Saturday, October 7th - Cross Country Day

Editor's Note: Ted and I have been in some very bad weather at Eventing Competitions over the years. The Cross Country at the Tokyo Olympic Games, in 1964, where it POURED down rain; the Cross Country at the Mexico Olympic Games, in 1968, where the heavy rain caused flash floods of creeks and water jumps; one Badminton where it SNOWED and another where it tipped down rain; and a very rainy Morven about ten years ago. Today, we added the Morven CCI* Cross Country on October 7th, 2006, to that infamous list! It teemed rain and was 48 degrees - we couldn't photograph, we couldn't stay dry, and we couldn't stay warm.

Kudos to the Fence Judges, who stayed at their posts throughout! Kudos to the Grounds Crew and Course Designer, Tremaine Cooper, who kept the stone dust coming via buckets, shovels and CAT bucket loads! - and, most of all, Kudos to the riders and their brave horses who galloped on through the worst of the weather!

The Advanced Cross Country was postponed until Sunday afternoon; but, the Preliminary level riders and horses showed everyone what eventers, human and equine, were all about!

In the CCI*, Section 1, Skyeler Icke came from fourth place after Dressage to the lead when the three horses ahead of her each had refusals on the Cross Country. Beth O'Rourke had been fifth and moved up to second, in spite of four time faults, for the same reason. (Skyeler and Tika are pictured at the right jumping the log in the water.)

Bruce Davidson, twice Individual World Champion, finished on his Dressage score with Rouge for third place. This pair came from a tie for ninth after the Dressage Phase. (Bruce and Rouge are pictured at the left below jumping the fence between the two waters on Rouge.)
At one time, about half way through the CCI*, Section 1 Cross Country competition, Bruce and his son Buck had been the only two competitors to run double clears.

Results CCI* Section 1:

1. Skyeler Icke, Tika - 52.5 (FODS)
2. Beth O'Rourke, Daxtra-Ordinaire - 58.3 (4 time faults XC)
3. Bruce Davidson, SR., Rouge - 58.9 (FODS)
4. Gayle Molander, Lizzy - 59.5 (2.4 time faults XC)
5. Mark Weissbecker, Kingsley - 66.1 (.4 time fault XC)
6. Cristin Stoop, Isador - 66.4 (FODS)

In CCI*, Section 2, Emily Beshear and Baileywick maintained their overnight lead to finish on their Dressage score and head to Sunday's Show Jumping with four rails in hand.

Clark Montgomery and Raconteur came from fourth place after Dressage to second place adding only .8 of a time fault to their Dressage score.

Alexandra Tatham moved from a tie for sixth to third place on the strength of double clears on the Endurance Phase riding My Security Blanket.

Results CCI*, Section 2:

1. Emily Beshear, Baileywick - 36.4 (FODS)
2. Clark Montgomery, Raconteur - 54.4 (.8 time XC)
3. Alexandra Tatham, My Security Blanket - 55.7 (FODS)
4. Katharine Byron, Welton Limerick - 54.2 (4.4 time XC)
5. Stuart Black, Lissandro - 54.6 (FODS)
6. Kerry Torrey, Beantown Player - 66.9 (11.2 total time 'Chase and XC)

CCI*/YR:

Complete results were not posted at Press Time; however, Lucia Strini, the overnight leader, ran a double clear with Liste de Folie to retain the lead going into Sunday's Show Jumping. (Lucia and Liste de Folie are pictured at the right jumping the fence out of the Quarry.)