Tag Archives: Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials

USEF Eventing Competition Grant Recipients Finish in Top 20 at Blenheim Palace Int’l Horse Trials

Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot (Libby Law Photography)

Woodstock, England – A top notch international field of 76 combinations contested the 2016 Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials CCI3* from September 8-11 at the picturesque venue. Three Land Rover/USEF Eventing Competition Grant recipients, Hannah Sue Burnett, Holly Payne Caravella, and Kurt Martin, made their trips worthwhile with strong performances. Burnett and Harbour Pilot were the top U.S. combination in fifth place.

Burnett (The Plains, Va.) and Jacqueline Mars’ Harbour Pilot began the competition on Thursday with a lovely dressage test that earned a score of 41.7 from the Ground Jury of Eric Lieby (FRA), Joanne Jarden (IRL), and Harry Payne (GBR), putting the pair in third place on the leaderboard. Burnett rode the 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding determinedly on a rainy cross-county day. They successfully tackled Eric Winter’s tough track, collecting 5.2 time penalties on a day when no combinations finished inside the optimum time. Burnett and Harbour Pilot had two rails over Di Boddy’s show jumping course for eight jumping penalties to finish on a score of 54.9.

“I am very happy with William’s performance this weekend. Even though we didn’t have a clear round [on Sunday], I couldn’t be more proud of my horse and my team for a great result at my first Blenheim,” Burnett said. “A huge thanks to Land Rover and Ms. Mars for making this trip possible. I can’t say enough about my friend and groom Sara McKenna for her impeccable care and love for William and myself, and for my family, sponsors, coaches, friends, and for everyone’s help and support at home and abroad. I am confident that I will learn from my experiences here and improve on them for the future. Congratulations to my fellow U.S. riders; I’m proud to be a part of a fantastic team!”

Payne Caravella (Gladstone, N.J.) rode Bethann Groblewski’s Santino in the horse’s European debut at Blenheim. They began with a great dressage test on Thursday that received a score 46.2. She and the 2003 Thoroughbred gelding made light work of the questions asked on cross-country day, incurring 9.2 time penalties. Like Burnett, Payne Caravella had an eight-fault show jumping round to finish in 13th place on a score of 63.4.

Both Martin (Middleburg, Va.) and his, Carol Jean Martin, and Bill Martin’s Delux Z made their overseas debut at Blenheim, and they did not disappoint. Martin and the 2005 Irish Sport Horse gelding performed a respectable dressage test on Thursday, scoring 54.0. They demonstrated that they were up to the challenge of Winter’s cross-country course on Saturday, though they tallied 15.6 time penalties. In the show jumping phase, the duo had a double-clear round to end their weekend on a high note with a final score of 69.6.

Two other Land Rover/USEF Eventing Competition Grant recipients, Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville Syndicate, LLC’s Manoir de Carneville and Alexandra Knowles and Sound Prospect L.L.C.’s Sound Prospect, planned to compete at Blenheim but withdrew prior to the start of the competition.

Bettina Hoy (GER) and Seigneur Medicott claimed top honors with a score of 41.3, while Andrew Nicholson (NZL) and Teseo finished second with a score of 52.9 and Lydia Hannon (GBR) and My Royal Touch were third with a score of 53.5.

Final results

Find out more about the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials.

By Kathleen Landwehr

USEF Announces Fall 2016 Eventing Competition Grant Recipients

Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the recipients of Land Rover/USEF and USET Foundation eventing competition grants for the Millstreet International Horse Trials CCI3*, Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials CCI4*, Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials CCI3*, and Military Boekelo-Enschede CCIO3*.

The following combinations have received grants for the Millstreet International Horse Trials CCI3* taking place August 25-28 in Millstreet Town, Co. Cork, Ireland:

Sinead Halpin (Oldwick, N.J.) and Manoir de Carneville Syndicate, LLC’s Manoir de Carneville, a 2000 Selle Francais gelding; Halpin has received a Land Rover/USEF Eventing Competition Grant.

Lillian Heard (Poolesville, Md.) and her own LCC Barnaby, a 2006 Irish Sport Horse gelding; Heard has received a Jacqueline B. Mars Competition Grant through the USET Foundation.

The following athlete has received a Land Rover/USEF Eventing Competition Grant for the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials CCI4* taking place September 1-4 in Stamford, England:

Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) and HND Group’s Mighty Nice, a 2004 Irish Sport Horse gelding, or Ann Jones and Thomas Tierney’s Fernhill Fugitive, a 2005 Irish Sport Horse gelding

The following combinations have received Land Rover/USEF Eventing Competition Grant for the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials CCI3* taking place September 8-11 in Woodstock, England:

Hannah Sue Burnett (The Plains, Va.) and Jacqueline Mars’ Harbour Pilot, a 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding

Holly Payne Caravella (Gladstone, N.J.) and Bethann Groblewski’s Santino, a 2003 Thoroughbred gelding

Alexandra Knowles (Paris, Ky.) and Sound Prospect L.L.C.’s Sound Prospect, a 2002 Thoroughbred gelding

Kurt Martin (Middleburg, Va.) and his, Carol Jean Martin, and Bill Martin’s DeLux Z, a 2005 Irish Sport Horse gelding

The following combinations have received grants for the Military Boekelo-Enschede CCIO3* taking place October 6-9 in Boekelo, The Netherlands:

Lauren Kieffer (Middleburg, Va.) and Marie Le Menestrel’s Meadowbrook’s Scarlett, a 2007 Thoroughbred cross mare; Kieffer has received a Land Rover/USEF Eventing Competition Grant.

Kylie Lyman (White River Junction, Vt.) and Joan Nichols’ Lup The Loop, a 2008 Irish Sport Horse gelding; Lyman has received a Jacqueline B. Mars Competition Grant through the USET Foundation.

Lynn Symansky (Middleburg, Va.) and The Donner Syndicate, LLC’s Donner, a 2003 Thoroughbred gelding; Symansky has received a Land Rover/USEF Eventing Competition Grant.

From the USEF Communications Department

Montgomery and Loughan Glen Are Victorious at Blenheim Palace Int’l Horse Trials CCI3*

Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen (Shannon Brinkman Photo)

Woodstock, England – The Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials CCI3* came to an exciting conclusion on Sunday as 78 combinations moved forward to the show jumping phase over the Alison Abrahams-designed course. Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen jumped a beautiful double-clear round to claim top honors at the prestigious competition after leading from start to finish. The U.S. contingent made its presence known throughout the competition with solid performances and a total of four combinations finishing in the top 12.

Montgomery (Tetbury, England) and Jessica Montgomery, Kathryn Kraft, and Holly and William Becker’s Loughan Glen began their Blenheim campaign with a stellar dressage test on Friday to receive an impressive score of 33.8 and sit on top of the leaderboard following the first phase. He and the 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding laid down a textbook double-clear cross-country round over Eric Winter’s track to maintain their lead heading into the final phase with over an eight-point lead. Not letting the pressure of the situation get to him, Montgomery gave Loughan Glen an excellent ride in the show jumping phase, jumping cleanly and inside the time to earn the biggest win of his career. The talented pair earned the 2015 Blenheim CCI3* title on their dressage score of 33.8.

“He was jumping fantastic in the warm-up but he actually got a bit flat in ring, so maybe the nerves were coming into play a bit,” Montgomery said of Loughan Glen. “Thankfully he really understands his job and tried to keep all the rails up. I couldn’t be happier with him; he tries so hard.”

Explaining the significance of this win, Montgomery stated, “It’s huge. Glen had been super competitive in the states. We talked about it and I decided I wanted to know what it took to win over here, so we moved here a few years ago. Things went downhill for a bit at first, but we found a formula that he likes and has proven to be successful. This [win] validates everything that we have been doing.”

Montgomery’s win makes him only the third American to win the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials CCI3* in the 25-year history of the event, along with Bruce Davidson (1994) and Kim Severson (2001).

Lauren Kieffer and Veronica (Shannon Brinkman Photo)
Lauren Kieffer and Veronica (Shannon Brinkman Photo)

Lauren Kieffer (Middleburg, Va.) and Team Rebecca, LLC’s Veronica had excellent performances throughout their first trip to Blenheim. The recipients of a Karen E. Stives Endowment Fund for High Performance Eventing Competition Grant through the USET Foundation delivered their signature smooth dressage test on Thursday to score 46.2. Kieffer and the 2003 Dutch Warmblood mare made light work of the cross-country track, adding four-tenths of a time penalty for being a second over the optimum time of 10 minutes 51 seconds. The pair jumped a double-clear show jumping round to finish on a score of 46.6 in sixth place, earning Kieffer the best first-timer award as the highest-placed first-time competitor.

“I’m very pleased with how Veronica felt today. She’s been very consistent this year and was really focused all weekend,” Kieffer said. “It’s so exciting to have not only a U.S. rider win but to have four U.S. riders in the top 15 really shows that the program is working and that the U.S. riders are hungry to continue being competitive. It couldn’t happen without all the support from the USEF, our sponsors and owners, and of course the people that build the grants like [the late] Karen Stives.”

Emily Beshear (Somerset, Va.) gave Deep Purple Eventing’s Shame on the Moon a great ride in the horse’s European debut, beginning with a lovely dressage test that received a score of 44.5. The USEF Land Rover Competition Grant recipients confidently tackled the cross-country track, adding only 3.2 time penalties to their score. She and 2006 Trakehner/Thoroughbred mare brought their weekend to a splendid finish with a double-clear show jumping round to finish on a score of 47.7 in seventh place.

Will Coleman (Gordonsville, Va.) and The Four Star Eventing Group’s OBOS O’Reilly had a strong showing at Blenheim, starting off with a respectable dressage test on Thursday, despite the horse being quite tense, scoring 51.1. He and the 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding earned redemption on Saturday with a masterful double-clear cross-country round. The USEF Land Rover Competition Grant recipients continued to display their jumping expertise as they were double-clear in the show jumping phase, finishing in 11th place on their dressage score of 51.1.

Rising stars Elisa Wallace (Jasper, Ga.) and David and Jill Hopcroft’s Simply Priceless demonstrated experience beyond their years throughout their European debut at Blenheim. The USEF Land Rover Competition Grant recipients started their weekend with an accurate dressage test scoring 50.1. On cross-country day, they laid down a solid cross-country round, jumping cleanly and adding 7.6 time penalties to their score. Show jumping is the most challenging phase for Wallace and the 2001 Thoroughbred gelding, but they had a respectable round with a single rail down for four faults to finish on a score of 61.7 in 29th place.

Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp (East Sussex, UK) and Deborah Halliday’s Fernhill by Night were the U.S. pathfinders throughout the competition, starting things off with a great dressage test that scored 45.9. She and the 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding were having a fantastic cross-country round until running into an issue at the Cheltenham Annual Members’ Badges skinnies combination at 17B, incurring 20 jumping penalties. They finished strongly but also added 26.0 time penalties to their score. The duo ended its weekend on a high note with a wonderful double-clear show jumping round, finishing in 62nd place on a score of 91.9.

Overall, it was a spectacular weekend for the U.S., and the U.S. Eventing Team Coach David O’Connor agreed, saying, “I was very pleased that Clark won; he deserved it, and the horse deserved it. It was a big win and served as a big morale booster. All of the U.S. riders were very consistent and they went at it, riding aggressively and getting the job done and being quite competitive through the competition.”

Find out more about the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials and view results.

From the USEF Communications Department

Montgomery Finishes Third at Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials

Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen (Shannon Brinkman)

Woodstock, England – The final phase of the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials CCI3* caused a shake-up of the leaderboard but saw top American combinations hold their top 12 placings. On a day where clear rounds were at a premium, Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen proved their place among the sport’s elite, producing one of the few faultless efforts to finish third in the world-class field. Additionally, Meghan O’Donoghue completed her first overseas competition earning 11th place and gaining wealth of experience.

Montgomery (Wiltshire, United Kingdom) and Loughan Glen were making their second appearance at the Blenheim CCI3*, having placed fifth in 2011, and used the weekend to demonstrate how much they have improved in the last 24 months. Jessica Montgomery, Kathryn Kraft, and Holly and William Becker’s 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding stood in third place following the dressage phase and a clear, quick trip on the cross country meant they maintained their position heading into Sunday’s final phase. In the show jumping, the talented combination produced another impressive effort, jumping immaculately to finish on a score of 45.5, a mere 1.5 penalties behind the winner.

Montgomery has been based in the United Kingdom since January of 2013 with the goal of improving his own and his horses’ skills as well as continually competing in world class competition. And while he was pleased with Loughan Glen over the weekend, he realized a slightly different performance on the first day could have resulted in a different outcome.

“I think I left the door open a little bit on the dressage day; his other two FEI competitions he’s done this year he was sub-40 and if I could have done that it would be a completely different situation. I just didn’t get there and you leave them an opportunity over here and these guys are too good,” said Montgomery. “Of course we’re disappointed that we didn’t win but at the same time it’s exciting to think just how good you have to get to win.”

Montgomery was awarded a USEF Land Rover Competition Grant to compete Loughan Glen at Blenheim and believes that with the assistance of the grants and direction from USEF Eventing Team Coach David O’Connor the U.S. is experiencing resurgence.

“We have the riders, we have the horses, and we have the support. David has got great plans,” said Montgomery. “We will get back up to the top, to be competitive.”

Listen to more of Montgomery’s thoughts about the weekend and plans for the future here: http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/BHI_Montgomery_end.mp3.

Meghan O'Donoghue and Pirate (Shannon Brinkman)
Meghan O’Donoghue and Pirate (Shannon Brinkman)

O’Donoghue (Carbondale, Illinois) and her own Pirate earned the opportunity to compete at Blenheim after receiving the Jacqueline B. Mars Competition and Training Grant from the USET Foundation. The pair seized the opportunity producing strong efforts in the jumping phases to ultimately climb 31 places following the dressage and garner a top 12 placing. On Sunday, the 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding rolled three poles to add 12 penalties to their score and finish on an overall total of 73.1.

Additionally, the combination was honored as the highest placing first-timers at the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trial.

Over the course of the weekend, the O’Donoghue and Pirate earned valuable experience and head back to the United States with the knowledge that they can be competitive among top combinations in the sport.

The United States was also represented by Phillip Dutton, Julian Stiller and Cindy Rawson in CCI3* competition at the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials. Dutton (West Grove, Pennsylvania) finished in 33rd place with Team Rebecca, LLC’s Ben on a score of 95.5 after incurring 20 penalties in the show jumping for five rails down. Stiller (Berkshire, United Kingdom) and her own Sintra BK incurred eight jumping faults and single time penalty in the final phase to finish on a score of 108 in 44th position. Riding her own and Donald Collier and Pip Bowerman’s Mocharabuiee, Rawson (Somerset, United Kingdom) had a single rail down to finish in 46th on total of 119.2.

In total only 13 of the 60 combinations that entered the show jumping were able to complete clear rounds on Sunday. These included winner Aoife Clark and Fenyas Elegance and second place finisher Jean Teulere and Matelot Du Grand Val in addition to Montgomery. Irish Olympian Clark finished on a score of 44. While France’s former World Champion, Teulere, completed the weekend on the same score as Montgomery; 45.5, but was one second closer to the optimum time on Saturday and therefore earned runner-up honors.

The sole U.S. entry in the CIC3* for eight- and nine-year-old horses, Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp (East Sussex, United Kingdom) and her own HHS Cooley, were eliminated on the cross country Sunday, after incurring trouble early in the course. The winner of the CIC3* was Great Britain’s Team Silver medalist from the 2012 London Olympic Games, William Fox-Pitt, leads the CIC3* with Fernhill Pimms on a score of 33.5.

By Helen Murray

For more information on the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, click here.

To view the live scores, go to http://www.bdwp.co.uk/cgi-bin/3dif.pl?fn=ble13.csv&nav=left.

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

Montgomery Fulfills Expectations; O’Donoghue Rockets Up the Leaderboard on Cross Country Day

Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen (Shannon Brinkman)

Woodstock, England – Cross Country day at the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials saw gutsy performances from U.S. competitors over Eric Winter’s influential track. Saturday’s test was made all the more difficult as horse and rider combinations also had to contend with slick going, yet the Americans remained undeterred. Clark Montgomery maintained his third place standing on an ever-improving Loughan Glen, while 24-year-old Meghan O’Donoghue made a massive climb up the leaderboard following an impressive cross country round.

Montgomery (Wiltshire, United Kingdom) and Jessica Montgomery, Kathryn Kraft, and Holly and William Becker’s Loughan Glen led the way for the U.S. on Saturday with one of the quickest trips of the day. The pair, which was awarded a USEF Land Rover Competition Grant to compete at Blenheim, produced a masterful round over Winter’s testing track adding just 2.8 time penalties to stand on a two-day total of 45.5.

Montgomery has been based in England since the beginning of 2013 and has made a priority of increasing the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding speed on the cross country.

“This horse in the past has been a bit slow and gotten tired in the last few minutes especially, so I’m really happy to be just seven seconds over. You always just go for it but it (the time allowed) is proving a bit difficult,” said Montgomery. “He felt good; I had to fight a little bit for the course; it rode harder than I expected but he was super honest and I couldn’t have been happier.”

Two years ago, Montgomery and Loughan Glen made their international debut at the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, finishing in fifth place. In the return trip to Blenheim, Montgomery looked to improve upon the 2011 performance and with one phase left is poised to do just that.

“I set pretty high expectations for myself; the horse can do a very good job. When I was here two years ago he was over 10 seconds slow, so I wanted to be inside 10 seconds here and he did that,” said Montgomery. “I have a goal of jumping clear tomorrow so hopefully I can finish on it.”

To hear more of Montgomery’s thoughts on his performance Saturday, visit: http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/BHI_Montgomery_xc.mp3.

Meghan O'Donoghue and Pirate (Shannon Brinkman)
Meghan O’Donoghue and Pirate (Shannon Brinkman)

O’Donoghue (Carbondale, Illinois) and her own Pirate are contesting their first overseas competition on a Jacqueline B. Mars Competition and Training Grant from the USET Foundation. But they defied their lack of international experience on Saturday with a scorching round to climb up 31 places. The pair came to Blenheim looking to showcase the jumping form that propelled them to 12th place in their first CCI4*at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover in April. The 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding once again demonstrated his tidy form across the country to just add 8.8 time penalties to their score.

O’Donoghue and Pirate will head into Sunday’s final show jumping phase in 11th position on a score of 61.1.

Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pennsylvania) once again proved why he is among the best in the game on the cross country as he guided Team Rebecca, LLC’s Ben to a clear jumping round on Saturday. In only his third ever CCI start, the Holsteiner gelding lost a shoe early on in the course but nevertheless continued to perform for Dutton in the slick conditions. The pair added 27.2 time penalties and lay in 22nd position on a score of 75.5.

Julian Stiller (Berkshire, United Kingdom) and her own Sintra BK were the first U.S. pair on course and incurred 20 jumping and 14.8 time penalties to stand in 43rd place on 99 penalties after the cross country. Stiller elected to retire her second ride of the day, her own and Jules Delvecchio Pandora X, after things were not going according to plan.

Rounding out the U.S. effort in CCI3* competition was Cindy Rawson (Somerset, United Kingdom) and her own and Donald Collier and Pip Bowerman’s Mocharabuiee. The combination incurred 20 jumping and 39.2 time penalties and now lay 55th on 115.2.

Irish Olympian Aoife Clark heads the CCI3* field with Fenyas Elegance on a score of 44 after incurring four time penalties on the cross country. France’s former World Champion, Jean Teulere, stands tied with Montgomery on a score of 45.5. However, Teulere and Matelot Du Grand Val were one second closer to the optimum time and therefore head into the final phase in second position.

In the CIC3* for eight- and nine-year-old horses, Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp (East Sussex, United Kingdom) and her own HHS Cooley collected two time faults in the show jumping to move up to 19th. They will head out onto the cross country on 51.8 penalties.

Great Britain’s Team Silver medalist from the 2012 London Olympic Games, William Fox-Pitt, leads the CIC3* with Fernhill Pimms on a score of 33.1.

By Helen Murray

For more information on the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, click here.

To view the live scores, go to http://www.bdwp.co.uk/cgi-bin/3dif.pl?fn=ble13.csv&nav=left.

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

Montgomery Sits in Third Following Day Two of Dressage at Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials

Meghan O’Donoghue and Pirate (Julie Badrick/iesportsmedia)

Lexington, KY – The second day of dressage wrapped up Friday at the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials in Woodstock, England. The final set of U.S. horse-and-rider combinations in the CCI3*, took to the dressage arena in front of the judging panel of Eric Lieby, Nick Burton, and Lindsay Jenkins. After scoring a 42.7 on Thursday, USEF Land Rover Competition Grant recipients Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen were the top U.S. pair and currently sit in third place going into Saturday’s cross country phase. He and Jessica Montgomery, Kathryn Kraft, and Holly and William Becker’s 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding remain in the top three on the strength of their impressive, flowing test. Sarah Bullimore (GBR) and Lilly Corinne lead the CCI3* with a score of 38.9, with Aoife Clark (IRE) and Fenyas Elegance are in second on a score of 40.0.

As first U.S. pair down the centerline Friday, Meghan O’Donoghue (Carbondale, IL) and her own Pirate earned a score of 52.3, their best ever dressage score at an FEI competiton. The pair was able to compete overseas for the first time with the help of a Jacqueline B. Mars Competition and Training Grant from the USET Foundation, and they did not disappoint. Though dressage is not the 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding’s strongest phase, O’Donoghue rode an accurate test not leaving any points on the table, holding her own in a field of seasoned international competitors. The pair sits tied in 42nd place out of 84 competitors going into the cross country phase.

“I was pleased with my horse today. I thought he tried very hard and showed improvement,” said O’Donoghue. “Thankfully he is a very obedient horse in the ring which allows me to focus on accuracy.”

Cindy Rawson (Somerset, GBR) rode a respectable test with Mocharabuiee, whom she co-owns with Donald Collier and Pip Bowerman, to receive a score of 56.0 to lay in 62nd place. With the 12-year-old Thoroughbred/Irish Sport Horse cross gelding, Rawson produced a quality test in the atmosphere at Blenheim Palace.

With her second mount in the CCI3*, Pandora X, Julian Stiller (Berkshire, UK) obtained a score of 61.4. She and the nine-year-old Hanoverian mare she owns with Jules Delvecchio struggled with some tension throughout the test but remained composed. They sit in 76th place following the first two days of dressage.

After performing their dressage tests on Thursday, Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) and Team Rebecca LLC’s Holsteiner gelding Ben sit in 21st place with a score of 48.3, while Stiller and her own eight-year-old Warmblood mare Sintra BK lie in 82nd place on a score of 64.2.

In the CIC3* for eight-and nine-year-old horses, Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp (East Sussex, England) and her own HHS Cooley executed a solid test Thursday in front of the judging panel of Christoph Hess, Jane Tolley, and Nikki Herbert to receive a score of 49.8. They currently sit tied in 30th place out of 67 competitors heading into Saturday’s stadium jumping phase.

Christopher Burton (AUS) and Graf Liberty lead the CIC3* with a score of 32.9, while William Fox-Pitt (GBR) and Fernhill Pimms are second with a 33.1 and Emma Dougall (AUS) and Belcam Bear lie third with a 35.4.

The CCI3* field will tackle the cross country course designed by Eric Winter (GBR) with nearly 40 jumping efforts on Saturday. Stiller and Sintra BK will be the first U.S. pair on course at 11:42am BST. Dutton and Ben leave the start box at 12:00pm BST followed by Montgomery and Loughn Glen at 1:17pm BST. O’Donoghue and Pirate will tackle their first cross country course across the English countryside at 2:17pm BST. Rawson and Mocharabuiee go at 2:34pm BST, with Stiller and Pandora X, the last U.S. pair, leaving the start box at 3:34pm BST.

“The course is a classic track that is big and bold,” said O’Donoghue. “I think it will suit my horse and encourages forward-thinking riding. I’m excited to get this experience.”

By Kathleen Landwehr

For more information on the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, click here.

To view the live scores, go to http://www.bdwp.co.uk/cgi-bin/3dif.pl?fn=ble13.csv&nav=left.

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

Montgomery Leads after Day One at the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials

Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen (Samantha Clark)

Lexington, KY – The first day of dressage began at the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials in Woodstock, England, with the first batch of U.S. riders coming down the centerline on Thursday. In the CCI3*, a talented international field performed their dressage tests in front of the judging panel of Eric Lieby, Nick Burton, and Lindsay Jenkins. Clark Montgomery (Wiltshire, UK) and Loughan Glen, USEF Land Rover Competition Grant recipients, had a stellar dressage test earning a 42.7, putting them in first place following the first day of dressage. Jessica Montgomery, Kathryn Kraft, and Holly and William Becker’s 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding performed brilliantly for Montgomery, producing a lovely, rhythmical test with excellent trot and canter work.

“He was good. He tends to drop a little bit behind my leg when he gets in the ring, but that’s normal so we continue to work on it,” Montgomery commented modestly, thinking of ways to improve upon his and Loughan Glen’s performance in the future. “It was a little bit better today. We still need to work on fine-tuning the execution of the test I think a little bit more, but the quality was good.”

When asked about how he felt coming into the event, Montgomery stated, “I think I have all my little points on the three phases that I want to improve on or get near, and if I can do that I will be happy with whatever place that ends up.”

Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) performed a lovely test with Team Rebecca, LLC’s Ben to earn a 48.3, putting them in seventh place. He and the Holsteiner gelding had a flowing test with quality trot work and clean flying changes. Julian Stiller (Berkshire, UK) and her own Sintra BK scored 64.2 to sit in 39th place. The eight-year-old Warmblood mare struggled with some tension throughout the test but Stiller rode her new mount of only a few months well.

In the CIC3* for eight- and nine-year-old horses, Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp (East Sussex, England) and her own HHS Cooley executed a solid test in front of the judging panel of Christoph Hess, Jane Tolley, and Nikki Herbert to receive a score of 49.8. With the flowing test with quality trot and canter work, she and the nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding currently sit in 12th place following the first day of dressage in the pair’s first attempt at the CIC3* level.

Meghan O’Donoghue and Pirate, recipients of a Jacqueline B. Mars Competition and Training Grant from the USET Foundation, kick things off for the U.S. on Friday at 10:22am BST, followed by Cindy Rawson and Mocharabuiee at 11:22am BST. Stiller will ride her second mount, Pandora X, in the afternoon session at 2:52pm BST.

By Kathleen Landwehr

For more information on the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, click here.

To view the live scores, go to http://www.bdwp.co.uk/cgi-bin/3dif.pl?fn=ble13.csv&nav=left.

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

US Riders Prepared to Tackle the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials

Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen (USEF)

Lexington, KY – Seven horse-and-rider combinations will be representing the U.S. at the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, September 12-15. Set at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, England, the field is packed with some of the best riders in the eventing world. Eighty-four combinations will tackle the CCI3* while 67 are competing in the CIC3* for eight- and nine-year-old horses. All U.S. horses passed the First Horse Inspection on Wednesday.

In the CCI3*, five U.S. riders will seek top finishes at Blenheim Palace. Two riders will compete with the aid of competition grants. Clark Montgomery (Wiltshire, UK) and Jessica Montgomery, Kathryn Kraft, and Holly and William Becker’s Loughan Glen were awarded a USEF Land Rover Competition Grant. Earlier this summer, he and the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding finished in second place at the Barbury Castle CIC3*.

After a stellar four-star debut at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover earning 12th place, Meghan O’Donoghue (Carbondale, IL) was awarded a Jacqueline B. Mars Competition and Training Grant from the USET Foundation. She will compete her own 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Pirate at her first international competition across the pond.

Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) will compete Team Rebecca, LLC’s Ben in the CCI3*. He and the 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding won the Bromont CIC3* in June, and hope to continue with their winning form. Cindy Rawson (Somerset, GBR) will partner with Mocharabuiee, a 12-year-old Thoroughbred/Irish Sport Horse cross gelding she co-owns with Donald Collier and Pip Bowerman. The pair completed the Hartpury CIC3* in early August. Julian Stiller (Berkshire, UK) will compete two mounts in the CCI3*, Sintra BK and Pandora X. With Sintra BK, her own eight-year-old Warmblood mare, Stiller completed the Hartpury CIC3* after taking over the ride on the horse earlier this summer. Stiller and Pandora X, a nine-year-old Hanoverian mare she owns with Jules Delvecchio, completed the CIC3* at both Barbury Castle and Hartpury.

Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp (East Sussex, England) is the sole U.S. representative in the CIC3* for eight- and nine-year-old horses with her own HHS Cooley. She and the nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding were also the sole representatives when they finished in 12th place at the Le Haras National Du Pin CCI2*, which served as the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Test Event in mid-August. This will be the pair’s debut at the CIC3* level.

In the CCI3*, Stiller and Sintra BK are the first U.S. pair in the dressage ring on Thursday, riding at 9:52am BST. Dutton and Ben will go at 10:30am BST while Montgomery and Loughan Glen will ride in the afternoon session at 3:30pm BST. O’Donoghue and Pirate kick things off for the U.S. on Friday at 10:22am BST, followed by Rawson and Mocharabuiee at 11:22am BST. Stiller will ride her second mount, Pandora X, in the afternoon session at 2:52pm BST.

Halliday-Sharp and HHS Cooley will perform their CIC3* dressage test on Thursday at 12:07pm BST.

By Kathleen Landwehr

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