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First to jump very early in the order was Kim Severson with Plain Dealing Farms Maguire, who jumped a double clear to finish on a score of 57.0. Because Kim had three horses in the top seven, Upper Register jumped early in the order as well. This talented mare pulled one rail for a final score of 58.8

Tiffani Loudon, of Blythewood, SC, winner of the inaugural competition at Foxhall, in 2000, stood 5th and jumped a 4 fault round with Above n' Beyond, a nine year old thoroughbred gelding. Her final score of 55.8 would prove to be good enough for third place. Buck Davidson, newly of Ringoes, NJ, and Idalgo
pulled three rails for 12 faults and dropped to 8th place, while SS Jett, ridden by Michael Pollard, had 8 faults, for a final score of 58.0, to drop to 5th place behind Kim and Maguire.

Tiffani said of Above n' Beyond, " He came from Canada, just off the race track at age four. The plan was that he was to be a "buy/sell project". As I started to train him, he started to blossom. I didn't expect him to be this good a horse."

Kim Severson and He's Got Rhythm had a rail at the first fence on Course Designer Richard Lamb's course, and proceeded to jump the rest of the way 'round clear with no time faults. This gave the overnight leader, David O'Connor, a little breathing room as he had not had a rail in hand being only 3.8 faults ahead of his World Equestrian Games Gold Medal Teammate Kim after Cross Country.

Outlawed jumped very well for David and it began to look as though the "breathing room" would not be necessary. Then at the last fence a Liverpool Oxer a rail went splashing into the water. David and Outlawed were still the champions! - by that same 3.8 faults.

Kim and Linda Wachtmeister's Plain Dealing Farm had an outstanding day! Upper Register placed 6th; Maguire finished 4th; and He's Got Rhythm placed 2nd - quite an accomplishment!

David stated that he was leaving immediately to drive to Lexington, Kentucky, where he would be meeting up with Karen and Will Coleman, who had been driving down from The Plains, VA. The three of them will be competing at the Rolex-Kentucky CCI****, which begins on Wednesday. David plans to ride Tigger Too in the Modified and Courting Danger in the CCI****.

David praised Outlawed. He said, " He's a horse you can help now. He's a horse that really tries his heart out." When pressed hard by reporters at the Press Conference, David admitted that he thought Outla

Sunday, April 18, Final Veterinary Examination and
Show Jumping

Final Veterinary Examination

Three horses were sent to holding at the Final Veterinary Examination on Sunday morning:

Squire's Cap, Hilda Hick Donahue
Ocotillo, Cathy Wieschhoff
Roundaboutl Penny Rowland (CAN)

Squire's Cap and Ocotillo were accepted upon reinspection. Sadly, Roundabout, who had stood 11th after Cross Country, was not accepted.

Show Jumping

The top 20 final results were as follows:

1. David O'Connor, Outlawed - 49.8 (4 faults SJ)
2. Kim Severson, He's Got Rhythm - 53.6 (4 faults SJ)
3. Tiffani Loudon, Above N Beyond - 55.8 (4 faults SJ)
4. Kim Severson, Maguire - 57.0 (0 faults SJ)
5. Michael Pollard, SS Jett - 58.0 (8 faults SJ)
6. Kim Severson, Upper Register - 58.8 (4 faults SJ)
7. Corinne Ashton, Dobbin - 62.0 (4 faults SJ)
8. Buck Davidson, Idalgo - 62.6 (12 faults SJ)
9. Sara Davis, Mackinac - 66.6 (8 faults SJ)
10. Suzy Pettman (CAN), Sambucca - 67.2 (8 faults SJ)
11. Buck Davidson, Private Treaty - 67.4 (0 failts SJ)
12. Imtiaz Anees (IND), Freetown - 67.6 (4 faults SJ)
13. Skyler Icke, Dillinger - 70.4 (4 faults SJ)
14. Emma Winter, Mahogany Chief - 71.6 (4 faults SJ)
15. Darren Chiacchia, San Salvador - 74.2 (12 faults SJ)
16. Cathy Wieschhoff, Ocotillo - 79.4 (12 faults SJ)
17. Karl Slezak (CAN), Private Ryan - 80.4 (8 faults SJ)
18. Amy Barrington, Platinum - 84.8 (0 jumping, 5 time faults SJ)
19. Wendy Lewis, Rampant Lion - 85.2 (0 faults SJ)
20. Mark Weissbecker, Swayne - 90.0 (12 faults SJ)

As your intrepid reporter will be travelling from Douglasville, GA to Lexingtonl KY, Sunday evening and Monday morning, the full story with more pictures will be not be available until late Monday afternoon.

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Saturday, April 17, Cross Country Day

David O'Connor, the overnight leader, held on to his lead with Jennifer Taxay's Outlawed, as the pair added 4 time faults for 10 seconds over the time allowed on the Cross Country, and a final score of 45.8.

David spoke of his feelings about his run, "I had never ridden him in a Three Day before. I thought he was very mature. The thins (accuracy questions) were presented in a way that horses could see them. Kim (Severson) and I were talking about it and we agreed that the horses started to look for them. You'll walk away with a horse that's more educated. My horse was tired at the top of the hill. You have to really get them home from there." (David and Outlawed are pictured at the right jumping into the water for the final time.)

"On this course you felt like you were always chasing the clock. My watch stopped at 5 minutes, 21 seconds. (the Time Allowed was 9 minutes 30 seconds.) I did reset it at one of my minute markers; but, I didn't really know where I was on the clock.

"Horses were hotter at the end than they've been (this season). Horses temperatures were up there."

Kim Severson placed all three of her horses in the top seven - quite an achievement by any standard! He's Got Rhythm is second on 49.6 with 5.2 time faults Cross Country. Upper Register stands 6th on a double clear and a score of 54.8. Maguire is in 7th place with 3.2 time faults for 57.0. (Kim and He's Got Rhythm are pictured at the left jumping into the water for the first time.)

"I think they were all really exceptional. She (Upper Register - one of six double clears Cross Country, on the day) was pretty smooth - she jumped everything out of stride, I think that's why she made the time . . . "', when the other two did not.

Michael Pollard spoke about SS Jett, who stands third on a double clear and a score of 50.0. "I am really proud! He's really special! He came from New Zealand. We bought him from Mark Todd. This is his first three star., He did New Jersey (the Jersey Fresh CCI**) last year. I was in good shape (timewise) by the Sunken Road. I knew if I could jump all the fences I'd be all right. After he jumped the double brushes (three from home) he took off again!"(Michael and SS Jett are pictured at the right jumping the skinny in the water.)

Course Designer Captain Mark Phillips spoke about his course, "By and large it rode a little better than I thought (it would). The options (which were very little used) are only really there for when you've made a mistake. I was actually pleased with the course. There were three (in reality six) within the time, so time had an effect."

Of those highly placed after Dressage, Denise Rath and Just A Diplomat (4th) had 60 jumping faults and 19.2 time faults to finish 34th: Southbound, ridden by Darren Chiacchia (8th) fell at a skinny in the water and was eliminated; San Salvador, Darren's other ride (5th) picked up 13.2 time faults for 62.2 and 12th place; and Mark Weisbecker and Swayne (6th) had a glance off at a skinny in the water and 8.4 time faults for 78.0 and 22nd place.

The final Veterinary Examination will be at 9:00 AM Sunday followed by Show Jumping at 11:00 AM.