Woodside, Calif., Oct. 5, 2012— James Alliston, a native of Great Britain who now makes his home in Castro Valley, Calif., is the overnight leader of both the CIC3* and the CIC2* at the Woodside International Horse Trials, presented by Equine Insurance of California and Professional’s Choice.
On Jumbo’s Jake (49.9) and Tivoli (52.6), Alliston has a firm hold on both first and second places in the CIC3*, while Jolie Wentworth and GoodKinight (58.5) are standing third.
On Mojo (51.4) Alliston is holding first place in the CIC2* over Barb Crabo on Over Easy (53.1) Wentworth on Man On A Mission II (53.7). Taren Atkinson and Gustav (48.1) are leading the CIC1*.
Jumbo’s Jake, Tivoli and GoodKnight each completed the afternoon’s show jumping course with no jumping faults, but Tivoli, the first horse in the ring, finished 4 seconds slow for 4 time faults. All the international horses had performed their dressage tests earlier in the day, also in the Grand Prix Arena of the Horse Park At Woodside.
“For sure, there were a lot of options, but if you wanted to be on track with the time, you had to make the inside turns,” said Alliston. “In hindsight, I wish I’d made the inside turns with Tivoli, but it’s hard to know how tight the time is when you’re first in the ring.
“I think the course had the right result. It was jumpable but by no means easy,” Alliston added.
Alliston and Jumbo’s Jake, 14, won the Woodside CIC3* in 2011, on their way to winning the CCI3* at the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event in November. They then won the CIC3* at the Galway Downs International Horse Trials in April, but Alliston, 27, retired Jumbo’s Jake on cross-country at the Rolex Kentucky CCI4* later in April. “He just didn’t feel right,” said Alliston.
“I’ve been trying to get his confidence back again, and I think I have. So we’ll be attacking for sure tomorrow on the cross-country,” said Alliston. “He’s a super careful horse, which is why he jumps so many clear rounds in show jumping. I wouldn’t say he’s the scopiest horse ever, though so you have to manage his confidence a little bit.”
Tivoli, 11, is a different kind of horse. “He’s kind of a hot horse with a ton of ability. It’s really just been about channeling his mind in the right direction,” said Alliston. “When he’s relaxed, there’s nothing he can’t do.”
Tivoli finished second to Jumbo’s Jake in the CIC3* at Galway Downs in April.
On Saturday, spectators will get to enjoy the heart of the sport of eventing—the cross-country phase—as Friday’s pairs tackle the cross-country course in reverse order of their two-phase standing. The CIC3* horses will also vie for a chance at the Fric Frac Berence Heart Award trophy and $1,000 prize money presented to the horse and rider with the best cross-country performance, as determined by a panel of judges.
All winners will be recognized Saturday evening at a special dinner celebration and awards ceremony, open to the public.
Thanks to the generous support of more than a dozen sponsors, the total prize money for this year’s Woodside International Horse Trials is $20,000, with Devoucoux and Equine Comfort Products contributing as Gold Medal Sponsors. Saddlery Solutions, Voltaire Design and CWD are the event’s Silver Medal Sponsors and will contribute a plethora of exciting prizes.
Auburn Laboratories Inc., California Horse Trader, Flair Equine Nasal Strips, Geranium Street Floral, Point Two Air Jackets, Professional Riders Organization, Ride On Video, SmartPak Equine and Sunsprite Warmbloods are the Bronze Medal Sponsors. They’re just some of the equine-product manufacturers and service providers that, in addition to supporting the event with prizes, will be on site for riders and spectators to meet in the event trade fair.
Go to www.woodsideeventing.com for ticket and full competition information