base_template

Eighteen horses competed in the Dressage Phase of Advanced Division I on Thursday afternoon. Severe thunderstorms had been perdicted and there was, indeed, a cold front that passed through before noon; however, Morven received little or no moisture and the ground for Cross Country remains hard and dry.

In the case of Advanced Division I, "the first shall be first." Australia's Phillip Dutton, fresh from a second place finish at the Landrover Burghley CCI****, with Mrs. Annie Jones' The Foreman, rode first in the section, scored a 28.3, with Mrs. Nina Gardner's House Doctor, and was never headed, reminding one of the old race track admonition of trainer to jockey, "Go to the front and improve your position!" (Phillip and House Doctor are pictured at the right above.)

Hot on Phillip's heels both literally and figuratively was Southern Pines' Will Faudree, fresh from his own victory in the Advanced Championship at the American Eventing Championships, two weeks ago with his own Antigua. This time Will, who rode second in the Section,was on the Don't Dali Syndicate's Don't Dali, a relatively new ride for him. Will and Don't Dali scored 29.1 for second place, a mere .8 of a fault behind the Antipodean leader.
(Will and Don't Dali are pictured at the left.)

Phillip also finished fifth in this Section with R. Bruce Duchossois's Connaught, while Will also finished fourth in this Section riding Nanki Doubleday's Wild Frontier.

Sandwiched into third place between two of Phillip' and two of Will's was Adrienne Iorio- Borden riding Theodore Iorio's Better I Do It. This pair scored 29.6, for a lovely accurate ride, becoming the third and final competitor to score in the twenties. (Adrienne and Better_I Do It are pictured at the right below.)

The Top 10 after Dressage in Advanced Section I:

1. Phillip Dutton (AUS), House Doctor - 28.3
2. Will Faudree, Don't Dali - 29.1
3. Adrienne Iorio-Borden, Better I Do It - 29.6
4. Will Faudree, Wild Frontier - 30.0
5. Phillip Dutton (AUS), Connaught - 31.3
6. Mogie Beardon-Muller, Select - 31.7
7. Leslie Chelstrom, Sara - 33.6
8. Craig Thompson, Merciful Judge - 34.8
9T. Mara Dean, Nicki Henley - 35.2
9T. Bobby Costello, Wild Delight - 35.2

6.9 faults separate the two competitors tied for ninth from the Dressage Leader.

* * *

CCI* - Division I

Thirty- seven competitors rode their Dressage tests in the CIC*, Division I, on Thursday.

Allison Springer, who rode on Thursday morning in the first rotation, scored a 45.7 to take first place after Dressage Phase and to uphold the honor of the host nation, as second and third place were later claimed by British and Canadian nationals. Allison was the only competitor to score in the forties.

Great Britain's Ferial Johnson and Irishman Delosque, also rode in the first rotation and gained a 50.0 for second place overall.

Canada's Sonya Crampton and Gorgeous George stand third on a score of 53.9.

The Top 10 after Dressage in the CCI* - Division I were:

1. Allison Springer, Arthur - 45.7
2. Ferial Johnson (GBR), Irishman Delosque - 50.0
3. Sonya Crampton (CAN), Gorgeous George - 53.9
4. Ann Geoghegan, Black Ice - 56.1
5T. M. Brittany Bruder, Twain - 56.4
5T. Megan Correia-Bittner, Anyway - 56.4
7. Jan Byyny Thompson, Lenamore Dreamer - 57.5
8. Jane Murray, Jack Sparrow - 57.7
9. Jane M. Jennings, Ringmoylan - 58.9
10. Gayle Davis, Pick n Mix - 59.0