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Twenty-six Advanced horses completed their Dressage tests on a hot and sunny day at the Carolina Horse Park, in Raeford, North Carolina. Temperatures were variously reported to be between 93 degrees (- The Weather Channel -) and 98 degrees (- a bank sign in Southern Pines). Suffice it to say all were grateful for the slight breeze and for the few clouds that blocked the sun.

Corinne Ashton leads with her chestnut gelding Dobbin, who excells in the Dressage Phase. (Corinne and Dobbin are pictured at the right.) Their Dressage score of 24.8 is 1.5 faults better than Southern Pines' home town hero Will Faudree and his Badminton mount Antigua, who scored 26.3. (Will and Antigua are pictured at the left below.)

There were two other scores in the twenties. Mark Weissbecker, who lives in Southern Pines in the winter; but, summers in Massachusetts, made the long trip south worthwhile by scoring a 28.9 with Swayne.

Multiple Olympic Team Medalist Karen O'Connor, of The Plains, Virginia, rode Upstage to a score of 29.4. The top four were within 4.6 faults of the leaders Corinne Ashton and Dobbin.

The Top Six Advanced Scores After Dressage:

1. Corinne Ashton, Dobbin - 24.8
2. Will Faudree, Antigua - 26.3
3. Mark Weissbecker, Swayne - 28.9
4. Karen O'Connor, Upstage - 29.4
5. Tiffani Loudon-Meetze, Above N' Beyond - 31.50
6. Nathalie Bouckaert Pollard, West Farthing - 31.7

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Intermediate Championship

Thirty-three Intermediate horses completed their Dressage in the Arena next to the Advanced.

Nordic Sparrow Hawk, ridden by Carol Kozlowski, held the lead after the first Phase on a score of 32.30.

Jessica Kiener and My Boy Bobby did not give the lead pair much breathing space for Saturday's Cross Country as they scored 32.50, a mere .2 of a fault adrift of the leaders, Carol Kozlowski and Nordic Sparrow Hawk.

Lucia Strini, of Plain Dealing Farm, in Virginia, is in the third slot on 33.30 with Addis Abba. This pair is only 1 fault out of the lead. (Lucia and Addis Abba are pictured at the right.)

Things are truly tight at the top as another Southern Pines resident, and a former Olympian, Bobby Costello rode Wild Delight to a score of 33.50 and fourth place. This duo is only 1.2 faults behind.

Becky Holder travelled the farthest (from Minnesota) to score a 33.80 with Glorious Joy - good for fifth slot. Samantha Smith with Every Wish rounds out the top six in the Intermediate Championship.

The Top Six Intermediate Scores After Dressage:

1. Carol Kozliwski, Nordic Sparrow Hawk - 32.3
2. Jessice Kiener, My Boy Bobby - 32.5
3. Lucia Strini, Addis Abba - 33.3
4. Bobby Costello, Wild Delight - 33.5
5. Becky Holder, Glorious Joy - 33.8
6. Samantha Allen - Every Wish

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PRESS RELEASE

All Divisions in Action at the AEC

By Amber Heintzberger

Raeford, NC - The big guns entered the ring today as preliminary, intermediate and advanced dressage got underway at the American Eventing Championships at the Carolina Horse Park in Raeford, NC. Training level cross-country took place as the three novice championships wrapped up with stadium jumping.

Susan Moessner, of Ann Arbor, MI, earned the title of Open Novice Champion riding her fourth-generation homebred, Satin Dust. Moessner took the lead from the start and held on to it by finishing on her dressage score of 23.0. “She’s a very good dressage horse,” said Moessner. “She’s consistent and obedient and she has a lot of presence.”

Andria Allen, 46, riding Confabulate, from Longmont, CO, took second in the Open Novice Championship on a final score of 24.0, followed by Karen Mahaffey on Westmoreland (30).

In the Novice Horse division, Allison Springer, of Castleton, VA won on Pharoah’s Tale (30.50) and placed fourth on Folk Lore (32.8). Second and third places went to Robert Stevenson, of Southern Pines, NC riding Happy (31) and Icewine (31.8), respectively.

Junior novice was won by Kathryn Bell, of Mobile, AL, who had a stellar performance on her Connemara cross Snowy. Paige Juliette Garson and her Welsh cross Hillcrest’s McGyver placed second (34.5) and Aryn Coon on Cricket placed third (35.). Competition was tough right down to the last minute. Bryttany Buenger on Uptown Girl led on their dressage score into show jumping, but four rails down in the final phase dropped them to eighth place.

Preliminary through advanced competed in dressage today. In advanced, Corrinne Ashton and Dobbin are in the lead (24.5), followed by Will Faudree and Antigua (26.3). Mark Weissbecker and Swayne are chasing them with 28.9.

In the intermediate, Carol Kozlowski and Nordic Sparrow Hawk lead on 32.3, with Jessica Kiener and My Boy Bobby leaving them no breathing room on a score of 32.5. Lucia Strini scored 33.3 on Addis Abba to stand in third going into tomorrow’s cross-country.

Allison Springer and Arthur are aiming at another win, taking the early lead in the Preliminary Horse Championship (30). Michael Pollard and Voltaire are in second (31) and Mark Weissbecker on Top Gallant are in third (31.3).

Cassidy Lundmark and What’s Shakin scored 28.5 to lead open preliminary and Megan Correia Bittner on Anyway trail slightly with 29.3 as Elizabeth Ricklefs and Snap Decision hover in third (30), tied with Doug Payne on Cornerhouse.

Training level started cross-country today and the top placings in the Open Training Championships changed significantly when the top two riders were eliminated on cross-country. This opened the door for Maria Brazil on Gadget Des Blume to move up into the lead, followed by Pat Winter on Crosswind, who moved up from sixth after dressage, and Nicole Kemerling on Fiddlestix, who stayed in third place with .04 time penalties added to her score.

In junior training, Jessica Borchers and Windover lead on their dressage score of 30.3. Kelsey Briggs and Aladdin’s Treasure moved up to second from fifth place (33.1) to stand in second, followed by Hillary Irwin on Shanaki (33.7).

In training horse, Karen O'Connor (and) Mandiba are winning on their dressage score of 27.3; while Nanci Lindroth on Running Rebel and Stephen Bradley on The English Patient are tied for second (29.3); and Kristin Schmolze on Glen Emeril are in fourth (30.5).

Tomorrow the action continues with upper-level riders taking on John Williams’ cross-country course and the three divisions of training level finishing up with stadium jumping.

Amy J. Daum

Director of Communications

(703) 779-0440 ext. 3017

(703) 779-0550 fax

Don't forget the 2005 American Eventing Championships, September 14-18 at the Carolina Horse Park!