Friday, March 7 - Second Dressage Day

Darren Chiacchia, who rode the old reliable Windfall II to the Dressage lead (33.8) on Thursday, held on to the lead under pressure from eight Friday riders who worked their way into the top twelve before the bell rang for the last rider in the CIC-W***.

Kim Severson, with her Olympic Individual Silver Medal ride from Athens as well as her reigning Rolex Kentucky Champion Plain Dealing Farm's Winsome Adante, came the closest to catching Darren. This pair were the first to ride on Friday morning and were the victims of a badly over watered arena. Kim and Dan slogged along with water splashing at "X" and depth in the corners on the "E" side. The boys had been out with the hoses at 7 AM and took their task far too seriously. (Kim and Winsome Adante are pictured at the right above having just performed a flying change.)

When Kim had finished her lead-off ride and after her salute, Canada's Jo Young, the President of the Ground Jury, who sat at "C", asked her about the going. Kim replied, "It's really deep!"

As the morning progressed and even after the ring was dragged after Nathalie Pollard's ride, at 9:45 AM, the going did not improve much. There was still splashing water and the corners were deep as was the area around "X". Apparently that arena does not drain at all, or, if it does it drains very little. The Friday morning riders were put at a distinct disadvantage.

Nonetheless Kim and Dan scored 34.7, just .9 of a fault behind the overnight leaders.

Mara Dean rode last of the 33 CIC-W*** riders and scored 38.8 with Willow Bend Partnership's Nicki Henley to put both her horses in the top ten after Dressage. (Mara and Nicki Henley are pictured at the left above.)

Phillip Dutton had a lovely ride with his rejuvenated old campaigner, Mrs. Nina Gardner's House Doctor, to slide into fourth place on 39.1 just ahead of Kim Severson and her Thursday ride Royal Venture. (Phillip and House Doctor are pictured at the right.)

Amy Tryon and Poggio II, Members of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games Bronze Medal Team stands in sixth place. She and her Athens team mates Kim and Darren are all in the top six in the CIC-W***. The fourth member of the Bronze Medal Team, John Williams, riding Sloopy, is tied for the lead in the Advanced Section with Bonnie Mosser and Jenga. John's Athens ride Carrick is just coming back into work.

CIC-W*** Results after Two Days:

1. Darren Chiacchia, Windfall II - 33.8
2. Kim Severson, Winsome Adante - 34.7
3. Mara Dean, Nicki Henley - 38.8
4. Phillip Dutton, House Doctor - 39.1
5. Kim Severson, Royal Venture - 40.0
6. Amy Tryon, Poggio II - 42.8
7. Jessica Heidemann, French Twist - 44.4
8T. Heidi White, Northern Spy - 44.7
8T. Will Faudree, Antigua - 44.7
10T. Mara Dean, Good Stuff - 45.6
10T. Kristin Bachman, Gryffindor - 45.6
12. Gina Miles, McKinlaigh - 46.6
13T. Jonathan Holling, Lion King II - 47.8
13T. Karen O'Connor, Upstage - 47.8
(Those in RED rode on Friday and were able to overcome the over watered condition of the arena.)

It can be reported that Kelli Temple is in second place in the CIC*** Section on 40.0, ahead of New Zealand's Donna Smith and Call Me Clifton, who scored 40.9. Stuart Black and Fleeceworks Starlight, who switched at the eleventh hour from the CIC-W*** to the CIC***, lead that section on 37.8.

Coffee and food was available in the vendors area on Friday - a step up from caffeneless Thursday.

Mark Phillip's Cross Country course, a challenging one at the top levels, is beautifull built by Eric Bull. (The Turtle Pond - the first water at fences 13a,b,c, is pictured at the left above.) (The BB&T Opportunity Pond, the second water at fences 17a,b,c, is pictured at the right. Amy Tryon's Border Terrier is enjoying his first ever swin in the foreground.) No detail has been left unseen to, up to and including the antennae on the ants at the picnic table. (Please see the picture below at the center.)

Unfortunately Saturday's weather forecast is ominous to say the least - overnight rains followed by showers and thunder showers - hail, anyone?

Cross Country starts at 8:30AM with the Intermediate. The Advanced Sections begin at 1:55 PM.

Bulletin: 8:55 PM:

We just found out, at dinner at Applebees, that the schedule has been reversed due to predicted inclement weather on Saturday. Show Jumping will be Saturday beginning at 8:30 AM - Advanced to start at about 11:30 AM.

Cross Country will be run on Sunday.