Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Moonshine Photo courtesy Shannon Brinkman
The Fork kicked off at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (TIEC) with Dressage to launch three days of international and national Eventing competition, with 225 entries presenting to the dressage judges.
Competition is open to the public and will continue through Sunday, April 10. Read below for updates and scores
Article by Sarah Madden for TIEC
Liz Halliday-Sharp Leads CCI4*-S and CCI3*-S Divisions
As eventers often say – cautiously or with relief – after the first phase, this weekend is not a Dressage show. However, if it were, Liz Halliday-Sharp (USA) would be smashing it and has set herself up with the lead in two divisions after her tours down centreline.
In the CCI4*-S division, Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Moonshine, the 2012 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Cobra x Kings Master) owned by The Monster Partnership, lead a field of 24 and hold a score of 26.0. Their nearest competitor at the moment is Will Coleman (USA) with Off the Record, who received a score of 27.2 with the 2009 Irish Sport Horse Gelding (VDL Arkansas x Ard Ohio) owned by Off The Record Syndicate.
Also sub-28, Boyd Martin (USA) and Tsetserleg, the 2007 Trakehner gelding (Windfall *PG* x Buddenbrock) owned by Christine, Thomas IV and Tommie Turner, earned a score of 27.7 to sit in third heading into the Show Jumping phase.
Recovering from an injury, Halliday-Sharp reported that her tests were not at the level she knows they could be, but that it still felt good to be on top. “They’re both really, really lovely horses, and both somewhat inexperienced at this level, I suppose.” Cooley Moonshine did “a couple” four-stars last year, and it’s Shanroe Cooley’s debut at the CCI 3*-S level.
“I suppose the best part was that I came out of both tests saying, ‘Well, that wasn’t quite as good as it will be,’ knowing that they both need to get stronger,” Halliday-Sharp mused.
“And there were a few bits that weren’t quite as polished as it could be. So, it’s always nice to get that sort of score knowing that it’s not the very best test they’ve ever done. I think the world of both of them, I think they have a huge future, and it was nice to come out and be able to be at the top.”
The CCI3*-S Division may be a bit smaller than the CCI 4*-S cohort, but Halliday-Sharp and Shanroe Cooley nevertheless turned in a score of 26.4 to hold first position after day one.
Lucienne Bellissimo (GBR) and Dyri, the 2012 Holsteiner gelding (Diarado x King Milford XX) owned by Horse Scout Eventing, are in pursuit with a score of 27.8, while third position currently belongs to Phillip Dutton (USA) and Cooley HHS Calmaria, the 2013 Irish Sport Horse mare (Cyrano 145 x unknown) owned by Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp, after their 28.6 point performance.
Doug Payne and Starr Witness ©Shannon Brinkman Photography
Advanced Divisions Led by Doug Payne and Tamie Smith
Doug Payne (USA) piloted Starr Witness to the lead in the Advanced Test A division, scoring 28.0. Will Coleman (USA) and Don Dante, the 2010 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Pachio x Unknown) owned by Team Rebecca, LLC, earned a score of 30.5 to sit in reserve, while Sarah Kuhn (USA) and Mr. Cash van de Start, the 2012 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Deauville van de Start x Toulon) owned by Deborah Kuhn, earned a 32.7 for third.
“She’s just been an absolute pleasure to have,” Payne said of the 2011 Dutch Warmblood mare (Chello III VDL x Veneur) owned by Laurie H. McRee, Doug Payne and Catherine Winter.
“We’re very lucky to have the support of [her owners] in with her, because she’s a very, very special horse. She’s 11 now, and she’s just getting there, really, where she’s strong enough and competent enough to really take a shot at it. I’m excited to see what the future holds for her.”
Payne is using this weekend to prep “Ginja” and others in his string for the 4*-L competition taking place at TIEC in May, noting that it’s always useful to gain experience at a venue in advance of competition. “I think it’s always good to get a bit of insight, and especially with horses that are just moving up and are a little bit green to the level, to give them a slight introduction to what I think would be a little bit tougher and obviously a little longer the next time,” he concluded.
Tamie Smith and Mai Baum ©Shannon Brinkman Photography
Tamie Smith (USA) and Mai Baum, the 2006 German Sport Horse gelding (Loredano 2 x Rike) who is listed for Badminton, blew Advanced Test B Division competition out of the water, scoring a 21.1 for the lowest Dressage score of the day across all divisions.
Leslie Law (GBR) and Tre Book’s Voltaire De Tre, the 2009 Selle Francais gelding (Gentleman IV x Socrate De Chivre) , scored 29.3 to sit in reserve. Will Faudree (USA) and Mama’s Magic Way, the 2011 Hanoverian gelding (Mighty Magic x Star Regent XX) owned by Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Silver Stables, sit on a score of 30.2 in third.
Smith seemed to ride at all the windiest moments of the day, she noted, but was proud of all her rides, she reported.
“[Mai Baum] was phenomenal. He was a little bit wired, though I could feel it and you couldn’t really see it so much. He’s just so consistent now,” she emphasized. “They all felt really great, despite the weather.”
Smith is also excited to jump in Tryon Stadium Saturday evening. “It’s so great to jump in that stadium under the lights, so I’m looking forward to that.”
Doug Payne and Fenix Rouge Du Claux ©Shannon Brinkman Photography
Doug Payne and Fenix Rouge Du Claux Dominate CCI 2*-S Division
Scoring the only sub-30 score of the CCI 2*-S Division, Doug Payne (USA) and Fenix Rouge Du Claux currently lead on a score of 29.9 points. Lisa Borgia (USA) and Silmarillion, the 2013 Thoroughbred gelding (Joey Franco x Little Missouri) owned by Lisa Borgia, scored 30.3 for reserve at the moment and Caitlin Romeo (USA) rode to a score of 31.8 for third with Fernhill B Good, the 2015 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Ramiro B x Lord de Luxe) owned by Caitlin Romeo.
Payne and the 2015 Selle Francais gelding (Chef Rouge x Fleuron de Dun) owned by Anna Antrobius have been working together as part of a tune-up for his young rider, Payne shared. “We’ve had him now just for a couple of months. But actually, after this competition, he’s going to go back to her, for her to campaign.
“He’s a lovely horse,” Payne reported. “He’s super consistent and steady, which is a really nice change. He’s not one that would get nervous, and he’s quite confident on the flat. Aside from one little miscommunication I thought he put in a very good test, really.”
On the whole, Payne noted, he’s riding horses at new levels where Dressage is their weakest phase, and he’s excited to tackle Show Jumping and Cross-Country in the coming days.
“We’re very, very lucky to have a great group of horses here. They’re all quite strong in Jumping, you know, as a generalization, and conditions here are always very good. I’m absolutely looking forward to it.”
For full Dressage results from The Fork at TIEC, clickhttps://evententries.com/#LiveScores8ndqf06Jb$ej0r6m6Nn5Ag== here.
Competition continues through Sunday, April 10, with competition open to the public and no live stream available. Saturday will host Cross-Country competition for levels Beginner Novice through Preliminary, 9am-4:20pm. Show Jumping for Intermediate, Advanced, and all FEI levels will take place in Tryon Stadium Saturday from 3pm-9pm. Sunday will feature Cross-Country competition for the upper levels 8am-3:40pm, with Show Jumping in Tryon Stadium taking place from 9am-3:30pm for the lower national levels.
