report_champagne

More than 550 horses in 19 Sections, at four levels (Intermediate, Preliminary, Training, and Novice, with Junior sections at each level), competed at the Champagne Run at the Park Horse Trials, July 19-21, under the able leadership of Organizer Maggie Wright.

The Open Intermediate Sections were the "Show Case Divisions" and will be covered in these pages.

Kim Severson-Vinoski (Kim's divorce is now final and she is in the process of taking back her maiden name, Severson.) dominated the Open Intermediate "A" Section. Kim won the Dressage (27.0) on Linda Wachmeister's 7 year old New Zealand-bred gelding, Oliver Edgecombe, who is named for the man in New Zealand who started him and from whom he was bought. Kim and Oliver never looked back. They added 12.4 time faults on Cross Country and Show Jumped clean to gallop off with the blue ribbon.

"Oliver's very good - he's really cool. His dressage is starting to come around. He's great to the jumps - he was absolutely fantastic on Cross Country. He won the Intermediate at Groton House," Kim said. Oliver Edgecombe will be heading to the Intermediate at Over The Walls and ultimately to the Radnor CCI**, in October.

The win with Oliver Edgecombe was not, however, the hot news of the weekend for Kim. Over The Limit is back! After an absence of two years resulting from a stifle injury aggravated at the Mandatory Outing for the 3-Day Squad for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, at Foxhall Farm, Over The Limit was in third place after the Dressage. He moved up to second on Cross Country, and Show Jumped clean to give Kim, who is Short Listed for the WEG, in Jerez, Spain with Winsome Andante, a one-two finish.. Eventing fans will remember that "Jake" tied for first place at the Blenheim CCI***, in England, in 1999, with Franck Bourny and Mallard's Treat, only to lose to the Frenchman whose cross country time was closest to the ideal.

Kim was elated, "He's great - pretty darn good, really good, very quiet, very good in the Dressage. Cross Country he can be a little pistol. They don't forget. He just cantered around, like 'this is the coffin, this is the water.' Today he felt as strong as ever, just 100%. He felt as good as he ever felt. I'm just thrilled with him! This is the big test. It's very promising for us. It will be one thing at a time for the rest of his life." Over The Limit is 14 years old and is headed to the Advanced at Over The Walls and, hopefully, to the Fair Hill International CCI***, in October.

Sue Hines, of Kensington, Ohio, finished third in OI-A, with Barcelona.

Imtiaz Anees, who rides for India, but resides in Newnan, Georgia, had a great weekend with his Sydney Olympic Games Individual Competition finisher, Spring Invader. Imtiaz and Spring Invader took over the lead from David O'Connor and Jim and Julie Richards' six year old mare Wyndham, who led after Dressage, with the fastest Cross Country of the section. A clean Show Jumping round assured the sub-continent rider the victory in the "B" Section of Open Intermediate.

Imtiaz said," He felt great. I didn't run too hard because it was his first run since Foxhall. ( - the April CCI***). We are qualified to go to the World's. We've got to keep the goals! I bought him as a Show Jumper; but, he's one of those 'one railers' He's too blaze. Your team has been very kind and allowed me to compete at the Mandatory Outing, in Virginia. (August 16th - Dressage and Show Jumping at Banbury Cross Farm, 22959 Carter's Farm Lane, Middleburg, VA, and Saturday, August 17th, Cross Country at Great Meadow.) Then we will fly to Spain with the American horses."

Twenty-two yeat old New Zealander Donna Smith is in the USA working with David O'Connor. She was Short Listed for the Kiwi Show Jumping Team for this fall's WEG. David has loaned Donna his Fair Hill International CCI*** winner, The Native, for the time she is in this country. "She gets along with him very well," said David. "She loaned me a horse when I was in New Zealand."

Donna and the Native had the second fastest time of the Section, 15.6 time faults, on the Cross Country and Show Jumped Clear to hold second place behind Imtiaz and Spring Invader.

Donna, who lives in Te Kauwhaja, on the North Island, said of her Cross Country ride, "It was cool! This was my first competition with him. He was awesome! I worked with (fellow Kiwi) Andrew Nicholson, in England for 3 or 4 month two years ago. I am going to Over The Walls (with The Native) and then going home. I'll be back in January with a couple of two star horses."

Diana Rich, of Cincinnati, Ohio, finished third in the "B" Section with Running Cool.

Seventeen year old Ralph Holstein, of Hinckley, Ohio, (near Cleveland) won the Open Intermediate Young Riders with Blyth Spirit. The pair had the fastest time on the Cross Country to finish on a score of 47.8.

Ralph, who rides with Jeffrey Taylor, commented, "He's twelve now. We bought him when he was 10 years old. He was formerly ridden by Julie Burns (Richards). We had a season of Preliminary. This is his first Intermediate."

Megan McGregor, of Pike Rd, Alabama finished second, with NZ Dip, on 49.3, while William Coleman, of Gordonsville, VA, placed third with Ratzi, on a score of 53.0.