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William Fox-Pitt (GBR) Leads the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event after Cross Country

1st place – William Fox-Pitt and Bay My Hero.

(USA, 26 April 2014) William Fox-Pitt (GBR) riding Bay My Hero, today Saturday 26 April 2014, is the current leader after the Cross Country phase, with Lauren Kieffer (USA) riding Veronica in 2nd place and Phillip Dutton (USA) in 3rd place, at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in Lexington.

William Fox-Pitt leads the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event after a thrilling day’s cross country at the Kentucky Horse Park. Having completed another superb clear round on his second ride of the day, Fox-Pitt judged the time perfectly and sits in pole position going into the final show jumping day tomorrow. The overnight leader after the Dressage, Allison Springer (USA) riding Arthur, came unstuck at the Normandy Bank with a run-out, which cost her a hefty 20 penalty points. Phillip Dutton has two rides in the top 10, where he is lying in third and ninth place. Marilyn Little (USA) also has two in the top 10 with her rides lying in fourth and tenth position.

After a great clear round by Andrew Nicholson (NZL) on Avebury in today’s Cross Country phase, the pressure is now on Nicholson to see if he can repeat the form he demonstrated in 2013, by winning the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, which will put him one competition away from the coveted USD$ 350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing Prize. Nicholson is currently lying in 7th place after Cross Country on a score of 51.7.

Results after the Cross Country Phase

1. William Fox-Pitt/Bay My Hero (GBR) 44.0
2. Lauren Kieffer/Veronica (USA) 46.7
3. Phillip Dutton/Mr Medicott (USA) 49.5
4. Marilyn Little/RF Demeter (USA) 51.3
5. Michael Pollard/Mensa G (USA) 51.5
6. Bruce (Buck) Davidson Jr/Ballynoe Castle RM (USA) 51.7
7. Andrew Nicholson/Avebury (NZL) 51.7
8. Sinead Halpin/Manoir De Carneville (USA) 51.7
9. Philip Dutton/Trading Aces (USA) 52.5
10. Marilyn Little/RF Smoke on the Water (USA) 52.5

2nd place - Lauren Kieffer and Veronica
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2nd place – Lauren Kieffer and Veronica

Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing Current Contender

Andrew Nicholson (NZL) has travelled to the Kentucky Horse Park as the new Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing ‘live contender’ and the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event defending champion. This follows the news announced on 23 April 2014 that last year’s winner of the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, Jonathan Paget (NZL), has officially been disqualified following a “partial decision” by the sport’s governing body Tribunal. As a result of Paget’s disqualification Andrew Nicholson and Avebury have now been promoted and are the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials 2013 winners.

Quote from Phillip Dutton (USA) (link to audio of full post-event press conference below):

Q. Phillip – the course for you?

I thought the conditions were ideal for the running today and my first horse really learned a lot today and Mr Medicott has been around so many courses throughout the world I was just hanging on and letting him do it so it was a pretty easy trip for him!

Quote from William Fox-Pitt (GBR) (link to audio of full press conference below):

Q. William – Bay May Hero – how was the course for you?

I think the course really encouraged forward riding and as your saw a lot of horses did go well – I was delighted with how the course ride. I knew for my two horses that it was a decent track and a big test. I was thrilled with both my horses but particularly Bay My Hero, who’s much less experienced. He was a little bit surprised by the Head of the Lake but it didn’t seem to matter; I know that with him when he can see where he has to go he will go there. He is as clever as a cat and super genuine and I was delighted with him and he carried his tubby little body around in the time as well so that was a bonus!

Quote from Lauren Kieffer (USA) (link to audio of full press conference below):

Q. Lauren – any surprises out there today?

I was thrilled with my mare; she really fought for it. We knew we had to ride every combination and it had big questions. Everything rode the way I expected it to – I knew going out I was going to have to fight and focus on being accurate and so I was quite happy with him.

Quotes from Andrew Nicholson (NZL), currently live contender of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing:

Q. Andrew – how was that ride and what happened at the water park?

It was a bit my fault there. Avebury when he lands he always lands after a jump on his left lead which means a turn to the right you lack a bit of distance so I thought when I walked the course if I just took my time and do four strides where it should be three, but I jumped in too big and I should have kept going on the three but I tried for the four and the fourth was very deep – but he’s experienced and that’s what he’s fed for!

3rd place - Philip Dutton and Mr Medicott
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3rd place – Philip Dutton and Mr Medicott

Q. So you are currently lying in around fifth?

Yes, it’s a big day tomorrow, we hope. We’ll go back may sure the horse is all good – he’ll get washed off now a few times, cool him off and try and freshen him up for tomorrow and it will be pretty much the same for me!

Copyright Free Audio

Please click on the following link for copyright free audio of the post-event Press Conference after Cross Country Day with the top three placed riders:
http://po.st/BUJiXw

For more information on the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and full Results/Leaderboard, please visit www.rk3de.org.

Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing

In 2001, Rolex created the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. This trophy is awarded to the rider who manages to win the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials and the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials event in any consecutive order. Until now, only British rider Pippa Funnell has managed this staggering achievement, winning the title in 2003.

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