October 15, 2011– Riders completing their dressage tests Friday at the 2011 Dankso Fair Hill International put in impressive efforts as scores dipped lower and lower into the 40s and spectators and riders alike were subject again to intermittent rain showers throughout the day. Heading the field in their respective CCI divisions and the USEF National Eventing Championships, which are held in conjunction with the Dankso Fair Hill International, are Boyd Martin and Susan Beebee. Martin and Ying Yang Yo lead the CCI3*, while Beebee and Wolf head to the cross country out in front in the CCI2*.
Full scores are available here: http://www.evententries.com/livescoring/14839.html
2011 USEF National CCI3* Eventing Championship
Martin (West Grove, PA) rode in a deluge of rain Friday afternoon but that did not stop him from piloting his own and Faye Woolf?s Ying Yang Yo to the top of the leaderboard. The ground jury of David Lee, Sue Baxter and Christian Landholt rewarded the 15 year-old Australian Thoroughbred gelding with a score of 40.4.
?He?s a good old horse. We know each other so well and he’s very well trained now. He produced a nice, soft accurate test with a bit of flash today,? said Martin of the horse he has competed in just two horse trials in the past few years. ?Last time I rode him in an international competition was Rolex in 2008. He was still very young but not all that sound. Eliza [Woolf?s daughter] has been competing a bit and lo and behold he’s gotten over those niggling injuries.?
Martin is looking forward to the cross country track, designed by Derek di Grazia. ?It’s a long grueling Fair Hill course. It’s going to require smart riding and fit horses. My horse is very confident and happy and super fit.?
Becky Holder stands second in the USEF National CCI3* Eventing Championship and the CCI3* with Melissa and Phil Town and Tom Holder?s Can?t Fire Me on a score of 44.2.
2011 USEF National CCI2* Eventing Championship
As the last CCI2* competitor in the ring Friday, Beebee (Vass, NC) did not disappoint riding Plan Bee Equestrian?s Wolf to an impressive score of 41.7. Beebee and the eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding head into Saturday?s cross country four points clear of the rest of the U.S.
?I’m lucky Wolf is a very nice horse, he doesn’t find the atmosphere much of a bother. I’m lucky to ride him, he makes me look good.? Beebee knew she was poised for a top performance as she was completing her warm-up. ?Five minutes before the test I felt him come up through his back and take me around. He has the most fun medium and extended trot of any horse I have ever ridden.?
Looking toward cross country, Beebee believes she will find out a lot about Wolf from di Grazia?s design. ?It’s a typical Derek course; not trappy but lots to do. The footing is going to show if Wolf is a mudder.?
Courtney Cooper (Nottingham, PA) stands second in both the National Championship and CCI2* after riding her own and Neal Camen?s Who?s A Star to a score of 45.8.
