Buck Davidson was awarded the USET Foundation’s Pinnacle Cup Trophy for the third time as the highest placed American rider at the 2013 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI****. Photo By: Nancy Jaffer.
Lexington, KY – May 8, 2013 – The USET Foundation is pleased to announce that this year’s recipient of the Pinnacle Cup Trophy at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI**** is Bruce O. Davidson, Jr. of Riegelsville, PA, and Ocala, FL. Davidson, known as “Buck,” rode Ballynoe Castle RM to a fourth place finish at the prestigious event and was the highest placed American rider, which earned him the trophy.
This marks the third year that Davidson has earned the coveted award, taking home the Pinnacle Cup in 2009 and 2003. Ballynoe Castle RM, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood/Irish Thoroughbred cross-owned by Carl and Cassandra Segal, traveled to England as an alternate for the United States Eventing Olympic squad in 2008 and represented the U.S. at the 2010 World Equestrian Games. This year the pair finished with 45.2 penalties in the Dressage phase, and then moved up from eighth place after completing a clear cross country phase. They had eight faults over the technical stadium jumping track on the final day to finish with 53.2 faults in the fourth place position.
“This is my third year winning the award, which is really wonderful, although I’d really like to win the event,” laughed Davidson. “It was a great weekend and all of my horses were fantastic. I just feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to win the Pinnacle Cup more than one time.”
Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM are a veteran duo and Davidson felt very confident on his seasoned mount. “I had two other really nice horses that went before Ballynoe Castle that are just less experienced, so I was able to go around the cross country course twice before showing him,” he explained. “He’s maybe not the fastest horse, but he has a lot of experience. I started off quickly and jumped all the fences safely and it just worked out perfectly. I couldn’t have had a better ride; he gave me everything he had.”
Davidson added, “Ballynoe Castle is a once in a lifetime horse. I started him from the beginning. He’s 13 now, and he’s been competing at the advanced level since he was eight. I’m just so thankful and so lucky to be partnered with an unbelievable horse. It’s been a dream ride and I don’t really want to wake up from the dream. I want to have him for a long time, so whatever he tells me he is feeling is what we are going to do. This horse does not owe me anything.”
Looking ahead, Davidson is aiming for the CIC at World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany. “CICs are really his thing because he’s a little bit shorter, so that would be an exciting trip to go on. Then we’ll see. Obviously I’d like to go to the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France, whether it’s with Ballynoe Castle or any of my other mounts.”
The United States Equestrian Team Foundation (www.uset.org) is the non-profit organization that supports the competition, training, coaching, travel and educational needs of America’s elite and developing international, high-performance horses and athletes in partnership with the United States Equestrian Federation.
For more information on the USET Foundation, please call (908) 234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org.
Previous Pinnacle Cup Trophy Winners:
2012: Allison Springer and Arthur
2011: Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville
2010: Phillip Dutton and Woodburn
2009: Buck Davidson and My Boy Bobby
2008: Phillip Dutton and Connaught
2007: Phillip Dutton and Connaught
2006: Heidi White Carty and Northern Spy
2005: Kim Severson and Winsome Adante
2004: Kim Severson and Winsome Adante
2003: Bruce O. Davidson, Jr. and Mystic Mike
2002: Kim Vinoski (Severson) and Winsome Adante
2001: David O’Connor and Giltedge
2000: David O’Connor and Rattle N Hum
1999: Karen O’Connor and Prince Panache
1998: Dorothy Crowell and Molokai
Previous to this date, the top American finisher was awarded the Gladstone Challenge Trophy.
Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
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