Day 2: 2009 Fair Hill Cross Country
As the second half of my equestrian weekend, I made my third annual trip to the 21st Annual Fair Hill Festival in the Country. A friend and I have made a tradition of watching the event’s cross country phase, which has been a lot of fun. I’ve anxiously awaited this year’s completion, as the past two, 2007 and 2008, were a blast.
Unfortunately, the weather did not hold up for the event. Unlike the two previous years, today was miserable. It was cold and wet. We did still drag ourselves out for part of the day, despite the less than desirable conditions, however missed a big portion of the two-start competition.
On a fun note, I did fashion a small ‘raincoat’ for my camera. It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective. I used two plastic zip-lock bags and some clear packaging tape. I felt a little ridiculous doing it, but I wasn’t taking a chance with one of my most prized processions. I’d rather look silly than ruin my camera. But, turns out, I wasn’t the only one.
USEF CCI** Fall Championship of Eventing – Cross Country
So, it turned out that we missed the two-star event completely, so no pictures from this part. Had the weather been more agreeable I would have been out there for the duration, but oh well. Maybe next year.
USEF CCI*** Fall Championship of Eventing – Cross Country
We trekked around the course once, then camped out at Jump 20, the Spring House Water, for the remained the day. It was just too cold and hard to walk around in the mud.
Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville in the Dansko Village, over a cottage
Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch and Port Authority at the Fish Tanks
Heather Morris and Slate River at the Cherry Tree Brush
Katie Ruppel and Sir Donovan at the Spring House Water
Boyd Martin and Remington XXV at the Spring House Water
Overall, the progression of the day felt slow. Because of the course conditions, a number of riders withdrew before starting or retired on the course. Those who did compete rode slower and much more cautiously, with almost every pair finishing over the allowed time. Not that I blame them, but, it resulted in a lot of lolls in the action.
Despite that, there were a number of great rides. Very few finished with any jump faults. As for those pictured, Sinead Halpin, aboard 11-year-old bay Selle Francais gelding, Manoir de Carneville, finished with only 10.80 times faults. They finished the entire competition ranked fifth overall. The Canadian pair Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch and Port Authority, an 11-year-old bay Selle Francais/Thoroughbred gelding, completed the course with only 10 time faults, eventually placing 12th overall. Slate River, an 11-year-old black Oldenburg mare, and Heather Morris eventually placed 11th after completing the cross country course with 16.80 time faults. The 7-year-old chestnut Irish Sport Horse gelding, Sir Donovan and rider Katie Ruppel added 39.60 times faults to their score in cross country and finished 30th. Aussie native Boyd Martin finished with 18 time faults in cross country aboard Remington XXV, a 13-year-old bay Hanoverian gelding. Martin won the three-star championship aboard his mount Neville Bardos, the only pair to finish the cross country course with a double clear.
Olympians
Karen O’Connor on Mandiba
Phillip Dutton on Kheops Du Quesnay
Two US Olympians competed this year. Karen O’Connor rode two horses, one in each division. She’s a three-time US Olympic Eventing team member. She earned team medals both in the 1996 Altanta Games (Silver) and the 2000 Sydney Games (Bronze). She also competed in the 2008 Beijing Games, with Mandiba, a 9-year-old bay Thoroughbred gelding. The pair accumulated 15.60 time faults on the day and eventually finished tied for second.
Phillip Dutton, a four-time Olympian, competed on the US team at the 2008 Beijing Games along side O’Connor. He also represented Australia in the previous three Games, 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney, and 2004 Athens, winning two team Golds. Dutton and 11-year-old bay Selle Francais gelding, Kheops du Quesnay, finished with only 4.00 time faults and eventually tied for second overall.
Overall, I still had a great day. My friend and I had fun, despite the conditions. We didn’t get to see as much as we had the past two years and my pictures didn’t turn out as well, but I’m glad we went. I’m certainly looking forward to next year. In addition to our annual Fair Hill trip, we’ve also made plans to go to the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. Should be a fun Fall!!!
Today’s Flickr set: event photos
Day 2: 2008 Fair Hill Cross Country
For the second day of horse-related activities this weekend, I went back to the 20th Annual Fair Hill Festival in the Country for another go-round with equestrian eventing. I’ve been looking forward to the event since we left last year. In similar fashion to our previous trip, we spent all day following the cross country course for the three-day eventing championships. This year they split the event into two divisions, two- and three- star levels, as opposed to only a three-star event, which meant more competitors, and more pictures!
USEF CCI** Fall Championship of Eventing – Cross Country
The day began with the two-star competition, which ran through early afternoon.
#21 Kilrodan Abbott, ridden by Peter Barry, at “Herr’s Snack Table”
#30 Border Lion, ridden by Cathy Wieschhoff
#55 Ballinakill Glory, ridden by Kelly Prather
The two-star course is considered less difficult, with perhaps less complicated jump lines and short jumps heights, but still it’s still daunting from where I stood. Kelly Prather and Ballinakill Glory, who finished the cross country phase in second after a double clear, eventually won the whole thing. All three horses pictured are 9-year-old bay Irish Sport Horses, two geldings and one mare (Ballinakill Glory).
USEF CCI*** Fall Championship of Eventing – Cross Country
After a brief lunch break in the early afternoon, the action continued with the three-star championship.
#87 Vaunted, ridden by Ashley Adams, in the “Farm Yard”
#93 High Society III, ridden by Jessica Hampf, at the “Chesapeake Crossing”
#119 Isabella II, ridden by Susie Beale
#132 Belmont II, ridden by Boyd Martin
Today was not a disappointment. Like last year, I had a great time. The only hiccup was that as the day went on, I became more and more concerned I was going to run out of memory on my camera. Yeah, not bad if that’s the worst part of the day. As it worked out, it wasn’t an issue. It was a gorgeous day to walk around a cross country course, although a little cold for my liking, but again, that’s tolerable. It is mid-October.
As for the pairs pictured, I caught 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Vaunted and rider Ashley Adams at the first element, a huge bank down, in jump 9. Jessica Hempf and 12-year-old Thoroughbred gleding High Society III breezed through the water at jump 15. Next up, Isabella II, an 11-year-old Oldenburg mare, and Brit Susie Beale flying over the Dove Valley Winery Table. Finally, Aussie Boyd Martin and 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Belmont II in the midst of their double clear run. The pair eventually finished fifth overall.
Current Olympians
#102 Coal Creek, ridden by Amy Tryon
#139 Leyland, ridden by Amy Tryon at the “Springhouse Water”
#135 Bailey Wick, ridden by Phillip Dutton, near Jump 19, “Springhouse Water”
Two current US team members, who recently returned from the Games, competed in the three-star championships. Amy Tryon is a two-time US Olympian and competed in the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Games, earning a team bronze in the former. She won this year’s Fair Hill Championship on the 8-year-old dark bay Thoroughbred gelding Coal Creek. She finished eighth on her second mount, Leyland, also an 8-year-old bay Thoroughbred, pictured at jump 19.
Phillip Dutton, a recent addition to the US team, is a four-time Olympian. He competed for Australia in the 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Games, earning two team golds. The reigning Fair Hill champion completed with the US team this year in Beijing. He finished tenth about Bailey Wick, a 9-year-old chestnut Irish Sport Horse gelding, with a double clear on the cross country course.
Former Olympians
#111 Evening Shade, ridden by Leslie Law at “Wayne’s Walls”
#131 Cruise Lion, ridden by Bruce Davidson, Sr. at the “Springhouse Water”
#140 Better I Do It, ridden by Darren Chiacchia at “The Terrapin”
In addition to the current, several former Olympians also competed in the three-star championships. Leslie Law is a two-time British Olympian, having competed at the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Games. He earned two team silvers and an individual gold in Athens. I caught Law, aboard 9-year-old Zangersheide gelding, at jump 12.
Bruce Davidson, Sr. is an American eventing icon. He’s a four-time Olympian, who earned team golds at the 1976 Montreal and 1984 Los Angeles Games and team silvers at the 1972 Munich and 1996 Atlanta Games. He’s a two-time World Champion. His win at the World Championships in 1974 at Burghley gave the US the right to hold the 1978 championships. The opportunity lead to the creation of the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington and the annual four-star Kentucky Rolex Three-Day Event. He’s won the prestigious Badminton Horse Trails and is a six-time winner at the Rolex. I watched him tackle the “Springhouse Water” at Jump 19 on the 9-year-old gray Irish Sport Horse Cruise Lion.
Darren Chiacchia, another American, competed and earned a team bronze in the 2004 Athens Games. He’s only recently back after recovering from a serious horse fall. He rode Better I Do it, a 16-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding.
Today’s Flickr set: event photos
Cross Country at Fair Hill 2007
So, a friend suckered me into going to a high-level equestrian eventing competition today, and I couldn’t be more grateful. I resisted at first, because I felt it was going to take away a great day for a photo trip. Yeah, I know, crazy. However, it turned out to do just the opposite. I had a great time and took plenty of pictures.
The three-day event is the main attraction at the week long 19th Annual Festival in the Country, which includes various other competitions such as combined driving and K-9 agility stuff. Today was the second phase of the three-day event, where the horses’ and riders’ endurance is tested across a lengthy cross country course. The dressage tests were done over the previous two days and the final stadium jumping portion will be tomorrow.
USEF CCI*** Fall Championship of Eventing – Cross Country
#4 Ying Yang Yo, ridden by Boyd Martin, at Jump 23, “the Terrapin”
#18 Colombo, ridden by Selena O’Hanlon at the Fish Tanks
#19 King’s Whisper, ridden by Blair King, at the Chesapeake Crossing
#30 Fox in Flight, ridden by Kate Luce
#55 Sagacious King, ridden by Diana Burnett
Funny how things work out. Going into the day, I only agreed to spend a few hours at the event, in hopes I could still fit something ‘fun’ in. Well, by the end I was the one begging to stay. We walked around the course a couple times, stopping at each jump for a few horses. My friend was rather tired and ready to leave early in the afternoon, but I guilted her into staying until the very end. Haha. I was impressed to say the least. I’ve never been a big horse person, but today that changed a little. I want to come back tomorrow.
It was very exciting. The jumps were huge and complicated, giving the whole thing an element of danger. Yet, for the most part, the horses were galloping by and just leaping them like it was nothing. Some pairs had a little trouble here and there, but that just added to the experience. It was just a good day.
As for those pictured, Australian Boyd Martin actually finished second on his 11-year-old bay Thoroughbred gelding Ying Yang Yo with a score of 50.50 and fourth on his Thoroughbred gelding Neville Bardos. I caught Canadian Selena O’Hanlon and Colombo, a 13-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding, at jump 15, the fish tanks. King’s Whisper, an 18-year-old grey Thoroughbred gelding, and Blair King cruised through the course’s first water, jump 14, “Chesapeake Crossing.” Kate Luce and 18-year-old Irish Sport Horse Fox in Flight took an alternate route through jump 12 and Diane Burnett on her mount Sagacious King, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, breezed by us near the first jump.
Olympians
#1 Upstage, ridden by Karen O’Connor
#48 Mandiba, ridden by Karen O’Connor
#75 The Foreman, ridden by Phillip Dutton
Two Olympians rode a combined seven horses in the competition. American Karen O’Conner, riding four for the day, won a team silver and bronze medals at the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Games, respectively. Today, we watched her on her first horse, a 17-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Upstage, at the first jump and near the end of the course. We also caught her at the “Farm Yard,” jump 6, and “Chesapeake Crossing,” on the up-and-coming Mandiba, a 7-year-old Irish Thoroughbred gelding. She finished fifth overall on Hugh Knows.
Phillip Dutton, an Australian native and newly minted US citizen, is a three-time Olympian, competing in Atlanta, Sydney and Athens and has won two team gold medals. He finished this weekend’s competition with two horses in the top three. He won the USEF Championship on 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding The Foreman and finished third aboard Woodburn, with a scores of 46.40 and 50.90, respectively.
Difficult Jump
#52 Sloopy, ridden by John Williams
#54 Balmoral Avenue, ridden by Sally McKechnie
Jump 18, the “Cherry Tree Corners,” was rough. The pair of corner jumps, set at a difficult angle and located near the end of the course, resulted in a number of disqualifications and a few big falls. One of the last riders through the course, who finished in the top five after yesterday’s dressage phase, went down with her horse. The horse’s shoulder hit the first corner, causing both to flip over it. The horse bounced up almost immediately, took off and had to be chased down. The rider stayed down for while, but eventually stood up on her own. She was taken off by ambulance.
Because of the activity around that rider, the other competitors on the course had to be held up in the middle of their runs for about 20-30 minutes. The result was a series of faults. The first horse to restart the course also fell. She chose to take the ‘less difficult’ alternate route through the corners, most likely to help get their momentum back. Well, the horse didn’t clear the obstacle and both tumbled over the jump. This time the rider quickly stood up, but the horse struggled. It was sad. His leg was obviously hurt and he was taken away on an equine ambulance for treatment. After another break on the course, the next rider also had a fault jump, although did not fall. She cleared the first corner, but the horse refused the second. They retried on alternate “C” jump and continued on to finish. I think everyone sighed in relief once the pair made it through safely.
Today’s Flickr set: eventing photos
Again, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I hope to make it an annual trip!
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