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Kim Severson set the standard for the CCI*** with Plain Dealing Farm's/ Mrs. Linda Wachtmeister's Australian bred Royal Venture. A nearly perfect test for the pair gained them a score of 39.6 for first place and a lead of 3.9 faults points over Buck Davidson who rode Hyperlite to an excellent test and a final score of 43.5.

Royal Venture finished second at last fall's Fair Hill International CCI***, behind Mrs. Annie Jones' The Foreman, ridden by Phillip Dutton. (Kim and Royal Venture are pictured at the right.)

Kim compared her Dressage test here to her test at Fair Hill International last fall. "I think Fair Hill's was a little bit better. This year he's not quite focused - he's looking around." regarding the brand new CCI*** course designed by John Williams, Kim said, "It's serious for sure! I'm impressed that they've built two entirely different courses. It's a solid three star. You do go by a lot of jumps and they are not far away. I am concerned that they (the horses) may not know wheter they are supposed to jump or not. There's plenty to do out there."

Buck spoke of his two horses who standsecond and fifth, "Hyperlite went fantastic at Foxhall - Idalgo, I have not ridden since Red Hills. he missed some time - we thought he was hurt; but, he wasn't. He's not as schooled up as Hyperlite. He's a fantastic jumper. Hopefully I can keep him straight and his mind on business."

Bruce Mandeville, who rides for Canada stands in third position with Kowhai. this pair's score is 44.1. (Bruce and Kowhai are pictured at the left.)

Forty-four competitors finished the Dressage Phase in the CCI***.

The Top Ten after the Dressage Phase Were:

1. Kim Severson, Royal Venture - 39.6
2. Buck Davidson, Hyperlite - 43.5
3. Bruce Mandeville, (CAN) Kowhai - 44.1
4. Mara Dean, Good Stuff - 46.7
5. Buck Davidson, Idalgo- 47.2
6T. Denise Rath, Just A Diplomat - 48.7
6T. Phillip Dutton (AUS), Amazing Odyssey - 48.7
8. Kim Severson, Maguire - 49.6
9. Karen O'Connor, Joker's Wild - 49.8
10. Missy Ransehousen, Critical Decision - 50.2

The Cross Country Phase of the CCI***, Short Format begins at 12:30 PM on Saturday. The competitors go at four minute intervals. The last horse goes on course at 3:22 PM.

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Adrienne Iorio-Borden leads the CCI**, with Steeplechase on Better I Do It on a score of 42.2.

Adrienne had run Better I Do It at the CCI**** at Rolex-Kentucky. "I pulled up about a third of the way around.We are fairly new to each other. We've been having some issues. Ithought this (dropping him back two levels) would be good for him."

Sally Cousins, who won the CCI** here last year with The Mistress II, stands second with Top Deck II on 45.9

Sally commented on the Cross Country Course designed by John Williams, "They've made it a bit harder this year. I haven't been out there since they started aeorovating. It's been very dry here - we didn't get the rain that Kentucky had (ten days ago.)"

Steve Bradley is third with Jane Sleeper's New Moon. Jane had emergency surgery for an intestinal blockage last week. This problem was related her broken pelvis sustained in a fall at the end of 2003. (Steve and New Moon are pictured at the right.)

"The owners called me at MCTA last weekend," Steve explained. I've jumped him one time. He's a good guy. He's really a good person. I'm going to try to stay out of his way and let him do his job."

The Top Six after Dressage Are:

1. Adrienne Iorio-Borden, Better I Do It - 42.2
2. Sally Cousins, Top Deck II - 45.0
3. Stephen Bradley, New Moon, 46.6
4. Beth Perkins, Don't Dali - 49.7
5. Nadeem Noon (PAK), Phantom - 50.3
6. Phillip Dutton (AUS), Bullet Card - 51.9

Phase "A" of the CCI**, with Steeplechase starts at 8:00 AM. The first horse goes on Steeplechase at 8:19 AM and starts Cross Country at 9:02 AM. Horses start at four minute intervals. There are 30 horses to run. The final hors starts the CCI** Cross Country at 11:08 AM. There will be an approximately one hour and fifteen minute Lunch Break, depending on holds, between the end of CCI** and the start of the CCI***.

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Your intrepid reporter test drove a Lexus on the specially built test track. What a thrill! What a beautiful car! Please don't tell my Mitsubishi that I loved the Lexus - a truly high performance luxury car. It has an all leather interior. The dash board and steering wheel, which automatically recesses to allow room to "dismount", has wood appointments. If you EVER have the opportunity, do NOT miss your chance to test drive a Lexus! It must be like riding Winsome Adante or Primmore's Pride, the latter with brakes that work. It's a Lexus!

Getting back to the serious stuff of Eventing, John Williams totally new CCI*** course is very special. Pictured below is the centerpiece of the brand new water complex - the jump up onto the island. There is a good size drop back into the water over the barrels, to a skinny lightouse just on the land outside the second part of the water.

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Thursday, May 12, 2005 - the First Day of Dressage

Nadeem Noon (PAK) leads the CCI** with Phantom (50.3) from Phillip Dutton (AUS) riding Bullet Card (51.9), and Wendy Lewis on Galway Blazer (52.6).

Buck Davidson leads the CCI*** riding Hyperlite (43.5) from Mara Dean with Good Stuff (46.7), and Denise Rath on Just A Diplomat (48.7).

Editor's Note: eventingetc was unable to cover the first day of Dressage in depth due to a late return from the Mitsubishi Badminton Horse Trials. The usual report on the second day of Dressage, with pictures, should be available Friday night. Thank you for your patience.