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Donna Smith, from New Zealand, showed all present how to do a Dressage test, beating even her mentor, David O'Connor. She and her 7 year old Thoroughbred Call Me Clifton, who is owned by Francis Stead, of Auckland, NZ, scored a 47.6 to pip the overnight leaders, Julie Burns and Hyde Park Corner, by 1 fault. Donna spent about three weeks riding with David O'Connor last fall. She then returned to the USA in late winter, this time with her horse, and has been riding with Team O'Connor and competing in the States ever since. She and Call me Clifton's significant finishes have been 8th at the CIC*** at Red Hills and 26th at the CCI*** at Foxhall, this spring. (Donna and Call Me Clifton are pictured at right.)

Donna called her father in New Zealand to tell him of her success. Of course it was about 2:00 in the morning there. Her father said, "Only you would call would ring at this hour! That's great, ring me in the morning." Donna, who is 24 years old, plans to stay in the US for 5 or 6 years. "My immigration just came through . . ." a few days ago.

"I thought he went very well," Donna continued. "I told David I was going to do it!

Having a pupil beat the instructer is the true sign of a great teacher. David O'Connor is not only a great teacher; but, he is a great competitor. David is the reigning Individual Olympic Gold Medalist from the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games as well as the reigning Champion from the 2002 Fair Hill International CCI***. David rode the 11 year old New Zealand Thoroughbred Outlawed, who is the former ride of Ralph Hill and is owned by Jennifer Taxay, of Aqua Dulce, CA. This pair scored 53.6 for a tie for 5th place. (David and Outlawed are pictured at left.)

The third person to score in the top 10 on Friday was Becky Douglas, of Mendota Heights, Minnesota. Becky and Highland Hogan had been the travelling spares for the Sydney Olympic Games. Highland Hogan is owned by Faye Woolf, of Chapel Hill, NC. Becky lost the ride on Highland Hogan for a while. They are now happily reunited. The pair scored 54.2 for 8th place. (Becky and Highland Hogan are pictured below right.)

Kristen Schmolze, of Montville, NJ, who stands 3rd after the Dressage Phase, with Cavaldi, rides with Marilyn Payne, of Oldwick, NJ, as well as with Denny Emerson, in Southern Pines, NC. Kristen was a member of the Gold Medal Team at this year's Young Riders competition, in Bromont, Canada. She was also the Individual Silver Medalist. In both cases she rode Rusheen Warrior.

Kristen's horse at Fair Hill is the Irish Sport Horse Cavaldi, whom she has had since last December. Cavaldi had been ridden by Heidi Hamilton, for Ireland. Cavaldi finished 19th at Le Lion D'Anger, for the prior owner Ginny Webb. He and Heidi were the highest placed for Ireland at that competition. Kristen rode Cavaldi at The Foxhall CCI*** last spring. "I had an awful Dressage; but, I moved up 65 places after Cross Country and Show Jumping and finished 17th, to win the Markham Trophy," Kristen stated.

The Leader Board at the end of the Dressage Phase is as follows:

1. Donna Smith (NZL), Call Me Clifton - 47.6
2. Julie Richards, Hyde Park Corner - 48.6
3. Kristen Schmolze, Cavaldi - 50.6
4. Karen O'Connor, Grand Slam -52.80
5T. Bonnie Mosser,Tuco Territory - 53.6
5T. David O'Connor, Outlawed - 53.6
7. Mara Depuy, Here To Stay - 53.8
8. Becky Douglas, Highland Hogan - 54.2
9T. Jan Thompson, Waterfront - 55.6
9T. Phillip Dutton, The Foreman - 55.6

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The Pan American Championship CCI***

After the second rotation of the Pan American Championship CCI***, Darren Chiacchia, of Springville, NY, riding in the Championship as an Individual, not a USET Team member, leads the Dressage with Timothy Holekamp's Windfall 2 on a score of 43.6. Darren and Windfall 2 are pictured at left.)

Darren said of his medium trot, a movement in which Windfall 2 usually gets a good score, "I thought it was going to be brilliant. I got a little bit greedy and dropped the connection. He had a little bobble." Nonetheless. Darren's test was still .8 of a fault ahead of the 2nd place score. Darren continued, "I was very impressed with the changes to the track. We have great conditions. The ground is fantastic."

Tim Collins, who lives in Stretholt, England; but, rides internationally for Bermuda, stands 2nd, riding Michael Collins' Delton Magma, a 13 year old 3/4 Thoroughbred. This pair finished 19th at the Luhmuhlen CCI*** in June, of 2002. This year they placed 32nd at the Martinvast CIC***.

Tim told of how he decided to come to the Pan Am Championship. "It was August when I realized that I needed a certain amount of points to qualify for the Olympics. It was necessary to come over here. The Bermuda Federation decided to give me funding, which was very good."

"My wife (Leida Strijk, formerly a member of the Dutch Dressage Team) and I have a business where we buy and sell dressage horses between Holland and England. She coaches me. Brynley Powell is helping me here."

Nathalie Bouckaert and West Farthing, riding as non-official individuals for the USET are in 3rd place, while Karen O'Connor with Joker's Wild, riding as an Official Individuals for the USET are in 4th place.

Nathalie said, "The course is very straight forward. He's (Westfarthing) is still a bit green. Of course the terraine . . ." always has an influence. "The sunken road is still difficult near the end."

Guto De Faria is the highest placed Brazilian with Gap TW, an 8 year old. "He's a brave little thing. He always does his job." Guto lived, competed and taught in England for a number of years. He rode on the Brazilian Team at the Sydney Olympics and finished the Badminton CCI**** with his former mount Hunifer. "I do miss England," Guto said. Engla nd has been great to me. I am only here because of England." (Guto and Gap TW are pictured at right.)

Individual standings for the Pan Am Championship are as follows:

1. Darren Chiacchia (USET Official INDIV), Windfall - 43.6
2. Tim Collins (BER-INDIV), Delton Magna - 44.4
3. Nathalie Bouckaert (USET Unofficial INDIV) - 47.0
4. Karen O'Connor (USET Official INDIV) - 50.2
5. David O'Connor (USET Official INDIV) - 51.6
6. Will Faudree (USET TEAM) - 53.0
7. Holly Hepp (USET Unofficial INDIV) - 53.8
8. Ashley MacVaugh (USET Unofficial INDIV) - 56.0
9. Guto De Faria (BRA) Team - 57.4
10. Jan Thompson (USET TEAM), Shared Dreams - 58.4

The Team standings for the Pan American Championship are:

USET - 170.0
Canada - 186.2
Brazil - 196.2

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