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Phillip Dutton posted the first points on the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series leaderboard with wins in both Gold Cup divisions at the Series’ first 2006 event, the Red Hills Horse Trials in Tallahassee, Florida, March 10-12.

Dutton, who was named last year’s Gold Cup Advanced champion, won the Red Hills CIC***-W, which served as the Advanced Gold Cup division (as well as a FEI World Cup Qualifier), with Annie Jones’ ten-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, The Foreman. The pair moved up from seventh to first place after a stellar cross-country performance, putting in the fastest clear round of the day with just 2.8 time penalties. The Mark Phillips’ designed cross-country course, which wound its way through the hilly terrain of the Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park, tested the talents of a field of 44. No one made the time, and there were stops, run-outs, eliminations, and retirements throughout the day. Just 25 started Sunday’s show jumping. Noticeably absent were one of the crowd’s favorites, West Coasters Gina Miles and McKinlaigh, who lost their fourth place position after McKinlaigh failed the final horse inspection Sunday morning.

Dutton and The Foreman had two rails and change in hand going into show jumping after Leslie Law and his 2004 Olympic gold medal partner, Shear L’Eau, knocked two rails, dropping them into third place behind Jonathan Holling and longtime mount, Lion King II. Dutton and The Foreman also dropped two rails, giving them a final score of 62, less than a rail behind Holling and Lion King on 65.1.

For their efforts, Dutton received a one-year lease of a BMW SUV, courtesy of Capital Eurocars, and he, The Foreman, and Annie Jones will have the pleasure of divvying up $15,000 in prize money for the CIC***-W, in addition to $500 for the Gold Cup win, as well as a 28-day supply (seven doses) of Adequan from the Gold Cup title sponsor, a pair of front and hind Nunn Finer American Style galloping boots, and a Mountain Horse Fame jacket embroidered with the Gold Cup logo from Patron Sponsor, Mountain Horse.

Dutton and Lucky Stripe, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, and his owner Rebecca Broussard, earned the same list of Gold Cup prize money and prizes, plus additional prize money and bounty from the event, after holding their lead in the CIC**, which served as the Gold Cup Intermediate division. The pair put in a double clear show jumping round to win on a final score of 51.6, ahead of Leslie Law and Another Garrison, who finished second with 59.2, and the competition’s original leaders after dressage, Mara Dean and Jos Ambition who took third with 59.6. Interestingly the division’s top eight finishers all put in double clear show jumping rounds.

Over 40,000 spectators attended the Red Hills Horse Trials, which has become a destination event for both competitors and Tallahassee residents. Organizers Sallie Ausley and Sylvia Ochs ran the first Red Hills event nine years ago, and over the years have developed a dedicated volunteer force (623 strong on the 2006 roster) while at the same time gaining the support of the local communities. The pair announced several months ago that this year’s event would be their swan song. Thankfully several volunteers have agreed to continue organizing the event, and though there is no doubt they will continue Sallie and Sylvia’s vision, everyone agreed that it will not be the same without the dynamic duo.

This year’s Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series Leaderboard is slightly different from last year, with the points now following horse-and-rider combinations instead of riders only. It will be interesting to see how this change affects the year’s final standings.

Considering Dutton’s talent, and impressive (in both quality and quantity) string of horses, it’s a safe bet to assume we’ll see him near or at the top of one or both leaderboards at the end of the year. The 2006 champions will receive their winnings at the USEA’s Annual Meeting and Convention, December 7-10 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Advanced winner will receive, in addition to their Gold Cup trophy, $6,000 in prize money as well as an Amerigo saddle. The second place Advanced finisher will receive a $3,500 Bit of Britain gift certificate.

The Intermediate winner will also receive their Gold Cup trophy, $4,000 in prize money, and an Amerigo saddle, while the runner-up will take home a $2,500 Bit of Britain gift certificate.

This year’s Series includes 12 of the top events around the country and runs through the end of September. For a complete schedule, log on to www.useventing.com and click on the Gold Cup logo.

The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of many sponsors, including Title Sponsor, Adequan; Presenting Sponsors, Amerigo, Nunn Finer, and Nutrena; Contributing Sponsors, Cover-All, Premier Equestrian, and UlcerGard; and Patron Sponsor, Mountain Horse.