Thursday,
October 23, Fair Hill International CCI*** Dressage
Well
folks, if you don't think that autumn is here, come on over to the Fair Hill International
CCI*** and you'll be convinced! At noon, the temperature on the car thermometer
was 44 degrees (Fahrenheit) and it was cloudy. There were reports of snow flurries
in the West Grove area, about 10 miles away, as the crow flies.
Julie
Richards of Atlanta, GA, leads the Dressage Phase with her 14 year old 
thoroughbred
gelding, the Sydney Olympic veteran Hyde Park Corner. Julie and Hyde Park Corner
who placed 9th individually at Sydney, in 2000, had a sensational score of 48.6
and was in first place on the score sheets of all three members of the Ground
Jury. (Brian Ross, President; David Lee (IRE); and Julie Purgly (BRA)) Thus far,
Julie is the only competitor to break into the 40's. (Julie and Hyde Park Corner
are pictured at left.)Julie and her husband, Jim Richards, had a baby girl
about nine months ago, so Julie has only recently returned to International competition.
Jim Richards, the owner of Foxhall Farm and host of the Foxhall CCI***, is also
on the grounds as he will be competing in the Four In Hand Driving, beginning
on Friday
Kristen
Schmolze, of Montville, NJ, riding her own Cavaldi, an 8 year old Irish Sport
horse, is in 2nd place on a scorescore of 50.6.
Here
is how it all unfolded:
After
the morning session David O'Connor, of The Plains, VA, led the Thursday Dressage
on a score of 56.6 riding Joe Zada's recent New Zealand import Dunstan Celtic.
At the lunch break, David and Linden Wiesman riding Primitive Gold, whose score
was 58.8 were the only two to post numbers in the 50's.
All
that ended with the first ride after lunch when Karen O'Connor and Grand 
Slam
rocketed to the lead, temporarily, on a score of 52.8 with Lourdes Peralta's Grand
Slam. (Karen and Grand Slam are pictured at the right.)
Two
horses after Karen, Jan Thompson, of Purcellville, had a great ride on her parents',
Dr. and Mrs. Richard Byyny, of Boulder, Colorado's Waterfront, for sole possession
of 2nd place (for about 9 minutes) on a score of 55.6.
Australia's
Phillip Dutton followed Jan into the arena and equalled her score putting the
two in a tie for 2nd place. Phillip had ridden first in the morning on Mrs. Nina
Gardner's I'm So Brite (62.0). This time it was Mrs. Annie Jones' The Foreman,
whose score of 55.6 created the tie for 2nd for about 25 minutes.
Then
along came Mara Depuy, of Round Hill, VA, on Willow Bend's 11 year old Irish Thoroughbred
Here To Stay to score 53.8 and relegate Jan and Phillip to a 3rd place tie.
All
this changed again with Kristen Schmolze's ride which scored 50.6. Finally, 
Bonnie
Mosser slipped into 3rd place, again temporarily, with Tuco Territory, on a score
of 53.6. Bonnie and Tuco Territory are pictured at the left.)
At
last Julie Richards vanquished them all with the only score in the 40's.
.
. . and then the sun came out! What do you suppose Julie, Kristen, Karen, Bonnie,
Mara, Jan and Phillip ate for lunch? What ever it was perhaps it can be bottled,
though it is difficult to package natural talent, hard work and tenaciousness.
The
Leader Board after the first day of Dressage looks like nthis:
1.
Julie Richards, Hyde Park Corner - 48.6
2. Kristen Schmolze, Canaldi - 50.6
3. Karen O'Connor, Grand Slam - 52.8
4. Bonnie Mosser, Tuco Territory - 53.6
5. Mara Depuy, Here To Stay - 53.8
6T. Jan Thompson, Waterfront - 55.6
6T. Phillip Dutton, The Foreman - 55.6
8. Cathy Wieschoff, Westlord - 55.8
The
CCI*** dressage recommences on Friday morning at 9:00 AM. The Pan American Championship
CCI*** Dressage will begin at 12:38 PM on Friday.
Please
click here to read the report on the first Veterinarian Inspection
