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.
“My horse was awesome today; it was easy for him,” Byyny said. “It was not always pretty but he was great.” Byyny is making her return to the CCI3* level after taking time away from the sport following a fall in spring 2010; Phillip Dutton rode Inmidair much of last year in Byyny’s absence. “I’m lucky because Phillip has done a lot of work on him because of my time off. I’m lucky to have my family here as well. I’ve just taken it one day at a time and I’m enjoying the moment.”
Regarding the footing, Byyny commented: “It was sticky and it was holding feeling but he’s a small horse lucky for me. But they [the organizing committee] have done the best they could. The event has been great that way.”
Dressage leader Boyd Martin (West Grove, PA) added 11.6 time faults on his own and Faye Woolf’s Ying Yang Yo to sit second in the CCI3* and National Championship on a score of 52.
2011 USEF National CCI2* Eventing Championship
Lyman (West Hartford, VT) heads the CCI2* with Jeff and Joan Nichols’ Trading Aces on a score of 48.7. The seven-year-old Irish-bred gelding added only 1.2 time faults to his third-placed dressage score. Lyman has been to Fair Hill International on a few occasions but 2011 marks her first year riding in the autumn fixture.
“I’m super, super excited to be here,” Lyman said. “I’ve groomed a couple times, but this is my first time riding. I’m lucky my horse is so much fun.” Lyman found the 8:52 minute course rode tough in places, but was happy with her effort. “I struggled a little with the drop to the table to the corner [Fences 10 and 11AB]. It didn’t feel particularly pretty, but I have to get over that. It was super fun and galloping.”
Lyman was very impressed with her horse’s effort throughout the course. “He’s still young and had a lot of fun doing it. He’s had a quick run up through the levels and so have I. His owners Jeff and Joanie Nichols are super supportive.”
Will Faudree (Hoffman, NC) and Jennifer Mosing’s DHI Colour Candy stand second in the 2011 USEF National CCI2* Eventing Championship on a score of 51.9 following a double-clear cross country round.
Kadi Eykamp of Australia is second in the CCI2* with Double Rivers Really Cool on a score of 49.5.
Visit http://usefnetwork.com/featured/EventersinEurope/ to keep up with the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team.