Tag Archives: Jan Byyny

Byyny and Blyskal-Sacksen Earn Well-Deserved National Titles at The Dutta Corp Fair Hill International

Jan Byyny and Inmidair (Shannon Brinkman)

Elkton, Md. – The Dutta Corp Fair Hill International came to an exciting conclusion on Sunday with two and three star competitors navigating Sally Ike’s scopey show jumping tracks. At the end of The Dutta Corp/USEF Three-Star Eventing National Championship, Jan Byyny and Inmidair proved to be deserving and popular winners as they claimed their first National Title. While in the morning session Allie Blyskal-Sacksen and Sparrow’s Nio held their nerve to rise one place and claim the USEF National Championship.

The Dutta Corp/USEF Three-Star Eventing National Championship

Two years ago Byyny (Purcellville, Va.) and Inmidair cantered into the William DuPont Jr. Arena leading the CCI3* but two rails down in the show jumping left the pair in third place. But in 2013 the Pan American Games Gold medalist and her own and her parents Dick and Jo Bynny’s 14-year-old New Zealand Thoroughbred gelding got redemption as they left the ring The Dutta Corp/USEF Three Star Eventing National Champions.

A clear round looked on tap for the pair until the influential double at fence nine, when the B element hit the floor, Byyny then held her nerve over the remaining three obstacles to finish on a score of 51.6 and claim victory in both the National Championship and CCI3* competition.

“My horse is a pretty amazing jumper; clearly the rail I had was mine,” reflected Byyny about her aggressive ride to nine. “He doesn’t want to touch anything.”

The pair has experienced highs and lows throughout the career together and Sunday’s win was particularly rewarding for Byyny.

“I’ve had some pretty bad luck with this horse. I went to Kentucky (in April of 2013) and the horse had a breathing issue and had to have surgery. I didn’t know if he would ever do another three-star,” said the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games veteran. “This is everything for me.”

Additionally, as the winner of The Dutta Corp/USEF National Three-Star Eventing Championship at Fair Hill, Byyny will receive travel provided by The Dutta Corp to be used for European competition agreed upon by the USEF.

“It’s amazing, pretty special,” said Byyny of The Dutta Corp sponsored flight.

The Dutta Corp has a longtime involvement with dressage and jumping and is excited to become more involved with eventing in the United States.

“I always felt I needed to give back to the community,” Tim Dutta explained of the companies association with the USEF National Championship and Fair Hill International.

Earning Reserve Champion honors in both National Championship and CCI3* competition were Buck Davidson (Ocala, Fla.) and Park Trader. The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games veteran and Carl and Cassandra Segal’s 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding headed into the final phase in fifth place and produced one of seven faultless efforts over Ike’s 12 obstacle track to climb three places.

Davidson has known Byyny since she worked for his father Bruce Davidson during his childhood and while he was very pleased with Park Trader’s performance on the weekend he could not think of a more deserving winner.

“It’s been a job in perseverance; he’s been a difficult horse but the Segals have really stuck with me and the horse. To put three phases together was exciting,” said Davidson about Park Trader, who then continued to talk about his longtime friend. “There’s no way I wanted anyone to win but Jan; nobody deserves it more than she does.”

Davidson and Park Trader finished on a score of 52.6.

Finishing in third place in both the National Championship and CCI3* was Will Coleman (Charlottesville, Va.) and The Conair Syndicate’s Conair. The 10-year-old Anglo-European gelding had a single rail at the first fence to finish on a score of 54.2.

Land Rover Competition Grant recipient, Ellen Doughty and Sir Oberon, added four faults to their score for a single rail down to finish in sixth on a score of 57.6. The Heartland, Texas native and her own 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding were also the winners of the USEF National Developing Rider Championship, as the highest placed pair to have never completed a CCI4*.

Allie Blyskal-Sacksen and Sparrow's Nio (Shannon Brinkman)
Allie Blyskal-Sacksen and Sparrow’s Nio (Shannon Brinkman)

USEF National Two Star Championship

Blyskal-Sacksen (Landennberg, Pa.) and her own 10-year-old Connemara/ Thoroughbred gelding proved popular winners of both the USEF National Two Star Championship and CCI2* as they posted an immaculate clear over Ike’s 11 obstacle course. The pair entered the William DuPont Jr. Arena in second place and produced a polished efficient effort as the 15.3hh Sparrow’s Nio never looked in doubt of a clear round to claim their first National Title.

“It’s really cool to win here; to come here and win is really special,” said the newly minted National Champion.

Blyskal-Sacksen and Sparrow’s Nio were one of only six combinations to finish the weekend on their dressage score after jumping clear and within the time allowed on the cross country and in the show jumping. Since having seven rails down in the show jumping at the Jersey Fresh CCI2*, Blyskal-Sacksen has put a lot of focus on the final with the help of her husband.

“We spent a lot of this summer, practicing and videoing and trying to improve.”

The pair will look to step up to the three-star level in 2014 and Blyskal-Sacksen believes that Sparrow’s Nio is ready for the Advanced level.

“I’ve always known he was a special horse,” said Blyskal-Sacksen. “He has that ‘I’m all that attitude’, that all upper level horses have. Even though he’s only 15.3 he thinks he’s 17.3.”

The overnight leaders, Sharon White (Summit Point, W.V.) and Under Suspection, were poised to claim the National Title with a steady round until Mary Ann Ghadban’s nine-year-old Holsteiner mare rolled a pole in the triple combination. They added four jumping faults and two additional time faults to their overall score to finish on a total of 49.9 and earn Reserve National Championship honors and finish CCI2* competition in fourth place.

The National Young Horse Championship, which is awarded to the top-placed U.S. owned six- or seven-year-old, was awarded to the Fernhill Classic Syndicate’s seven-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Irish Sport Horse, Fernhill Classic. The talented gelding was ridden by Australia’s Ryan Wood to an overall second-place finish in the CCI2* on a score of 49.7.

Jenny Caras (Marietta, GA) and her own Fernhill Fortitude finished off their 2013 campaign by claiming the USEF National Young Riders Championship title, awarded to the top U.S. competitor aged 16-21, on a score of 63.7. Caras and the nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse finished the CCI2* in 12th place.

By Helen Murray

To learn more about The Dutta Corp Fair Hill International, visit http://www.fairhillinternational.com/fhi-cci/.

Follow the 2013 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team here.

Byyny and White Lead the Way after Influential Cross Country Day at Dutta Corp Fair Hill International

Jan Byyny and Inmidair (Shannon Brinkman)

Elkton, Md. – Clear rounds were at a premium over Derek di Grazia’s testing cross country tracks on Saturday at The Dutta Corp Fair Hill International on a day that saw skilled and efficient riding rewarded. Jan Byyny with Inmidair and Sharon White with Under Suspection cruised around the scopey and technical CCI3* and CCI2* courses to fly into the lead of The Dutta Corp/USEF Three-Star Eventing National Championship and the USEF National Two Star Championship, respectively.

The Dutta Corp/USEF Three-Star Eventing National Championship

Di Grazia’s 28 obstacle course proved to be extremely influential with 25 combinations galloping through the finish flags and only four of those were able to finish within the 10:03 time allowed. Eleven pairs were eliminated on the course with six retiring and three horses being withdrawn before the cross country.

Byyny (Purcellville, Va.) and her own and her parents Dick and Jo Bynny’s 14-year-old New Zealand Thoroughbred gelding set out lying in fifth place and rose four places on the strength of a quick clear round. The veteran pair, which was held briefly on course after jumping the Chesapeake Water at 18 due to a fall by Nora Battig and Steppin’ Out at fence 7 (both horse and rider were unharmed), finished just five seconds over the time to add 2 time faults to their score. The 2007 Pan American Games Team Gold medalist chose to take the long route at the influential Log Drop at 21 but still finished with one of the quickest rounds of the day due to Inmidair’s easy galloping style.

“My horse is a pretty special horse. He’s one of the most experienced horses in the field but he was still amazing,” said Byyny. “I felt that it went to plan and I could ride my plan. It was a fantastic course.”

Byyny and Inmidair led the Fair Hill CCI3* and USEF National Championship after the cross country in 2011 but eight faults in the show jumping meant the pair finished in third place. In 2013 they will look for redemption.

“He is a very naturally careful horse,” said Byyny of Inmidair. “If I ride well and smart he should perform well.”

Will Coleman (Charlottesville, Va.) and The Conair Syndicate’s Conair produced a very tidy and neat effort on Saturday to be the first combination of the day to make the time in the CCI3* and rise to second place. The 2012 London Olympic Games veteran began riding the 10-year-old Anglo-European gelding two-and-a-half months ago but has quickly forged a partnership with the 2012 Blenheim CCI3* runner-up.

“You go out there and try to lay out the best ride possible; I knew it was possible to move up,” said Coleman of his approach on Saturday. “I don’t know the horse particularly well. I tried to go out and ride a good first three-star with the horse.”

They head into the show jumping in second place in both the National Championship and the CCI3*, within a rail of Byyny, on a score of 50.2.

Doug Payne (Pottersville, N.J.) and Larry and Amelia Ross’ and his own Crown Talisman added 6.8 time faults to their second place dressage score to stand in third place after the cross country on a score of 50.4.

The two Land Rover Competition Grant recipients, Ellen Doughty and Katherine Groesbeck, experienced mixed fortunes over di Grazia’s course. Doughty (Heartland, Texas) on her own 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Sir Oberon, produced a double clear effort to remain on their dressage score of 53.6 to climb 15 places stand in sixth place after two phases. Groesbeck (Temecula, Calif.) will ride her own 16-year-old Anglo-Arabian gelding, Oz The Tin Man, were third following the dressage but incurred trouble over the course and were subsequently eliminated at fence 20.

Dressage leaders Jennie Brannigan (West Grove, PA) and Nina Gardner’s Cambalda incurred 20 jumping penalties at 13abc, The Dutta Corporation Farm Yard, and 12 time penalties to stand 16th heading into Sunday.

USEF National Two Star Championship

The leaderboard of both the National Championship and CCI2* saw a great shake-up as di Grazia’s 23 obstacle track caused problems throughout the morning session. Eleven combinations were able to produce clear rounds within the 8:20 optimum time with 11 being eliminated on course, a further seven retiring, and five withdrawing prior to the start of cross country.

Sharon White and Under Suspection (Shannon Brinkman)
Sharon White and Under Suspection (Shannon Brinkman)

White (Summit Point, W.V.) and Mary Ann Ghadban’s nine-year-old Holsteiner mare produced a flawless round on di Grazia’s difficult track to raise one place following the dressage. The impressive pair made light work of the undulating course to finish within the time allowed they will head into the jumping phase on a score of 43.9.

Under Suspection was produced by Germany Olympic Gold medalist Dirk Schrade to the two-star level and White has quickly built a rapport with scopey mare she only began riding in April.

“She was amazing everywhere; I realized I was along for the ride and I enjoyed it immensely.” White believes it is extremely important for a rider to be able to quickly alter their plan and thinks it is a huge part of cross country riding. “You can have different plans; you can plan to do a line in three or four (strides) and you can change it up,” said White of her cross country methodology.

White also rode Sheri Weber’s Wundermaske in the CCI3* producing another clear round and just adding 1.6 time penalties to stand in seventh place on a score of 57.6.

“I had a great day,” said White.

Allie Blyskal-Sacksen (Landennberg, Pa.) and her own Sparrow’s Nio produced a quick clear round on Saturday to rise from eighth following the dressage to stand in second place in both the National Championship and CCI2*. The 15.3hh 10-year-old Connemara/Thoroughbred gelding produced the quickest round of the day to maintain their score of 47.8.

“I’ve had him for about three years,” said Blyskal-Sacksen of Sparrow’s Nio. “I wanted to go around and show everyone the little pony could do it. I didn’t plan to go that fast but I was really happy with him.”

Lying third in the USEF National Two Star Championship and fifth in the CCI2* is Danielle Dichting (Roswell, Ga.) and her own 15-year-old Sachsen-Anhaltiner gelding, The Graduate, on a score of 50 after jumping clear and just adding 2.8 time faults to their dressage score.

Dressage leaders Boyd Martin and the Pancho Villa Syndicate’s Pancho Villa incurred two run-outs on the course to add 40 jumping faults and 15.2 time faults to their dressage score. They stand in 39th place on a score of 96.6 after the cross country.

By Helen Murray

To learn more about The Dutta Corp Fair Hill International, visit http://www.fairhillinternational.com/fhi-cci/.

Follow the 2013 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team here.

More from Our 2012 Featured Riders…

James Alliston

Entries open next week for the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event – don’t miss your chance to take a sneak peak at who is already preparing for the trip. Read more about your favorite horse and rider in this week’s featured riders installment!

James Alliston – Jumbo’s Jake & Parker

I write this second installment having just returned from Ram Tap in Fresno where I competed in my first show of the season. Jake and Parker did not compete at the show, but came along with me so that I could school them on the cross-country afterwards. After riding my youngsters in the show it was a real pleasure…

Click here to read more about James!

Continue reading More from Our 2012 Featured Riders…

Byyny & Lyman Set the Pace in the USEF National Eventing Championships

Jan Byyny and Inmidair (Shannon Brinkman Photo)

Elkton, MD – Clear jumping and quick trips across the country were the name of the game Saturday at the 2011 Dansko Fair Hill International. The rain that plagued the first two days of competition was nowhere in sight as the sun shone over Derek di Grazia’s tracks. Heavy going resulted in time faults for many of the competitors and a shake-up on the leaderboard in both divisions. Jan Byyny and Kylie Lyman produced two of the quickest rounds of the day in the CCI3* and CCI2* to lead their respective divisions and USEF National Eventing Championships.

All will be to play for in Sunday’s show jumping as one rail separates the top four in the CCI3*. In the CCI2* nine points divide first from tenth.

Full scores are available here: http://www.evententries.com/livescoring/14839.html.

2011 USEF National CCI3* Eventing Championship

Byyny (Purceville, VA) rose from fifth place after the dressage to lead the CCI3* on her own Inmidair with a score of 51.2. The 12-year-old New Zealand Thoroughbred gelding rocketed around the 10:08-minute course, adding just 4.4 penalties.

Continue reading Byyny & Lyman Set the Pace in the USEF National Eventing Championships