PrintJessica Heidemann seemed to have The Event At Rebecca Farm CIC*** World Cup qualifier wrapped up as, the final rider of the division, she landed clear off her last show jumping fence, July 24-27 in Kalispell, Mont. She'd posted the division's only clear cross-country round, as well as the only clear show jumping round, to stand nearly 15 points ahead of her nearest competitor.
But when Heidemann turned the wrong way and exited the arena, missing the finish flags and eliminating herself from the competition, Robyn Fisher took over the title.
In close contention from the beginning, Fisher and Le Samurai put in a lovely dressage test to earn a 54.8 from judges Sally O'Connor and Julie Purgly.
"I did the Robert Dover clinic the week before the event," said Fisher, 25, of West Hills, Calif. "I was satisfied with our test but thought it could be better."
The score left her second behind Leigh Mesher and My Beau, on their score of 52.8.
On cross-country day, most of the 14 riders jumped clean, but time was the decisive factor. Fisher and Le Samurai (Sabotage--Heiali xx) ate up the course in fine form, incurring 5.6 penalty points to retain second place. Mesher added 10 points to her score, dropping her to third with a 62.8, and Heidemann and French Twist went double clear, propelling them to the lead with 59.7.
First of the top three to go in show jumping, Mesher and My Beau were eliminated for refusals. Next to go, Fisher had two rails and added 6 time penalties to finish on a score of 74.4.
"The wind started to blow really hard right when I started my round. Trees and fences were falling down all around us as we went around the course. Samurai is such an impeccable show jumper I really think he would have been clean if jumps weren't falling down around us!" said Fisher.
Fisher and Le Samurai were declared the winners, and Canadian Hawley Bennett and Livingstone claimed second.
Fisher earned the chance to represent the United States in Malm?weden, at the FEI World Cup Final, in August. Heidemann will join her there, as she won the qual-ifier at Galway Downs (Calif.) this spring.
Thompson Tops CIC**
Shannon Thompson and her 9-year-old, Thoroughbred gelding Zingaroo came from behind to win the CIC**. Making it to the end was a feat in itself with only eight riders out of 17 completing the competition.
In eighth place after dressage, with 65.9, Thompson, 23, of British Columbia, Canada, had her best test ever. "We have little international experience, and dressage is always challenging for us. [Zingaroo] is limited by his movement, but I was really proud of him," she said.
Only five riders made it around Capt. Mark Phillips' cross-country course without jump penalties, and Thompson was one of them. The culprit was a combination of skinny hedges that surprised horses after coming through "The Booby Trap" mounds. Few riders in the two-star or the open intermediate division had a smooth ride over the hedges.
"We had a rough go through there," said Thompson. "We kind of banked the hedge, but that says it all why he is such an amazing horse!"
Adding 2.4 time penalties, Thompson moved up to second place behind Sandra Donnelly, who withdrew first-placed Whiz Kid before show jumping due to a fall on her three-star horse. Now in the lead going into show jumping, Thompson lowered only one rail for the win.
But when Heidemann turned the wrong way and exited the arena, missing the finish flags and eliminating herself from the competition, Robyn Fisher took over the title.
In close contention from the beginning, Fisher and Le Samurai put in a lovely dressage test to earn a 54.8 from judges Sally O'Connor and Julie Purgly.
"I did the Robert Dover clinic the week before the event," said Fisher, 25, of West Hills, Calif. "I was satisfied with our test but thought it could be better."
The score left her second behind Leigh Mesher and My Beau, on their score of 52.8.
On cross-country day, most of the 14 riders jumped clean, but time was the decisive factor. Fisher and Le Samurai (Sabotage--Heiali xx) ate up the course in fine form, incurring 5.6 penalty points to retain second place. Mesher added 10 points to her score, dropping her to third with a 62.8, and Heidemann and French Twist went double clear, propelling them to the lead with 59.7.
First of the top three to go in show jumping, Mesher and My Beau were eliminated for refusals. Next to go, Fisher had two rails and added 6 time penalties to finish on a score of 74.4.
"The wind started to blow really hard right when I started my round. Trees and fences were falling down all around us as we went around the course. Samurai is such an impeccable show jumper I really think he would have been clean if jumps weren't falling down around us!" said Fisher.
Fisher and Le Samurai were declared the winners, and Canadian Hawley Bennett and Livingstone claimed second.
Fisher earned the chance to represent the United States in Malm?weden, at the FEI World Cup Final, in August. Heidemann will join her there, as she won the qual-ifier at Galway Downs (Calif.) this spring.
Thompson Tops CIC**
Shannon Thompson and her 9-year-old, Thoroughbred gelding Zingaroo came from behind to win the CIC**. Making it to the end was a feat in itself with only eight riders out of 17 completing the competition.
In eighth place after dressage, with 65.9, Thompson, 23, of British Columbia, Canada, had her best test ever. "We have little international experience, and dressage is always challenging for us. [Zingaroo] is limited by his movement, but I was really proud of him," she said.
Only five riders made it around Capt. Mark Phillips' cross-country course without jump penalties, and Thompson was one of them. The culprit was a combination of skinny hedges that surprised horses after coming through "The Booby Trap" mounds. Few riders in the two-star or the open intermediate division had a smooth ride over the hedges.
"We had a rough go through there," said Thompson. "We kind of banked the hedge, but that says it all why he is such an amazing horse!"
Adding 2.4 time penalties, Thompson moved up to second place behind Sandra Donnelly, who withdrew first-placed Whiz Kid before show jumping due to a fall on her three-star horse. Now in the lead going into show jumping, Thompson lowered only one rail for the win.
