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Bonnie Mosser, of Coatesville, PA, the overnight leader with her 2003 Foxhall Cup winner Jenga, retained her lead inspite of picking up 1.8 time faults over Captain Mark Phillips' 5600 metre Cross Country course. Bonnie commented, "I had one sticky moment out there. At (fence) 12a, he lost his feet. I said, I've got to get out over "b", and he did! There was a lot to do out there - a lot of technical stuff - a lot of corners." (Bonnie and Jenga are pictured at the right jumping into the second water.)

25 year old Leigh Mesher, riding in her first CCI***, on her veteran My Beau, formerly the international ride of her friend and mentor Amy Tryon retained her second position and, in fact, gained 1.8 faults on the leaders, Bonnie Mosser and Jenga, to stand just .7 of a fault behind them heading to Sunday's Show Jumping.

Leigh was thrilled! "It was awesome! - my first three star! I had only ridden him twice Cross Country - Intermediate at Ram Tap and Advanced at Twin Rivers. Then I fell off and hurt my back (and missed a run.) He's a lot of horse for me - he's 16 and he's not going to another Olympics.

Leigh and Beau missed their line after landing from the drop into the last water. "I said we're not jumping the bank Beau - it's the corner. He saw it and he got it! Once you see his ears between the flags, he knows what to do. (Leigh and My Beau are pictured at the left jumping the first corner in the last water referred to above.)

Denise Rath, who had been third after Dressage with Just a Diplomat, had problems on the Cross Country which enabled Jan Thompson, of Purcelleville, VA, to move up from fourth to third with Waterfront, who ran a double clear.
for a two day score of 55.2.

Jan said, "My horse was excellent. I think Mark (Phillips) did a great job. The decorations - the improvements to the course - Mark asked all the right questions. I was pretty nervous this morning - he's a super, super jumper. I got Waterfront in 2002. He was eligible, so he ran in the One Star at Morven that fall. Then he did four Intermediates and was second at Jersey Fresh and then four Advanced before he got hurt. Then he had a year and three months off. This year he did the Intermediate at Pine Top and then Red Hills and Morven - he's really cheeky about stuff - he thinks he's very special! (Jan and Waterfront are pictured at the right jumping the bounce out of the second water.)

The Top Ten Placings After Cross Country:

1. Bonnie Mosser, Jenga - 51.8
2. Leigh Mesher, My Beau - 52.3
3. Jan Thompson, Waterfront - 55.2
4T. Steve Bradley, Brandenburg's Joshua - 55.6
4T. Darren Chiacchia, San Salvador - 56.6
6T. Phillip Dutton (AUS), Handyman Hughie - 59.2
6T. John Williams, Sloopy - 59.2
8. Mark Weissbecker, Swayne - 59.8
9. Buck Davidson, Hyperlight - 60.0
10. Mike Winter (CAN), Kingpin

(Not every tale has a happy ending - Jill Walton and Truly Triton
go for an involuntary swim - neither was hurt.)

* * * * *

Virginia Jenkins and Always a Lady (52.20) lead the CCI** from Kelli Temple riding Paris (53.0); Phillip Dutton (AUS) with Handyman Hughie (55.00); and Amy Tryon on Smoke Signal (56.60). (Virginia and Always A Lady are pictured at the right - TedCushny Photo.)

Others in the Top Ten Are:

5. Kristen Bond, Diablo Centimo, 58.0
6. Ashley Adams, Vaunted - 58.4
7. Peter Green, Magical - 59.8
8. Wendy Lewis, Galway Blazer - 60.6
9. Penny Rowland (CAN), Romancing - 62.2
10. Kim Severson, Pandora - 62.4

(All of the top Ten ran double clear Cross Countries except Smoke Signal, who added2.40 time faults and Romancing, who added 2.0 time faults.

The Show Jumping begins on Sunday at 11:00 AM with the CCI** followed by the CCI***.

Your intrepid reporter will be traveling from Foxhall to Lexington, KY, on Sunday evening and Monday morning. The final report will be posted late Monday.