jumping.
The novice and beginner novice divisions have just finished their dressage. The lowest score of the AECs so far goes to Emily Wendling and Magic of Spring with a 21.0 in the novice horse. Only two of the divisions at the AECs currently have leaders with scores higher than 30.
Allison Springer was out all afternoon helping with the commentary and she coached a few of the riders all the way around the course and certainly made things entertaining for those of us listening.
Last but not least, be sure to stop by the Devoucoux booth if you are out and about at the AECs. They are hosting wine and other delicacies every afternoon and you can stop by to see their fantastic saddles and other tack.
Go eventing.
