Jumping
The U.S. show jumpers had a strong showing in the final week of the two-week Horse Festival in Valkenswaard, The Netherlands. Beezie Madden and Cortes ‘C’ claimed victory in the weekend’s most prestigious class; the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Valkenswaard sponsored by the VDL Groep. In only their second grand prix together, Madden and Cortes ‘C’ were the fourth and last pair to go in the jump-off, storming to the win in a time of 38.38 seconds. Ireland’s Denis Lynch riding Lantinus 3 was second and Jur Vrieling and VDL Bubalu of The Netherlands claimed third place.
On Friday, Laura Kraut and Teirra were third in the Medium Tour 1m45 CSI5* against the clock class. Cortright Wetherill and Carlos were second in the Special Invitational 1m35 CSI1*.
On Saturday, Wetherill claimed a fourth-place finish with Whoops in the Special Invitational 1m25 CSI1*. Wetherill finished his competition week by riding Carlos to a second-place finish in the Special Invitational 1m35 CSI1* against the clock.
For more information and results, visit http://www.globalchampionstour.com/events/2011/valkenswaard/results.
Vaulting
The USEF/AVA National Championships took place over the weekend at the National Western Complex in Denver, CO. The Woodside Vaulters of Woodside, CA, gained the top spot on the podium in the Team Championships. The A team consists of Katharine Wick, Gabe Aniello, Allysa Bonora, Tessa Divita, Kathryn Jaggers, Siddartha Kreaden, and Katherine Salisbury. The team vaulted on Stanford, lunged by Julie Divita.
Patrick Stevens won the Men’s Individual National Champion on Agado lunged by Julie Divita. While for a second year in a row, Mary McCormick won the Women’s Individual National Championship vaulting on Sir Anthony Van Dyck lunged by Carolyn Bland.
For more information, visit http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsDisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=7457.
Eventing
In England, many eventers traveled to The NAF International Hartpury Horse Trials just outside Gloucester. In Section D of the CIC3*, Will Faudree and Andromaque finished in fifth place on a score of 55. The pair only added .4 of a point to their dressage score throughout the weekend after finishing one second over the optimum time on the cross-country. Bill Levett of Australia and One Two Many NJ won this section finishing ahead of Great Britain’s Sarah Cohen on Treason and Kitty King riding High Havoc.
Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp rode Newmarket Malt to a strong ninth-place finish in the large CCI2* division. The pair added only one rail to their dressage score of 55.1 to finish on 59.1. Bill Levett was once again the winner of this section, this time riding Baggrave Summertime to top honors. Francis Whittington and Cougar were second with Izzy Taylor and Dax Van Ternieuwbeke finishing third.
For full results, visit http://www.hartpury.ac.uk/equine/eventing/Results/index.html.
For more information about the U.S. High Performance programs click here. To submit High Performance news, please e-mail: Joanie Morris.