Ryan Wood and Powell (photo courtesy Shannon Brinkman)
Australia’s Ryan Wood riding Powell led from start to finish to take the championship title in the CCI*** at the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event (JFI) in the USA on Sunday with a score of 46.0 penalties. Boyd Martin (USA) riding Welcome Shadow finished second and won the Gladstone National Open Trophy as the leading US rider with 46.3 penalties. Canada's Jessica Phoenix was third with 49.2 penalties on Bentleys Best.
This was the first CCI*** victory for Wood and the first time Powell ever competed in a CCI*** which made the clear show jumping round on Sunday all that more impressive.
"He was fresh as a daisy, he had a good night's sleep," said Wood of the 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding. "He warmed up great then went in there and jumped his heart out. It's such a special event to win. Ilona (English) bred him and is local here and is a big supporter of Jersey Fresh, so it's pretty awesome to take the title."
As the owner of Powell, Ilona English of Summit Sporthorses was presented with the Owner's Award, sponsored by the Horse Park of New Jersey. English was also the breeder.
Boyd Martin and Welcome Shadow (Photo courtesy Shannon Brinkman)
The scores among the top three were so tight, there was no margin for error. A rail down in show jumping meant losing the title. Riding in reverse order of merit, Phoenix went fourth from last in the order and put the pressure on the remaining riders with a clear round.
"I'm really, really, proud of that horse," said Phoenix. "He's a green horse and this weekend I feel like he really came into his own. He put in three solid phases and really he couldn't have picked a better weekend to do that."
Phillip Dutton (USA) and Indian Mill, a horse recently bought from Paul Tapner, were next and had two rails dropping them down to fifth with 54.3 penalties. Dutton had a better round on Z, going clear and moving up from eighth to fourth on 52.4. Martin's clear round on Welcome Shadow secured the US title, but he needed Wood to make a mistake in order to take the championship, but Wood and Powell were flawless.
L-R: Wood, Phoenix, Martin (photo courtesy Shannon Brinkman)
Dutton did better in the CCI*, jumping from fifth place to first with a flawless performance on Sportsfield Candy in the final show jumping phase. He and his Irish Sport Horse also had a clear go on the cross country course on Saturday to finish on their dressage score of 48.8 penalties and take the win
"He was good, he's a really careful horse," said Dutton of the 9-year-old gelding. "He needed to do a CCI** for qualifications. I've had him at CIC*** all spring so this was a step down a little bit from what we have been doing, but I think it was a great experience for him. I am pleased for the horse in particular because he is quite talented."
Phillip Dutton and Sportsfield Candy (photo courtesy Shannon Brinkman)
Local rider Holly Payne Caravella and Bruisyard Hall were second with 50.3 penalties. This is the first CCI2* for the Thoroughbred and Payne Caravella was thrilled with his runner up finish. "He is definitely still a little green but he was super. I couldn't be happier," said Payne Caravella. As the highest placed Thoroughbred, Bruisyard Hall was also presented with the Jockey Club TIP Award given to the Thoroughbred that has gone on to another career after competing on the racetrack.
Will Faudree (USA) and Hans Dampf were third with 51.4 penalties. Hans Dampf was honoured with the Best Conditioned Horse Award, presented by Horseware Ireland. "He felt great this weekend. I'm starting to figure out how to ride him in the show jumping, which has been a little bit of a struggle this spring. We're starting to have a line of communication," said Faudree "He's a phenomenal horse. He's an incredible jumper, he's very competitive and he's very earnest about everything that he does. I am trying to solidify the partnership because I think he will be a very valuable horse for the US in the future."
