Saturday, April 24, Cross Country Day

The CCI****

As Ted and I were driving to the Cross Country, at shortly after 7 AM, there was a large orange ball in the sky. It has been so long since we have seen the sun that it took us a moment or two to realize what it was! Once again the CCI**** riders have lucked out. 44 were scheduled to start to do their Cross Country on a lovely sunny morning with temperatures in the middle sixties. Yesterday it stopped raining for their after noon Dressage. What do you suppose is in store for them for the Show Jumping Phase?

It was a great competition over Michael Ethrington-Smith's course, which did it's usual good job of separating the sheep from the goats, or would it be more politically correct to say, "the apples from the oranges?"

Abigail Lufkin, who stood in fourth position, after Dressage, with Kildonan Tug (45.8) was the eighth competitor to start, and the first to prove that the course was conquerable, when she turned in the a double clear, with only a few dicey moments. Ab and Kildonan Tug will head to Show Jumping in third place. (Ab and Kildonan Tug are pictured at the left jumping onto the island at the Head of the Lake.)

Ab spoke about her return to the sport after two years off for Graduate School. "Some days are better than others. It has come back to me more quickly than I would have thought. I did it for so long before and on so many horses." Regarding Kildonan Tug, Ab said, "He's pretty special!"

20 more horses attempted the course before there was another double clear.

Kim Severson, the overnight leader, left the Start Box, having incurred no faults on Steeplechase, or on phases "A" and "C". A blind person could have followed Kim and Dan's progress around the course by listening to the enthusiastic cheers from the hoards of eventing fans clustered at every fence. For those of us fortunate enough to be sighted, following Kim 'round the course on one of the big screen TV's was a copy book lesson in riding a four star course. Kim said that she would be, "aggressive and careful," and so she was. By the time the pair reached the Lexington Bank, they had so much time in hand that they were well able to take the longer and easier route. Kim said, "It (the going) was a bit heavier than I thought; but, he did go well. When I got in the (10 minute) box, Mark (Captain Phillips ) changed the plan for us to go the long way at the double corners. He asked me to do that to assure the qualification. Of course, I paniced a bit and ended up under the time. In spite of taking this planned "scenic route", Kim and Winsome Adante finished well within the time for a double clear, which kept her in first place, on her Dressage score of 37.0. (Kim and Winsome Adante are pictured at the right above jumping into the water at the Head of The Lake.)

"I was very happy to get it done with," Kim continied. "I was happy it was in the morning. I can't really think about tomorrow until tomorrow. If I start thinking about it tonight, I won't sleep."

Sarah Cutteridge was the first of the Brits to go double clear. She rode the 13 year old Thoroughbred gelding Future Perfect, owned by Anne and Lawrence Marshall, for a final score of 61.8, and 11th place. Future Perfect had placed 5th at the Bramham CCI***, in 2002.

Polly Jackson and Limestone Rise, her own 14 year old Thoroughbred gelding, followed Sarah Cutterage's example and also had a double clear for a two day score of 53., for 8th place - the second Brit to finish on her Dressage score.

William Fox-Pitt, third here last year, had already had 4 time faults with his first horse, Coastal Ties for 48.4 when he set out on his second ride, Ballincoola, owned by Judy Skinner and Michael Payne of Newton, Dorset, England. William swept round the course to turn in the third double clear for the visitors from the UK and the fifth of six double clear over all. Ballincoola finished on the same score as his stablemate, 47.4, for a tie for 4th place. (William and Ballincoola are pictured at the left above leaving the first water in a veil of spray.)

The last to start in the CCI**** was Australia's Phillip Dutton, who had fallen at the Sunken Road with his first ride, Connaught. Phillip stood 2nd after Dressage with Shannon Stimson's Nova Top and needed a great ride to hold his place, as his new student, Abigail Lufkin, was only 2.8 faults behind her mentor after Dressage. Ab had set the standard and really put the heat on Phillip by already having toted up a double clear.

The maestro was unfazed. On and on Nova Top galloped eating up the time and the obstacles with his fluid stride. Sure enough Phillip rode a double clear with Nova Top to hold on to second place on a score of 43.0. (Phillip and Nova Top are pictured at the right above jumping off the Island at the Head of the Lake.)

Phillip spoke about the going, "With the amount of horses that went around, it got dead. They just didn't have any lift off the ground, though it was not dangerous by any means."

Some were not so fortunate. Both Polly Stockton (GBR), riding Word For Word, and Ralph Hill, of Ocala, FL, on Reprint, has crashing falls at the second of the corners on the Lexington bank. Both needed medical attention. Neither was seriously injured.

Of the six double clears, three were ridden by Brits, one by an Australian, an two by Americans.

The top 10 after Cross Country are:

1. Kim Severson, Winsome Adante - 37.0
2. Phillip Dutton, Nova Top - 43.0
3. Abigai Lufkin, Kildonan Tug - 45.8
4T. William Fox-Pitt (GBR), Ballincoola,- 47.4
4T. William Fox-Pitt (GBR), Coastal Ties - 47.4 (4.0 time faults)
6. David O'Connor, Courting Danger - 48.4 (1.2 time faults)
7. Bruce Davidson, Little Tricky - 50.8 (2.8 time faults)
8. Polly Jackson (GBR), Limestone Rise - 53.4
9. Julie Richards, Jacob Two Two - 56.6 (8.4 time faults)
10. Anna Collier, Leopold - 61.2 (4.0 time faults)

* * * * * * * *

The Bayer Modified

Nathalie Bouckaert continues to lead the Modified. She and West Farthing picked up 1.2 time faults on Cross Country for a final score of 38.6. When asked about the Show Jumping Phase on Sunday, Nathalie answered, "Tomorrow is all about me and my nerves. He's jumped a few clean rounds (this spring). Like Kim, I don't want to think about it 'til tomorrow."

Darren Chiacchia and Windfall also picked up 1.2 time faults for a final score of 41.2 and remained in second place.

Amy Tryon and My Beau moved from 4th to third with 3.2 time faults.

The top 10 after Cross Country are:

1. Nathalie Bouckaert, West Farthing - 38.6 (1.2 time faults) (Nathalie and West Farting are pictured at the left jumping the Corner at the Wishing Well. The Wishing Well is the only fence still left on the course from the World Championships in 1978.)
2. Darren Chiacchia, Windfall II - 41.2 (1.2 time faults)
3. Amy Tryon, My Beau - 45.2 (3.2 time faults)
4. Stephen Bradley, From - 46.0 (0 time faults)
5. John Williams, Carrick - 46.2 (0 time faults)
6. Will Faudree, Antigua - 48.6 (0 time faults)
7. Phillip Dutton, Hannigan - 49.6 (2.0 time faults)
8. Jan Thompson, Task Force - 54.8 (0 time faults)
9. Heidi White, Northern Spy - 54.8 (13.6 time faults)
10. Gina Miles, McKinlaigh - 56.4 (9.2 time faults)

36 horses started Cross Country.