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The first rotation of Friday's Dressage began with a bang as the second competitor of the day, Kim Severson, the reigning Olympic Individual Silver Medalist, and a three time winner of the Rolex CCI**** with Winsome Adante, riding Royal Venture, was the first to break into the thirties with a lovely accurate test, so typical of Kim. (Kim and Royal venture are pictured at the right.)

If one wished to be critical, one could say that the canter work was not forward enough; however, who has the guts to criticize either Kim or the Blue Ribbon Ground Jury: Angela Tucker (GBR), Martin Plewa (GER), and Brian Ross (USA), who judged that Kim's test was the best yet by 3.7 penalties. Afterall, everything is comparative. Royal Venture's score was 39.5. Royal Venture has, at last gained his very own fifteen minutes of fame!"

One other test from the first rotation slipped temporarily into eighth place - that of Gina Miles and McKinlaigh, who scored 50.9. McKinlaigh's trot work was excellent and looking toward a top three placing; however, his canter work was not up to standard, nonetheless good enough for a top ten placing. Gina lives in Creston, California. Mckinlaigh has been placed as high as ninth here at Rolex Kentucky.

Gina and Mckinlaigh were quickly relagated to tenth place by fellow west coaster Jessica Heidemann, of Bellingham, Washington, and the fifteen year old Thoroughbred-Warmblood Cross gelding French Twist. This pair scored 50.6 for seventh place.

The standings kept changing as Leslie Law (GBR) the reigning Olympic Gold Medalist (Athens 2004) and his Olympic mount Shear L'Eau had a very good test for 48.2 and sixth place. (Leslie and Shear L'Eau are pictured at the left.) Leslie, of course, has been competing here in the United States all season long with considerable success, winning an Advanced Section at Poplar Place and finishing third at the Red Hills CIC***. He currently resides in Ocala, Florida.

Kai Ruder, who travelled all the way from Germany with Christine Strube's New Zealand bred gelding Edward 16 scored 57.6 said he came because it was ". . . just a chance to compete once in Lexington. I have a good friend who helped me with the expenses - it may be the only one (trip to the USA) in our life. We are very happy and so proud to be here in this beautiful Horse Park."

The second to last start position of Friday morning belonged to Great Britain's Polly Stockton and Tom Quigley, a 14 year old Irish bred thoroughbred gelding, belonging to Anne Henson of York, North Yorkshire. (Polly and Tom Quigley are pictured at the left.) This pair has finished 20th in the European Championships at Blenheim, in England, and 12th at the CCI**** at Luhmuhlen, in Germany.

Polly and Tom Quigley scored 48.2 for a tie for eighth place with countryman Leslie Law and Shear L'Eau.

The Leader Board after the morning session is as follows:

1. Kim Severson, Royal Venture - 39.5
2. Mara Dean, Nicki Henley - 43.2
3. Becky Holder, Courageous Comet - 43.7
4. Steve Bradley, From - 43.9
5. Donna Smith (NZL), Call Me Clifton - 45.6
6T. Polly Stockton (GBR), Tom Quigley - 48.2
6T. Leslie Law (GBR), Shear L'Eau - 48.2
8. Jessica Heideman, French Twist - 50.6
9. William Fox-Pitt (GBR), Coup de Coeur - 50.7
10. Gina Miles, McKinlaigh - 50.9

* * * * *

Darren Chiacchia and the Trakehner stallion Windfall II performed their Dressage Test in the first rotation after lunch. They blew the field away with a foot perfect test for a score of 33.0 and a 6.5 fault lead over Kim Severson and Royal Venture. (Darren and Windfall are pictured at the left.)

Windfall is owned by Tim Holekamp, of Columbia, Missouri. Windfall and Darren won the Individual Gold Medal at the Pan American Games in 2003. They won the Modified Four Star (here at Rolex) in 2004 and were members of the Bronze Medal Olympic Team at the Athens Olympic Games, in 2004. In early April of this year they won the CIC***-W at the Fork.

At the Press conference after the second day of Dressage Darren and Kim were bot asked whether they spent hours trying to figure out how to beat eachother at Dressage. Darren answered, "We are always thinking about (making) Teams. I think, if I'm on who do I want there with me? Kim is always number one!"

Kim agreed saying, "I feel the same." Regarding Royal Venture, Kim continued, "He's always been a bridesmaid to Dan. (Winsome Adante) I hope to goodness that this is his year - he really deserves it!" (Darren Chiacchia, Kim Severson, and Mara Dean are pictured at the right at the Friday Press Conference.)

Kim spoke of the Cross Country course, "I like the Head of the Lake more than I have in past years. All the really hard stuff comes before seven minutes."

Darren added, "The course is beautifully built and presented; but, there's a lot to do. " When asked if today's Dressage test had been Windfall's best, Darren answered, "Yes, as a package. He may have done better trot work or better canter work; but getting the whole thing together, Yes it was his best test."

Mara noted that her horse, Nicki Henley was ". . . very green at this level", but that she was ong to go out there and give it her best.

The Final Standings After Dressage Were:

1. Darren Chiacchia, Windfall II - 33.0
2. Kim Severson, Royal Venture - 39.5
3. Mara Dean, Nicki Henley - 43.2
4. Becky Holder, Courageous Comet - 43.7
5. Steve Bradley, From - 43.9
6. Donna Smith (NZL), Call Me Clifton - 45.6
7T. Polly Stockton (GBR), Tom Quigley - 48.2
7T. Leslie Law (GBR), Shear L'Eau - 48.2
9. Kelli Temple, Paris - 48.7
10. Heidi White, Northern Spy - 49.4
11. Jessica Heideman, French Twist - 50.6
12. William Fox-Pitt (GBR), Coup de Coeur - 50.7

An attendance record was set on Friday of 18,046.