www.eventingetc.com

India McEvoy jumped a double clear in the Show Jumping to maintain her overnight lead and finish on her Dressage score to win the Ocala CCI**.

Bruce Davidson once again placed two horses in the top ten - Cruise Lion who jumped a double clear in the stadium to finish on his Dressage score and secure second place; and Rouge, who pulled one rail and retained seventh place.

On the strength of a double clear Show Jumping round, Great Britain's Leslie Law climbed steadily upward from eighth after Dressage to fourth after Cross Country to a final third place finish with Private Heart. Leslie is the reigning Olympic Individual Gold Medalist and was a menber of the Silver Medal British Team at Athens 2004. (Leslie and Private Heart are pictured at the right. Photo from Leslie's web site www.leslielaweventing.com.)

The CCI** Final Top Ten:

1. India McEvoy, Jumbo's Jake - 51.2 (DCSJ/FODS)
2. Bruce Davidson, Cruise Lion - 53.4 (DCSJ/FODS)
3. Leslie Law (GBR), Private Heart - 54.5 (DCSJ)
4. Buck Davidson, May I Tell Ya - 55.9 (4 faults SJ)
5. Holly Payne, Madeline - 60.9 (4 faults SJ)
6. Laine Ashker, Anthony Patch - 61.0 (4 faults SJ)
7. Bruce Davidson, Rouge - 61.2 (4 faults SJ)
8. Josh Barnacle, Rafferty's Rules - 63.4 (DCSJ/FODS)
9. Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch, Port Authority - 64.0 (4 faults SJ)
10. Kyle Carter (CAN), Right About Now - 68.7 (DCSJ/FODS)

Saturday, November 17 - Cross Country Day

India McEvoy Leads CCI** from Buck Davidson
and Bruce Davidson

Seven of the top ten placers after Cross Country ran double clears. India McEvoy came from fourth after Dressage to take over the top spot.

Buck Davidson and his twice World Champion father Bruce Davidson both ran double clears to rise from 7th and 11th places respectively after the Dressage phase.

Bruce, from Unionville, Pennsylvania, also placed Rouge in the top ten gaining eight places from fifteenth to seventh on his second double clear of the day.

Josh Barnacle and Rafferty's Rules made a leap of fifteen places from a tie for 25th to tenth on this pair's double clear Cross Country.

Top 10 After Cross Country:

1. India McEvoy, Jumbo’s Jake - 51.2 (DCXC)
2. Buck Davidson, May I Tell Ya - 51.9 (DCXC)
3. Bruce Davidson, Cruise Lion - 53.4 (DCXC)
4. Leslie Law (GBR), Private Heart - 54.5 (2 time faults XC)
5. Holly Payne, Madeline - 56.9 (DCXC)
6. Laine Ashker, Anthony Patch - 57.0 (2 time faults XC)
7. Bruce Davidson, Rouge - 57.2 (DCXC)
8. Jane Jennings, Ringmoylan - 59.2 (.8 time fault XC)
9. Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch, Port Authority - 60.0 (DCXC)
10. Josh Barnacle, Rafferty’s Rules - 63.4 (DCXC)

Editor's Note: The following is copied from the web site of The Ocala Star-Banner (Sunday, November 18)

The Chronicle of the Horse also covers Eleanor's tragic death on its web site. No additional information is available at the present time. (12:45 PM Sunday, November 18.)

Horse falls on rider, killing her

BY AUSTIN L. MILLER
STAR-BANNER

OCALA - A 21-year-old woman participating in a three-day riding competition at Florida Horse Park, died Saturday when her horse fell on top of her, according to Marion County sheriff's deputies.

Eleanor Brennan, an international rider, was on her horse, Mister Barnabus, when he stumbled at a jump and struck the gate (EDITOR'S NOTE: Actually it was a table - the second to last fence.), causing him to tumble over onto his neck and land on Brennan. The horse died instantly, and Brennan died a short time later, a news release issued by the Sheriff's Office stated. The accident occurred sometime after 11 a.m. (Eleanor and Mister Barnabus are pictured at the left at the Morven Park Horse Trials earlier this fall.)

Marion County Fire Rescue spokeswoman Heather Danenhower said Brennan had head and chest injuries, and was taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center.

"It's a tragic experience for all of us," said Tom Warriner, chairman of Florida Horse Park at 11008 S. County Road 475.

Warriner said event officials plan to review tapes to determine what caused the incident.

Brennan, a British citizen who splits time between her native country and Virginia, was competing in the horse park's three-day event that showcases different events for horses and riders.

The Sheriff's Office listed her address as 5461 Secretary Sand Road, Esmont, Va. She was a trainer at Plain Dealing Farm Virginia, according to Christine Durman, who was with the farm's owner when the accident happened.

According to the horse park's 96-page booklet, the three-day event was started by the British who used the grueling competition to condition their military horses in the early part of the 20th century. Also called eventing, the sport made its international debut as an Olympic sport at the Stockholm games of 1912. The first day is called the dressage, followed by the endurance/cross country stage and concluding with show jumping.

Brennan was taking part in the endurance/cross country event, "known as the most challenging in the equine industry," Warriner said.

Warriner said the obstacles are no more than 3 feet 9 inches high and 5 feet 3 inches wide. He said it was the first time Brennan was competing in the Florida International 3-Day Event and Ocala Fall Horse Trials in Ocala. Ocala started hosting the event in November 2005. In the last two years, riders from roughly 18 different countries have been represented in the event.

The endurance/cross country is so fierce, Warriner said, another person died in 2006 in the same event. "Like NASCAR, it's a dangerous sport," he said.

Despite the young woman's death, Warriner said the event will continue today at the 500-acre park on South County Road 475.

The event is being held at the same time two other major equine events are taking place in Marion County. Equine Expo is being held at Post Time Farm and the Paso Fino Open House and Demonstration is being held at McFarland Paso Finos. Both of those events are being held on Northwest U.S. 27.

Brennan's death affected at least one other rider who not only didn't compete on Saturday following the tragedy, but has decided to forgo today's show jumping, too.

"She was a beautiful girl. She had a a lot of charisma and was very outgoing," 18-year-old Lauren Lambert said of Brennan.

Lambert said Brennan was a "very bold rider" who "wasn't scared of anything." In a show held in Georgia a few months ago, Lambert said Brennan suffered a leg injury, but she kept on riding.

According to an e-mail from Durman, Brennan started riding late - when she was 11 or 12. She trained with Olympic silver medalist Kim Severson and, when she was 17, was the advanced champion for the mid-Atlantic region.

An article featuring Brennan in a 2006 edition of Horse Magazine said Brennan became interested in eventing because her grandfather "competed for the British Army in the 1930s."

The Sheriff's Office news release noted that Brennan was taken to the 5th Circuit Medical Examiner's Office in Leesburg for an autopsy. A necropsy of the 11-year-old horse will be conducted at the University of Florida next week to determine the animal's cause of death.

The horse park's Web page noted that the park and the U.S. Equestrian Federation was extending "their deepest condolences to Ms. Brennan's family and friends."

Austin L. Miller may be reached at austin.miller@starbanner.com or 352-867-4118.

* * * * *

IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE -- November 17th, 2007 @ 3:27PM. The United States Equestrian Federation and the Florida Horse Park regret to report that Eleanor Brennan died as a result of injuries sustained in a fall on cross-country at the Florida International 3-Day Event and Ocala Fall Horse Trials in Ocala, Florida. Her horse, Mister Barnabus, was also fatally injured. The United Stated Equestrian Federation and the Florida Horse Park wish to extend their deepest condolenses to Ms. Brennan's family and friends.

For a more intimate look at the late Eleanor Brennan see her website:

www.eleanorbrennaneventing.com

* * * * *

Friday, November 16th - Dressage Day

Jonathan Holling leads the Ocala Fall CCI** with Tinkatoo on a score of 45.9 after the Dressage phase. (Jonathan and Tinkatoo are pictured at the right below at Jersey Fresh last June.)

This pair leads Darren Chiacchia and Tragumna, whose score was 47.8, by 1.9 faults.

Kristen Bond and Three Wishes II are in third place, 5 faults adrift of the leader, on a score of 50.9.

Ground Jury:

Jennie Loriston-Clarke (GBR)
Karen Winn (USA)
Wayne Quarles (USA)

Cross Country Course Designer:

Captain Mark Phillips (GBR)

The Top Ten After Dressage:

1. Jonathan Holling, Tinkatoo - 45.9
2. Darren Chiacchia, Tragumna - 47.8
3. Kristen Bond, Three Wishes II - 50.9
4. India McEvoy, Jumbo Jake -51.2
5T. Penny Rowland (CAN), Charley Farley - 51.6
5T. Rebecca Barron, Oberon - 51.6
7. Buck Davidson, May I Tell Ya - 51.9
8. Leslie Law (GBR), Private Heart - 52.5
9. William Coleman, K du Manoir - 53.1
10. Bruce Davidson, Sr., Cruise Lion - 53.4
(40 competitors)