Show jumping wrapped up a great weekend of competition at The Event at Rebecca Farm. International levels navigated Chris Barnard's track with spectators lining the arena for the exciting finale.
Mackenna Shea had just one rail, finishing on a score of 58.4 aboard her own Landioso to take the blue ribbon in this Adequan USEA Gold Cup CIC3*. She beat her coach and friend, Tamra Smith who took second. Smith and her mount, Dempsey, an 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood, had a flawless clear show jumping round, finishing on 58.6. The only other double clear round in the division vaulted Bunnie Sexton and her own Rise Again from eighth place to third to finish on 61.0.
Shea credited her mount, "He's an honest trier and has taken care of me for a long time. I wasn't pleased with my ride but he took care of me today."
In the CCI3*, Buck Davidson finally broke his string of prior second place finishes at The Event at Rebecca Farm with dual victories. He piloted Carl Siegel and Sherrie Martin's 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse, Copper Beach, to a flowing clear round over Chris Barnard's iconic course.
Going into the arena, Davidson stood second behind Hannah Sue Burnett on Under Suspection, a Holsteiner owned by Mary Ann Ghadban. Davidson finished the competition with an overall score of 48.7. Overnight leader, Burnett, had one unlucky rail down, dropping her behind Davidson to a score of 49.6.
The two Pan American Games teammates congratulated each other heartily at the round's end.
"I'd never want anything bad happen to anyone else but I am really happy not to be second," Davidson grinned. "And it's great to have my friends here next to me," pointing to Burnett and CCI3* third place finisher, Hawley Bennett-Awad.
It was an emotional return to the three-star level for Bennett-Awad aboard her new mount, Jollybo, on whom she's had the ride only two months.
"I have unbelievable people behind me and one of them is Buck. To put my red coat on again is very special," said Bennett-Awad. Jollybo and Bennett-Awad finished in third place overall with a score of 57.9.
Article by Big Sky Public Relations
