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The Sunday weather was a continuation of the dank conditions experienced on Friday and Saturday. Thunderstorms were predicted for just after noon. Management decided to run the Show Jumping as quickly as possible in order to avoid seriously bad weather and allowed competitors to begin to jump as soon as the whistle blew without having to salute. In addition competitors were requested to leave the arena at the opposite end from the In Gate in order that the next entrant would be immediately ready to jump. Everyone cooperated in these efforts and the Show Jumping phase moved efficiently.

This is just another example of how Organizer Erik Fleming and Course Designer Torrance Watkins, with the aid of Roger Haller, the TD, made every effort to run an event that kept the best interests of the competitors in the forefront of their considerations.

Kim Severson jumped a clear and purposeful round with Royal Venture (26.92), within the time, to retain her lead in the Advanced Championship Section and take home the Jack LeGoff Trophy. (Kim and Royal Venture are pictured at right receiving the Jack LeGoff Trophy for the USA Equestrian Advanced Horse Trial Championship from Roger Haller, Chairman of USAE's Eventing Committee.)

Darren Chiacchia and Windfall (38.38) made a valiant charge at the leaders, also turning in a double clear; but Kim and Royal Venture were equal to the challenge and Darren had to settle for 2nd.

Clear rounds in the Show Jumping were few and Heidi White, who did jump clean with Northern Spy (42.53), though the pair added 1 time fault, advanced from 5th to 3rd place. Holly won the highest placed owner/rider prize in the Championship Section.

Will Faudree dropped to 4th with one rail down for a final score of 44.10 with Antugua (42.62). Karen O'Connor and Jokers Wild also had one rail to drop from 4th to 5th.

Kim also won Advanced Section 1 with Winsome Adante (30.57) on 4 jumping faults and 0 time faults. Kim and Winsome Adante are pictured at left.)

Nathalie Bouckaert with West Farthing improved considerably over her disasterous Show Jumping round at the Foxhall CCI***, in April, to add only 4 jumping and 4 time and retain 2nd place on 35.08.

Phillip Dutton and Cayman Went turned in the only double clear of the Section to grab 3rd place on 38.22. Jan Thompson riding Task Force had one down and two time faults for 42.82 and 4th position. Phillip was also 5th with Nova Top (45.22). Carl Bouckaert won the prize for the highest placed owner/rider with Welton Molecule on 52.13.

Phillip went on to win Advanced Section 2 with Dusky Moon (33.42) riding one of only two double clears in the Section. (Jane Sleeper an UN had the other double clear.) (Phillip and Dusky Moon are pictured at right.) Carl Bouckaert and the Boomer placed 2nd on 42.52, which won for Carl his second leading owner/rider prize.

Nina Fout rode her Sydney team Bronze Medal mount 3 Magic Beans to 3rd place on 47.77, while Jan Thompson and Water Front finished 4th with a score of 48.6, which included 12 jumping and 4 time faults, incurring a drop from 2nd place. David O'Connor and Dunstan Celtic (49.3) were 5th.

Karen O'Connor and Grand Slam took the honors in Advanced Section 3 on 45.95 to pip her husband, David, who placed 2nd, by 2.03 faults. David and Joe Zada's Clifton Shiraz jumped one of only two double clears in Show Jumping in Section 3. (Karen and Grand Slam and David on Clifton Shiraz are pictured at left.)

Phillip Dutton jumped the other double clear to pick up yet another ribbon, this time 3rd place on Mrs. Annie Jones' The Foreman (55.10). Kim Severson and Aces High placed 4th on 57.27. Julia Steinberg was 5th with Mr. Big (57.18) to claim the owner/rider prize in Section 3.

The cream had risen to the top! When this happens, it is often a sign of a popular event - one which attracts the very best horses and riders available. Certainly Over The Walls did this thanks to a beautiful grass Dressage area, barring a low spot in front of the Judges Trailer in Ring # 1, probably causes by the on and off rain on Friday; a well built and gorgeously decorated Cross Country course; and a Show Jumping course that allowed very few double clears.

As the ribbon winners disperse, they head to very serious fall competitions. Kim Severson will take Royal Venture and Winsome Adante, each winners of their Sections, to the Burghley Masterfood CCI****. David O'Conner and Tigger Too, who had an unfortunate stumble onto the island in the water jump, which unseated David, are also aimed for Burghley as are Karen and Upstage, 11th in Advanced Section 1.

David is taking both of Joe Zada's new New Zealand imports, Dunstan Celtic, 5th in Advanced 2, and Clifton Shiraz, 2nd in Advanced Section 3, to the Blenheim CCI***, in England.

Stephen Bradley and From, (Steve and From are pictured at right at the Stone Wall Oxer.) 6th in Section 1, are Short Listed for the Pan Am Games as are Nathalie Bouckaert and West Farthing, 2nd in Section 1; Darren Chiacchia and Windfall, 2nd in the Championship Section; Buck Davidson and Otto, 9th in the Championship Section; Will Faudree with Antigua, 4th in the Championship Section: Jan Thompson and Shared Dreams, 7th in the Championship Division; and Heidi White and Northern Spy, 3rd in the Championship Section. (The Pan Am Games candidates listed above are in anphabetical order.)

* * * * * * * *

Darren Chiacchia and San Salvador (31.60) won OP 1.

Linden Wiesman and Anderoo (34.00) won OP 2.

Carol Kozlowski and Toblerone (26.50) won OP 3.

Andrina Calder (CAN) and Herz Prinz (33.40) won JYRP.

For complete results plese see www.overthewalls.com

The British Open Event Championship at Gatcombe:

1. William Fox-Pitt, Stunning, 34.4
2. William Fox-Pitt, Moon Man, 37.6
3. Mary King, King Solomon III, 39.3
4. Leslie Law, Shear L'Eau, 40.2

Saturday, August 2: Cross Country

Saturday dawned dark and drippy and it was actually raining as Phillip Dutton left the Start Box; however, it soon abated and became a heavy, hanging mist. There had been heavy rain over night and the Organizers, led by Erik Fleming and by Course Designer Torrance Watkins, did a wonderful job spreading stone dust as needed on take offs and landings so that the course was safe.

Kim Severson maintained her lead in the Advanced Championship Section with Royal Venture, adding only 4 time faults for a total of 26.92 faults over the two days. (Kim and Royal Venture are pictured at right jumping onto the island in the water.)

Darren Chiacchia riding Windfall is in 2nd place on 38.38, including 8.8 time faults. Will Faudree had a very fast Cross Country run with Antugua (3.2 time faults) for 3rd on 38.62.

Karen O'Connor and Joker's Wild maintained their overnight 4th place adding only 3.2 time faults, tied with Will Faudree for the fastest time in the Section, for 41.12 faults, 14.20 faults adrift of the leaders, Kim and Royal Venture.

Heidi White slipped from 2nd to 5th when Northern Spy picked up 13.2 time faults for a final score of 41.53.

Kim also maintained her first place in Advanced Section 1, riding Winsome Adante, adding 2.4 time penalties, for 6 seconds over the time, and a final score of 26.57. (Kim and Dan are pictured at left jumping the cottage on the island in the water.)

Nathalie Bouckaert rode the only double clear in the Section 1(no jumping no time faults) to maintain 2nd place on 27.08.

Jan Thompson with Task Forse added 2.4 time faults for a final score of 37.82 and 3rd place.

Phillip Dutton (AUS) grabbed 4th and 5th places with Mrs. Annie Jones' Cayman Went (38.22, including 2.8 time faults) and Nova Top (41.22, including 5.8 time faults). Adrienne Iorio Borden and Paddy Paparazzi ended up 6th on a score of 42.83.

Aussie Phillip Dutton leads the Advanced Section 2 with Dusky Moon, who ran the only double clear in the second section to maintain his Dressage score of 30.42. (Phillip and Dusky M oon are pictured at right jumping the beautifully decorated trakener.)

Jan Thompson and Waterfront had 7.6 time faults to drop to 2nd on 32.6, 2.18 faults behind Phillip.

Carl Bouckaert (BEL) had a great run with The Boomer for 3rd place on 38.52, including 5.6 time faults.

Nina Fout and her Sydney Olympic Games Team Bronze Medal ride, 3 Magic Beans, finished 4th on 43.77, including 9.6 time faults. David O'Connor, the Individual Sydney Olympic Gold Medalist and a teammate of Nina's, in the An- tipodes, rode Dunstan Celtic to 5th place on 45.3, with 12.8 time faults. Bobby Costello, who rode as an individual in the Sydney Games 2000, placed 6th riding Dalliance on 50.23, including 14.4 time faulte.

In Advanced Section 3, Michael Pollard ran into a streak of rotton luck! Both his overnight leader, SS Jett, and his overnight tie for 2nd, Psalm XXIII, had refusals at different elements of the water complex, dropping poor Michael right out of the rankings. Pollard's problems opened the door for Karen O'Connor. Karen and Grand Slam walked, or rather galloped, right through that opening to grab the lead on 41.95, including 3.2 time faults. (Karen and Grand Slam are pictured at left jumping into the water.)

Advanced Show Jumping begins on Sunday morning at 8:00 AM. Your Intrpid Reporter will be leaving Hardwick, MA, immediately after the Advanced Show Jumping to return to Lexington, KY. Winners will be posted late Sunday night or early Monday morning. No pictures and no complete results will available until late Tuesday afternoon. Thanks for your patience.

Results from Gatcombe at the end of the two Advanced Divisions:

Advanced 1: (57 entries)

1. Francis Wittington, Osh Kosh, 36.4
2. Andrew Nicholson, Duddles, 41.0
3. Lucy Wiegersma, In The Purple, 41.4
4. Zara Phillips, Toy Town, 43.5

American Placings:

Cindy Rawson, Ashdale Davids Way, 49.7 = 9th.

John Williams, Sloopy, 57.6 = 20th.

Kristen Bond, Diablo Centime, 121.5 = 40th.

Amy Tryon, Poggio II, Retired on XC.

Advanced 2: (63 entries)

1. Lucy Wiegersma, Shaabrak, 36.1
2. Andrew Nicholson, Flush Banker, 39.8
3. Gina Miles (USA), McKinlaigh, 47.0

Other American Placings:

John Williams, Carrick, 51.4 = 8th.

Amy Tryon, My Beau, 72.3 (1 stop XC) = 29th.

Amy Tryon, Woodstock, 77.2 (1 stop XC) = 31st.

Friday, August 1: Dressage

Kim Severson, of Scottsville, Va, led two of the four Advanced Sections at the end of a day which began with a deluge that virtually made Phillip Dutton on Mrs. Annie Jones' Cayman Went invisible. Phillip was the first to go in the Dressage arena at 7:30 AM. He rode onto the field to warm up and, as if by prearranged signal, the heavens opened!

The day ended exactly the same way. Many were caught far from the barn area or from their cars, walking the course, when the rain Gods laughed again, and sent another cloud burst. Mark Weissbecker was one competitor caught out and was soaked to the skin.

In between as some 100 Advanced riders completed their Dressage the weather vacillated between showery and a soft Irish mist.

The weather certainly did not effect Kim adversely! Each of her horses who are headed to the Burghley Masterfood CCI**** lead their Sections. Neither had competed since Southern Pines, in March. Royal Venture scored a 22.92 for 1st place in the Champion Section for the Jack Le Goff Trophy. (Kim and Royal Venture are pictured at right.) Kim has a 5.4 fault lead over 2nd place Heidi White and Northern Spy (28.33). Darren Chiacchia and Windfall (29.58), fresh from a win at Stuart, stand 3rd. Karen O'Connor and Joker's Wild (32.67) are 4th. Linden Wiesman riding Esker Riada (32.92) and David O'Connor with Tigger Too (32.92), who is also going to Burghley, are tied for 5th.

Kim also leads Advanced Section 1, with Linda Wachmeister's 2002 Rolex Kentucky CCI**** winner, Winsome Adante (24.7). (Kim and Winsome Adante are pictured at left.) Nathalie Bouckaert and West Farthing (27.80), candidates for the USET's Pan Am Games Team, are 2nd. Stephen Bradley, a former Burghley winner and a USET Olympian (Barcelona, 1992), is 3rd with From (32.5). Nathalie's father, Carl Bouckaert , is 4th riding Welton Molecule (33.33). Greame Thom (CAN) and Arrow (34.17) are 5th, while Phillip Dutton (AUS), he of the opening deluge, and Cayman Went (35.42) are tied for 6th with Jan Thompson and Task Force (35.42).

Jan Thompson, of Leesburg, VA, leads Advanced Section 2 with her parents' Waterfront (25.0), 5.42 faults ahead of both Phillip Dutton (AUS) and Dusky Moon (30.42) and of Molly Hooper and Kiltartan (30.42) (Jan and Waterfront are pictured at right.) Anita Nemtin-Gilmour, who rides for Hungary internationally, is 4th riding the veteran Kaesar (31.67). David O'Connor stands 5th riding Joe Zada's Dunstan Celtic (32.50), who is on his way to the Blenheim CCI***. Carl Bouckaert (BEL), the host at North Georgia, made a second appearance in the top rank, this time in 6th position, with The Boomer (32.92).

Michael Pollard, who works for Bouckaert, in Chatsworth, GA, leads Advanced Section 3 with SS Jett (37.92), a mere .83 of a fault ahead of multiple Olympian Karen O'Connor and Grand Slam (38.75) and of himself riding Psalm XXIII (38.75). (Michael and SS Jett are pictured at left in the Dressage Phase at The Maui Jim Wayne Horse Trials last month,) David O'Connor is 4th, this time with Joe Zada's Clifton Shiraz, who is also headed for the Blenheim CCI***. Sally Cousins and Buzzby (41.67) and Kim Severson riding Aces High (41.67) are tied for 5th.

Adrina Calder leads the JY/OP, 37 riders strong, with Herzprinz (33.04).

Thge Cross Country begins on Saturday morning at 7:30 for the Preliminary Sections and at 8:00 for the Advanced Sections. Showers are predicted for the morning with clearing in the afternoon.

Results from Gatcombe after the Dressage are as follows:

Advanced Section A:

Cindy Rawson, Ashdale David's Way: 32.5
John Williams, Sloopy: 36.0
Amy Tryon, Poggio II: 36.3
Kristen Bond, Diablo Centime: 42.9
Bettina Hoy (GER) leads on 27.7.

Advanced Section B:

John Williams, Carrick: 34.0
Amy Tryon, My Beau: 30.2 Amy's score apparently leads the Section!
Gina Miles either did not run or her score has not been posted.

Preview

The first weekend in August will be an important one for Advanced competitors, who are preparing for the fall CCI's both here and in England.

The Double Print Festival of Eventing at Gatcombe Park, the home of the Princess Royal, will be the the first competition for the vanguard of Americans who are already in the UK preparing for the Burghley Masterfoods CCI****. Among those entered are:

Advanced 1: (63 total entries)

Cindy Rawson, Ashdale Davids Way
*Amy Tryon, Poggio II
Kristen Bond, Diablo Centime
Elizabeth Halliday, Bally Supreme
*John Williams, Sloopy

Advanced 2: (76 total entries)

*John Williams, Carrick
*Amy Tryon, My Beau
*Gina Miles, McKinlaigh

* the asterisk indicates a candidate for Burghley.

Over The Walls boasts three Advanced Sections, with a total of 87 entries, as well as an Advanced Championship Section, with 23 entries. The two Open Preliminary Sections have a total of 97 entered, while the JY/OP has 38 entered. Everyone who is anyone at the top level of US Eventing, and who is not at Gatcombe, will be there. The entry list includes:

Darren Chiacchia: Windfall, fresh from a victory at Stuart.
Phillip Dutton (AUS): Cayman Went, Nova Top and Dusky Moon
Bruce Davidson: Apparition and Little Tricky
Buck Davidson: Mystic Mike and Otto
Nina Fout: 3 Magic Beans and Wild Frontier
David O'Connor: Dunstan Celtic, Clifton Shiraz, and Tigger Too
Karen O'Connor: Ballymar, Up Stage, Grand Slam, and Jokers Wild
Kim Severson: Winsome Adante, Upper Register, Aces High and Royal Venture

Your intrepid reporter will be bringing you daily reports beginning Friday evening, August 1st, after the Dressage Phase. eventingetc's leadephotographer, Ted Cushny, will be back in harness after a two month sabbatical taking care of matters in the business world.

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