www.eventingetc.com

Shade was at a premium for spectators on the Cross Country course at Jersey Fresh. Every tree, no matter how small, had its group of three or four refugees from the heat and sun. This is a problem that should be taken care of in 2008, as Jersey Fresh will move earlier in the spring by three weeks to Mother's Day weekend - the second weekend in May - the weekend after the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials as well as the weekend between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.

The competitors - both horses and riders - did not seem overly effected by the heat and humidity.

William Coleman and Icarus, second after Dressage, had one of eight double clear Cross Country rides to take over the lead on a score of 44.2. (Will and Icarus are pictured at the right jumping the barrels before the last water.)

Stephen Bradley and From, on the come back trail from a tendon injury suffered here last year, also ran a double clear to move from a tie for fourth to second place on 46.5.(Steve and From are pictured below at the left jumping the Dock in the last water.)

Mara Dean and Nicki Henley, the over night leaders dropped from first to third as a result of picking up four time penalties for ten seconds over the optimum time. (Mara and Nicki Henley are pictured at the right below jumping the skinny in the last water.)

The top five were rounded out by Bonnie Mosser and Merloch, who were six seconds over the time for 2.4 penalties and Kim Seversin and Tipperary Liadhnan, who ran a double clear.

The others who ran Cross Country double clears were: Allison Springer and Arthur - 51.0 (6th); Maren Foster and Star Wars - 58.3 (10th); Dornin Anne North and Lion Display - 61.3 (11th); Dana Widstrand and Relentless Pursuit - 63.7 (14th); and Mike Winter (CAN) and Wonderful Will - 69.8 (19th).

Jersey Fresh, for reasons best known to the management, chose to run the CCI*** after the CCI** thus insuring that the horses that had to run the fastest and the furthest ran in the heat of the day. Apparently this was a decision favoring spectators over competitors in the same way as running the Show Jumping in the small arena, in front of the covered seating, on Sunday, favored the spectators over the competitors.

On a sad note, Laine Ashker's Eight Saint James Place died after the finish line. He had actually finished twenty-sixth after having jumped clear and having picked up 6.8 time faults.

CCI *** Top Ten After Cross Country:

1. William Coleman III, Icarus - 44.2 (DCXC)
2. Stephen Bradley, From 46.5 (DCXC)
3. Mara Dean, Nicki Henley 46.9 (4 time faults XC)
4. Bonnie Mosser, Merloch - 48.7 (2.4 time faults XC)
5. Kim Severson, Tipperary Liadhnan - 50.6 (DCXC)
6. Allison Springer, Arthur - 51.0 (DCXC)
7. Seline O'Hanlon, Colombo - 55.9 (3.6 time XC)
8. Karen O'Connor, Allstar- 56.4 (7.6 time XC)
9. Kim Severson, Tsunami - 56.9 (.4 time XC)
10. Maren Foster, Star Wars - 58.3 (DCXC)

* * * * *

CCI**

Forty out of the original fifty-one competitors completed the Cross Country in the CCI** at Jersey Fresh. Of those forty, only six were able to run double clears.

Clark Montgomery, who had been third after Dressage with Up Spirit, ran a double clear to move up to first place on a score of 47.6. (Clark and Up Spirit are pictured at the left jumping the Duck on the Island at the last water.)

Buck Davidson and Ballynoecastle RM added four time faults to their seventh place Dressage score of 52.2 to land in a tie for second place on a score of 56.2. (Buck and Ballynoecastle RM are pictured at the right below jumping the log in the first water.)

Interestingly, Buck was tied with his pupil Jessica Kiener and My Boy Bobby, who had added 5.2 time faults to their sixth place Dressage score of 51.0.

Both Buck's and Jessica's horses are owned by Cassandra and Carl Segal who live in nearby Pottersville, New Jersey.

The other combinations who ran double clears Cross Country were: Jennifer Libby and Jazz King - 58.4 (4th); Julie Norman and Bradley - 59.6 (5th); Clark Montgomery and Raconteur - 63.8 (8th); Olivia Loiacono and Subway - 64.8 (9th); and Will Faudree and Mr. McWhinney - 65.4 (10th). All six competitors whoran double clears finished in the top ten after Cross Country.

CCI ** Top Ten After Cross Country:

1. Clark Montgomery, Up Spirit - 47.6 (DCXC)
2T. Buck Davidson, Ballynoe Castle RM - 56.2 (4 time faults XC)
2T. Jessica Kiener, My Boyt Billy - 56.2 (5.2 time faults XC) (Jessica and My Boy Bobby are pictured at the left below jumping the log in the first water.)
4. Jennifer Libby, Jazz King 58.4 (DCXC)
5. Julie Norman, Bradley - 59.6 (DCXC)
6. Susie Beale (GBR), Isabella II - 61.2 (4 time faults XC)
7. Darren Chiacchia, Tragumna - 61.6 ( 12 time faults XC)
8. Clark Montgomery, Raconteur - 63.8 (DCXC)
9. Oliivia Loiacono, Subway - 64.8 (DCXC)
10. Will Faudree, Mr. McWhinney -65.4 (DCXC)

Advanced Pan Am Games Horse Trial

Not all those entered in the Advanced Horse Trial for Canadian and American candidates for the Pan American Games to be held in Brazil in July. Americans who had completed the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** last April were excused from running Cross Country at Jersey Fresh.

Of those who did run, Jonathan Holling and Lion King II, tied for third after Wednesday's Dressage test, finished first on a score of 37.9 which included 4 time faults.

Darren Chiacchia and Better I Do it the leaders after Dressage added 10.4 time faults to drop to second place on 42.9. (Darren and Better I Do It are pictured at the right jumping into the last water.)

Bonnie Mosser and Close The Deal, who had been ninth after the Dressage finished third with 7.6 time faults for a two day score of 43.0.

The highest placed Canadians were Kyle Carter and Madison Park in 5th place on 47.7, and eighteen year old Waylon Roberts and Paleface in 6th place on 48.2. (Waylon and Paleface are pictured at the left jumping the Dock in the last water.)

Advanced Results - the Top Six after Cross Country:

1. Jonathan Holling, Lion King II - 37.9 (4 time faults XC)
2. Darren Chiacchia, Better I Do it - 42.9 (10.4 time faults XC)
3. Bonnie Mosser, Close The Deal - 43.0 (7.6 time faults XC)
4. Becky Holder, Courageous Comet - 43.3 (8.4 time faults XC)
5. Kyle Carter (CAN), Madison park - 47.7 (5.2 time faults XC)
6. Waylon Roberts (CAN), Paleface - 48.2 3.6 time faults XC)