For Immediate Release:
Woodside, CA., Oct. 6, 2017 – It was an action packed day at the Woodside International Horse Trials with CIC competitors taking on both the dressage and show jumping phases.
By sundown it was the partnership of James Alliston, Ramon, CA, and Happenstance who found themselves leading the CIC3* division. Mary McKee’s 11-year-old Holsteiner is a newer ride for Alliston, but he seems to have worked out the kinks after earning a 45.1 in the dressage for the early lead.
“That was better than I could’ve hoped really,” he commented on their dressage performance. “The last show went very well in the dressage. He won the dressage there, but it’s just new partnership and me trying to figure out what he likes.”
The pair then went on to secure one of only two clear rounds over Michael Roy Curtis’ show jumping course to keep their first place position. “I was hoping we could have the luck on our side and jump a clear round. I don’t think he rubbed any fences. You can’t jump better than that,” he praised.
Clear rounds were rare, but highly valuable in this class as Helen Bouscaren, San Ramon, CA, learned with her own Ben. She and the 13-year-old off-track Thoroughbred left all the fences untouched to go into cross country on their dressage score of 54.4.
“He felt really good today,” Bouscaren said. “I had him in just a snaffle, which I’ve never done before. I was a little nervous because he can be kind of fast and furious. He was moving out there, but he was really relaxed actually which was nice.”
Derek di Grazia, Caramel Valley, CA, and his striking 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse finished the day in third place. They added four time penalties and one rail to their dressage score (48) to for a two-phase result of 56 penalties.
Rebecca Braitling, Paso Robles, CA, kept a strong grasp on the CIC2* division with Lauren Burnell’s Counterpoint. The 10-year-old Holsteiner is one of many rides Braitling has picked up for Burnell this weekend, and their dressage score of 48.9 pushed the duo to the top of the class at the start of the day.
“He did his first Advanced two weeks ago so the changes are sort of new in his mind. He thought that was a pretty cool trick that maybe we could do today in the ring, so I was a bit tentative in the counter canter,” Braitling said. “So I was really happy with my score.”
A fault free trip around Michael Roy Curtis’ show jumping solidified their position on the leaderboard. “He’s amazing,” Braitling continued. “I think he’s the best jumping horse I’ve ever ridden so it’s pretty fun going in on him because you know pretty much only you can mess it up.”
Helen Bouscaren also holds second place in the CIC2* division with her own Ebay. Adding nothing to their dressage score over fences, these two are sitting on 52.2 ahead of cross country.
James Alliston also holds a top placing in the two-star, this time with Sunsprite Warmblood’s Sunsprite Madeira. A dressage score of 53.3 had them in fifth, and one time penalty moved them to third.
In the CIC* division, Julie Flettner, Petaluma, CA, kept the lead through both the dressage and show jumping phases. Her first phase score of 39 made her the only rider to crack below the 40s, and a faultless show jumping round puts her out in front ahead of tomorrow’s cross country.
Second place belongs to Erin Kellerhouse, Temecula, CA, and her own Woodford Reserve. This pair earned a score of 45 in the dressage and picked up one time penalty in the show jumping for a current penalty score of 46.
Amber Levine, Petaluma, CA, and her own Cinzano hold third. This combination posted a 42.7 in the dressage and dropped one pole to carry a score of 46.7 into the final phase.
Cross country begins with the CIC* competitors at 10:05 a.m. The CIC3* riders will follow starting at 11:30 a.m. Join us for a Competitor’s Dinner and Awards Ceremony tomorrow, Oct. 7, at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at this link.
Spectators are welcomed and encouraged! Eventing fans can get an unobstructed view of the cross country course under the shade of a sprawling oak tree, or they can explore the course to get a front row seat on the action. For an admittance fee of $10 per car, spectators will receive parking and an event program.
The Event at Woodside is excited to welcome CWD, Devoucoux, Equine Insurance, the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series and Majyk Equipe as 2017 Presenting Sponsors.
Sunsprite Warmbloods is a Gold Medal Sponsor.
Silver Medal Sponsors are: JRD Saddles, SmartPak, Voltaire Design and Professional’s Choice.
Bronze Medal Sponsors are: Auburn Laboratories, Inc. (APF), Geranium Floral, Ride On Video, Shires Equestrian Products and Triple Crown Nutrition.
Eventing Training Online is a Friend Sponsor.
To learn more about The Event at Woodside, please visit, www.woodsideeventing.com.
To learn more about The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series, please visit, www.useventing.com/competitions/goldcup. To learn more about the USEA Young Event Horse Series, please visit www.useventing.com/competitions/yeh.
For media inquiries, please contact the Press Officer: Shelby Allen,shelbyrallen@gmail.com, 770-530-4937.