www.eventingetc.com

Mara Dean rode Nicki Henley to lead the Dressage Phase of Advanced Championships at the American Eventing Championships this morning at the Carolina Horse Park at Five Points, east of Southern Pines, North Carolina.This pair had a relaxed and accurate test to lead second place Kristin Bachman and Gryffindor by exactly 5 faults. (Kristin and Gryffindor are pictured at the left below.) and Nicki Henley scored 25.6 while Gryffindor scored 30.6. (Mara and Nicki Henley are pictured at the right.)

Emma Winter rode Mahogany Chief to third place on 30.4. Emma barely beat out Canada's Mike Winter, her husband, and Kingpin who scored 30.6.

The Top Six After Dressage:

1. Mara Dean, Nicki Henley - 24.5
2. Kristin Bachman, Gryffindor - 27.7
3. Emma Winter, Mahogany Chief - 30.4
4. Mike Winter (CAN), Kingpin - 30.6
5. Loreen Kay, Russian - 30.8
6T. Emilee Libby, Cahir - 32.9
6T. Lauren O'Brien, Dunraths Alto - 32.9
(15 competitors)

* * * * *

The Preliminary De Broke Horse Championship

The Preliminary De Broke Horse Championship wound up on Friday morning with the Show Jumping Phase. This prestigious trophy was won by Karen O'Connor, fresh from the World Championships at Aachen, Germany, where she rode Upstage.

Karen rode Mandiba to a winning score of 29.6. This pair finished on their Dressage score. Mandiba won by 2.7 faults from Baileywyck, who scored 32.3 and had .8 of a time fault on Cross Country, while ridden by Emily Beshear to second place. (Karen and Mandiba received the DeBroke Trophy from Kyra Stuart, at the right.)

Carolyn Dowd, who is basically a home town hero at the AEC's, as she lives in nearby Carthage, North Carolina, finished on her Dressage score to place third with Raw Deal on a score of 32.5.

The Top Ten Finishers in the DeBroke:

1. Karen O'Connor, Mandiba - 29.6 (FODS)
2. Emily Beshear, Baileywyck - 32.3 (.8 time XC)
3. Caroline Dowd, Raw Deal - 32.5 (FODS)
4. Ruthie Harbison, Dutch Twist - 33.8 (FODS)
5. Bonnie Mosser, Magic Carpet - 34.6 (4 faults SJ)
6. Elisa Wallace, Leap of Faith - (FODS)
7. Mark Weissbecker, Top Gallant - 35.4 (FODS)
8. David O'Brien, Money Spider - 36.3 (4.4 time XC)
9. Bobby Costello, Mr. McWhinney - 37.3 (FODS)
10. Bobby Costello, Alcibides - 44.6 (5.6 time XC)

(Karen and Mandiba's Victory Gallop after winning the Preliminary De Broke Horse Championship at the AEC's.)

* * * * *

Intermediate Championship Cross Country
(A Festival of Falls)

Competitors celebrated Fall(s) one day early and with a vengance at the AEC during the Intermediate Championship Cross Country on Friday afternoon.

(At the right Maura Teal takes a header as Special K has stumbled up the step out of the last water.)

From 19 runners, only 13 made it around the course. There were several falls and many multiple refusals - not exactly a national championship set of performances, with one exception.

(No good is going to come of this one!

Handsome Devil actually did not fall; but, Teresa Stewart is not going to be able to stay in the plate.)

Canada's Mike Winter ran the only double clear of the section with Wonderful Will, saving the day and the section from those not so lucky or not so competant.

(Mike and Wonderful Will are pictured at the right jumping the Intermediate Tooth Brush in the water just before the fence shown in the pictures above.)

* * * * *

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Amy J. Daum, (703) 779-0440 ext. 3017

Three Phases, Twelve Divisions Run On Day Three (Friday, September 22) of the Wellpride AEC

By Amber Heintzberger

Preliminary Sections:

California native Molly Rosin made the 3,000 trek worthwhile, jumping around clear aboard Havarah’s Charly to become the 2006 Open Preliminary champions at the Wellpride American Eventing Championships at the Carolina Horse Park in Raeford, North Carolina. Finishing on their dressage score of 29.4, the pair dominated the division of 44 entries. Allison Springer and Arthur, who led after dressage, finished in second place overall, followed by Lynn Coates-Holmes on Pistolero.

Past Olympian (and Individual competitor at the World Equestrian Games, in Aachen, Germany last month) Karen O’Connor of The Plains, Virginia won the Preliminary Horse Debroke division with Joan Goswell’s Mandiba, followed by Emily Beshear on Baileywick and Caroline Dowd on Raw Deal.

Fourteen-year-old Callie Judy of Columbia, Missouri, kept all the rails in their cups to win the Preliminary Junior/Young Rider division riding Kilkenny Castle, an Irish Sport Horse gelding. “Area IV has very flat terrain and I liked the rolling hills here,” Judy said. “Cross-country was very challenging.” She added that she wanted to thank her parents for supporting her, and Cathy Wieschhoff for coaching her during the competition. Second place went to Laura Sappenfield on Derrik and third place to Kirsten Selwig on Rude de Guerre.

Beginner Novice Section:

The inaugural Beginner Novice division, presented by The Fork Stables, also saw its finale today in the show jumping arena. Mary McKeon finished the competition with a clear round on Carol Bank’s Cleveland Bay cross, Idlehour’s McHenry, to win the division. Margaret Simak on Cappuccino and Fred McCashin on Private Pilot also went clear to place second and third, respectively.

Intermediate Section:

Intermediate and Novice cross-country also took place today (Friday, September 22nd). Only one rider, Canadian Mike Winter, completed the Intermediate cross-country course with a double clear round. Overnight leader Lauren Kieffer dropped to 11th place after two stops on course. Emily Beshear had a clean round and took the lead on Acorn Hill Farm’s New Zealand Thoroughbred gelding Woodburn. (Emily and Woodburn are pictured at the left at the Tooth Brush in the last water.) She also placed second in the Preliminary Horse division on Baileywick.

Training Sections:

Three Training level divisions began today. There is a tie between Susan Reynolds and Dominick and Susan Wainwright and Hunter in the Open Training Division, with Andrew Palmer on Stilletto in third. In the Training Horse division Karen Mahaffey, on Westmoreland, is in the lead, followed by Kelli Temple, on Moneymaker, and Holly Hepp, on Ladyslipper, in second and third respectively. In the Training Junior/Young Rider division, Brooke Harlow, on Fibber Magee, are followed by Retsy Holliday, on Guinness V, and Devon Brown, on Limerick.

Novice Sections:

All three very large divisions of Novice spent the day on cross-country, with Sarah Blum hanging on to her lead in the Open Novice on a double clear round. Nancy Covert and Mary Jordan are tied for second less than one point behind Blum, so the pressure is certainly on for tomorrow’s show jumping.

Holly Payne and Fruition’s First took the lead in the Novice Horse division followed by Holly Hepp, on Icewine, in second and Caroline Dowd, on Ripley, in third.

In the Novice Junior/Young Rider divisio, Rebecca Preston and Milo moved up from second to first when overnight leader Hannah Owens and Jamberry had a refusal and dropped to 56th place. Jessica Meckes, on Dungavi, stands in second place, and there is a tie for third between Shauna Berkner, on Curious Cobb, and Courtney Bauer, on Sheridan Jet Bars.

The Advanced competitors spent the day in the dressage arena. Mara Dean and her Nicky Henley are in the lead followed by Kristin Bachmann, on Gryffindor, and Emma Winter, on Mahogany Chief. Spectators should have some exciting rides to watch tomorrow when these competitors take to the cross-country course at 9:15 a.m.

The day concluded with the USEA’s competitors’ party that began with the presentation of the Exquisite Equestrian Award to Melissa Jefferson and her horse Triple Twist, aka “Trey.” The Exquisite Equestrian award is given to the person who has succeeded in the face of adversity on their journey to the Wellpride AEC, and Jefferson will receive a custom cooler from Exquisite Equestrian—a completely custom personal shopping service that specializes in outfitting barns, horses, and riders with custom products that reflect the highest possible quality, including Oakcroft Tack Trunks and barn equipment, Vogel custom boots, and commissioned artwork by Tricia Scheele. Following this award the party kicked off with a lively tug-of-war competition and dancing into the night.

The Wellpride AEC would not be possible without the support of its many sponsors, including new Title Sponsor Wellpride; Presenting Sponsors: Amerigo, Bit of Britain, Nutrena and Saratoga Horseworks; Contributing Sponsors: Cover-All Building Systems, UlcerGard, Adequan, The Fork Stables, Finish Line and Suncoast Bedding; Gold Level Sponsors: Fleeceworks, Maui Jim Sunglasses, Stackhouse Saddle Makers, Practical Horseman, Mountain Horse, Charles Owen, and EquestrianCollections.com; Silver Level: Likit, Pegasus Design, Joz, Inc., Phoenix Performance Products, Platinum Performance, Flair Nasal Strips, and SSG Gloves; and Bronze Level: 3M, Auburn Laboratories, Mackinnon Ice Horse, Gore Trailers, Hi-Tech Horse Jumps, Spalding Labs, and Rodney Powell Body Armour.

For complete Wellpride AEC results, visit the Carolina Horse Park website at www.carolinahorsepark.com, or go directly to the results page at: http://carolinahorsepark.com/aec/results_fri/aec06_results_092206_op_ch.html.

Editor's Note: Ted and I will be heading for Plantation Field after the Advanced Cross Country at the AEC, on Saturday morning. A report and pictures of the AEC Advanced will be posted as soon as possible. Cora Cushny