Twin Rivers — Dressage Recap

EN would like to thank CAEventMom for her coverage at Twin Rivers HT in California. Reader-submitted content is always appreciated and encouraged! Best of luck to all competitors this weekend. Thanks CAEventMom for writing,and thanks for reading!

AEC Advanced champs Barb Crabo and Eveready are in the lead at Twin Rivers after dressage

Showing why they won the AEC’s, Barb Crabo and Eveready put in a very consistent test to take the lead – with an impressive score of 25 – in the Advanced division at Twin Rivers today.  This is a terrific launching point for her Rolex preparation.  A mere 2.5 points behind we have a three way tie between Jolie Wentworth on Killian O’Connor; Hawley Bennett-Awad on 5 O’Clock Somewhere; and McKenna Shea on Landioso.  The judging appeared to appreciate the expressiveness of Jolie’s horse, the consistency of Hawley’s, and I’d say McKenna had a fair amount of both for her test.  James Alliston and Jumbo Jake are just 0.3 points behind, so the top 5 are very tight.

 

Barb took a minute on her way out to walk the cross country course to tell me that she was obviously happy with his test “He was a little tense and felt tight going in but he stayed rideable and I was very pleased with that.”

 

I caught Jolie on her way back in from walking her XC course.  “Connor was good for his second test back.  I worked with Mark earlier in the week during the training sessions and I was going for it today.  We just had a couple baubles but some really good moments as well.”  When asked about the XC, she said “I think Derek has done a really good job, the course may be a little on the forgiving side, but for the first advanced of the year, I think that is appropriate.”

 

Finally, I had a moment to catch up with Hawley who was thrilled with “Chunky’s” first go at advanced.  She described him as a worker bee.  Looking at tomorrow’s cross country Hawley said “There are a lot of good questions – early on the course there is a drop down from a house to a chevron on an angled line and then later the water drop to the corner, both should be influential combinations.”

 

The Intermediate division is led by Teresa Harcourt on Bonza Twist of Fate with a commanding 26.8, putting her 6 points ahead of the 2^nd place team of Florence Miller and Tuscan Sun.

 

One final note for the stalkers at EN – and you know who you are – the low dressage score of the day went to Full Metal Jousting heart-throb Joe McKinley on Mr. Brightside with a 20.9.

 

Advanced Cross Country starts at 1:10 Saturday afternoon, with Intermediate starting at 11:40am. Go Eventing!

CAEventMom

Jolie Wentworth and Killian O’Connor (photo by Sherry Stewart)

Hawley Bennet-Awad and Five O’Clock Somewhere (photo by Sherry Stewart)

James Alliston and Jumbo’s Jake (photo by Sherry Stewart)

James Atkinson and Gustav (photo by Sherry Stewart)