Sunday, March 9 - Cross Country Day

Eventing is a sport that always seems to pull up competitors sharply! Just when one thinks one has Eventing knocked, the Eventing Gods reach right down, grab one by the scruff of the neck, and boom out, "NO YOU DON"T!!!"

Phillip Dutton had such an experience on Sunday. He had just finished running three double clears with House Doctor, Connaught and Amazing Odyssey, and one round with .8 of a time fault with Hannigan, in the CIC-W*** section, and was galloping along happily on Lucky Stripe, in the CIC*** Section, when the Eventing Gods acted.

Down went Phillip in the water despite a super human effort to stay on. (Phillip and Lucky Stripe are pictured at the right. Further pictures of Phillip's incredible efforts to stay in the tack will appear in these pages when time allows.)

Beware! Just when you think things are going better than they EVER have - BLAM! you're on you ass! It's the Eventing Gods!

CIC-W*** Results:

1. Darren Chiacchia, Windfall II - 33.8 (FODS)
2. Kim Severson, Winsome Adante - 34.7 (FODS)
3. Phillip Dutton (AUS), House Doctor - 39.1 (FODS)
4. Gina Miles, McKinlaigh - 48.6 (2 time faults XC)
5. Will Faudree, Antigua - 48.7 (FODS)
6. Kristin Bachman, Gryffindor - 49.6 (FODS)
7. Amy Tryon, Poggio II - 50.0 (7.2 time faults XC)
8. Heidi White, Northern Spy - 52.7 (4 time faults XC)
9. Becky Holder, Courageous Comet - 53.1 (2.8 time faults XC)
10. Jonathan Holling, Lion King II - 56.2 (4.4 time faults XC)
11. Jan Byyny, Task Force - 56.3 (3.2 time Faults XC)
12. Mara Dean, Nicki Henley - 56.4 (9.6 time Faults XC)
13. Karen O'Connor, Upstage - 57.0 (5.2 time Faults XC)
14. Phillip Dutton (AUS), Hannigan - 59.9 (.8 of a time fault XC)
15. Phillip Dutton (AUS), Connaught - 60.0 (FODS)

20. Phillip Dutton (AUS), Amazing Odyssey - 74.1 (FODS)

(Seven horses ran double clears Cross Country and Finished on their Dressage Scores - Phillip Dutton rode three of them!)

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The first of the overnight leaders to run Cross Country was Darren Chiacchia with Timothy Holekamp's Windfall II. This pair galloped as well as I and others have ever seen them and crossed the finish line right on the Optimum time. Thebar had been set extremely high! In fact Darren and Windfall could not be caught. Those who came afterwards could only hope to hold their places. (Darren and Windfall are pictured at the right jumping the skinny out the BB&T Opportunity Pond - the second water.)

Darren commented, "That final go before Rolex you've really got to . . ." have a great run.

Kim Severson and her reigning Rolex Kentucky Champion, Plain Dealing Farm and Linda Wachtmeister's Winsome Adante, followed immediately after Darren and Windfall. They finished one second under the time, to hold on to their overnight second place.
Kim had had an uncharacteristicly difficult day prior to her run with Dan. She noted afterwards, "My (earlier) ride on Royal Venture (who had hada stop in the water) woke me up to some of the issues on course. Dan was great! Dan's so consistent all the time. You can really count on him." (Kim and Winsome Adante are pictured at the left jumping the turtle in the first water - The Turtle Pond.)

Phillip Dutton and Mrs. Nina Gardner's House Doctor, back after several years lay off, ran just like his old self and held his third position on a double clear. When asked what the future held for House Doctor, Phillip answered, "We'll see how he trots up tomorrow. He's Nina's second child - she bred him. The thing that is really on his side is he's not really an old horse. He's still got the zest for the sport and still likes to do it." Phillip continued, "One third of the course was let up. You didn't have to take back. . ." to set a horse up. (Phillip and House Doctor are pictured at the right jumping the 6'6" drop into the BB&T Opportunity Pond - the second water.)

Editor's Note: Apologies for the lateness of this Report. Ted and I were stuck in a motel without high speed internet, in Salem, Virginia, Sunday night. Thanks for your patience! Cora C. Cushny

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The CIC*** for the US Eventing Association Adequan Gold Cup was won by Stuart Black and Fleeceworks Starlight. (Stuart and Fleeceworks Starlight are pictured at the left below jumping the first turtle at the Turtle Pond - the first water.)

1. Stuart Black, Fleecework's Starlight - 37.8 (FODS)
2. Heather Gillette, Pickle Road - 58.5 (6 time faults XC)
3. Donna Smith, Call Me Clifton - 61.5 (13 time faults XC)
(46 competitors)

Advanced Results:

1. Mike Winter, Kingpin - 37.8 (FODS)
2. Heather Gillette, Pickle Road - 58.5 (6 time faults XC)
3. Donna Smith, Call Me Cliften - 61.5 (13.6 time faults XC)
(21 competitors)

Open Intermediate for USEA Adequan Gold Cup Results:

1. Kate Luce, Tia Lusso - 33.8 (DCXC) )Kate and Tia Lusso are pictured at teh right junping the skinny out of the BB&T Opportunity Pond - tha last water.)
2. Becky Holder, Glorious Joy - 34.5 (FODS)(Becky and Glorious Joy are pictured at the right bottom jumping into the Sunken Road.)
3. Colleen Loach, Duke of Somerset - 34.8 (FODS)
4. Karen O'Connor, Lottery Ticket - 35.5 (1.6 time faults XC)
5. Boyd Martin, Ying Yang Yo - 35.7 (1.6 time XC)
6. Sara Dierks, Somerset - 35.7 (4 time faults XC)
(78 competitors)

Open Preliminary Section "A" Results:

1. Donna Smith, Bleak House - 24.1 (FODS) (Donna and Bleak House are pictured at the left below at the BB&T Opportunity Pond - the second water.)
2. Megan Correia-Bittner, Anyway - 28.2 (FODS)
3. Donna Smith, Cicera's Ice Water - 29.4 (7.2 time faults XC)
(23 competitors)

Open Preliminary, Section "B" Results:

1. John Williams, Sweepea Dean - 33.3 (FODS)
2. Michele Mueller, Amistead - 37.0 (FODS)
3. Liz Millikin, Wyona - 38.8 (3.2 time faults XC)
(21 competitors)

Open Preliminary, Section "C" Results:

1. Stuart Black, Mystere du Val - 31.9 (1.2 time faults XC)
2. Donna Smith, Rocket - 33.9 (3.2 time faults XC)
3. Krisytin Schmolze, Delganet Flight (41,9 (FODS)
(21 competitors)

JY/OP Results:

1. Kate Luce, Becon Hill, 29.9 (3.2 time faults XC)
2. Lauren Kieffer, Woodrow - 30.4 (FODS)
3. Robert D. Meyerhoff, Perryfields Samuel - 30.7 (FODS)
(20 competitors)

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jamie Saults, 732-580-0918

Olympians Dominate World Cup Qualifier at The Fork Farm Horse Trials With Darren Chiacchia Leading the Way

Norwood, North Carolina—April 9, 2006 – Olympic riders finished one, two, three in the CIC-W*** FEI World Cup Qualifier of the Fork Farm Horse Trials held as part of BB&T Outdoor Heritage Days Presented by Southeastern Materials, Inc.

Athens Olympic Team Bronze Medalist Darren Chiacchia, of Springville, NY, took the lead on the first day of competition and went without fault for the remainder of the event to win with his Dressage score of 33.80 penalty points. Chiacchia’s 2004 Olympic teammate, and that year’s Individual Silver Medalist, Kim Severson, also went clean in cross country and show jumping to finish with her Dressage score of 34.70 penalties. Two-time Olympic team Gold Medalist Phillip Dutton, of Australia, moved up from fifth in Dressage to third due to his clean performance in the last two phases and finished with his Dressage score of 39.10 penalties.

Chiacchia had a run of bad luck in previous competitions this year, but the streak was broken at the Fork. “This was my first chance to have an earnest go this year and he was super,” said Chiacchia of Windfall II, his 2004 Athens Olympic mount. “The course was challenging but asked all of the right questions, giving us a good warm-up for Rolex.”

Severson felt the same about her run on Winsome Adante or “Dan” as he is known around the barn. “Dan was great,” said Severson. “He was much better for me today. I agree with Darren, it seems the tougher the course, the better the horses are.”

The consensus of the riders at the World Cup Qualifier was that the event was a huge success with the potential to be even better. That is just fine with Jim Cogdell, owner of Fork Farm.

“This event went beyond my expectations,” said Cogdell. “I hope this event will continue until eventually every Olympic rider comes to Stanly County before the Olympics.”

The BB&T Outdoor Heritage Days Presented by Southeastern Materials, Inc. featured a weekend of family attractions, including equestrian competitions, outdoor sporting demonstrations with retriever demos, falconry, archery, vintage guns, and educational displays, as well as vendors, concessions, and children's entertainment. Outdoor Heritage Days highlights the increasing popularity of equestrian sport in North Carolina and the trend in many states toward multi-purpose outdoor destinations that draw recreational enthusiasts and serve as a powerful engine for local economic development.