Elkton, Md.— April 14

Matt Flynn secured the first international win of his career Saturday at Fair Hill International, taking top honors in the CIC*** with Flynn Sport Horses’ Get Lucky.

After producing a faultless trip around Marc Donovan’s new show jumping track, Flynn and the three-star first-timer navigated boldly around Derek di Grazia’s cross-country course, adding only 5.2 time penalties for a finishing result of 36.5.

“He was great,” said Flynn of the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Van Gogh—Ranna). “I really went for it on him time-wise. The corners on the way home [18AB] were pretty tough out there. He jumped straight through it and was really honest all the way around.

“He’s a bit of a spooky horse, so it takes a few runs in the spring to get out and going,” he continued. “This is a good place for him because it has open tracks that are great galloping. It was nice to really let him gallop. This is an awesome venue for cross-country riding.”

A clear round boosted Will Coleman and Off The Record, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse (VDL Arkansas—Drumagoland Bay) owned by the Off The Record Syndicate, into second place. The 2017 USEF Fall National CCI** reserve champions added 7.2 time penalties for a three-phase score of 39.8.

Kristen Bond piloted Liz Bond’s Enough Already to a top-three finish—a career best at this level for Bond. This CIC*** was a first for the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Winningmood Van De Arenburg—Zandora), and he added just one time penalty in the show jumping and 9.2 across the country to finish on 43.4 points.

“The last time I did a three-star was in 2011,” said Bond. “It has taken a super long time for me to get back to where I felt like myself [after having children]. I can definitely say it felt normal to me today. My horse is a freak of an athlete. He’s incredible. It’s been a long time since I finished a course and thought, ‘That was fun!’ ”

Of the 14 cross-country starters in the group, nine avoided jump penalties, with the fastest ride of the day going to sixth-placed Kaitlin Clasing on her own Cartender De Nyze. They finished 8 seconds over optimum time for a final score of 46.8.

Will Faudree was the big winner in the CIC** aboard Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Silver Stables’ Hans Dampf. Coming home 1 second over the time, this pair picked up 0.4 penalties for a winning result of 27.7.

“He felt great,” said Faudree of the 12-year-old Oldenburg (Heraldik xx—Look CR). “He hadn’t been out in a year, but I think he was pretty happy to be back. He felt like his old self. Because he hasn’t been out I thought he might back off the fences, but he was foot perfect the whole way around.”

Ryan Keefe and Rumsey Keefe’s Flintstar moved into second place after securing one of only four double-clear rounds in the 19-entry division.

The 18-year-old Thoroughbred (Zabalu—Croftlea Firequeen) finished on his dressage score of 31.3. Lindsay Kelley also climbed the leaderboard Saturday, ending in third on 35.4 points with Cooley Cruise Control, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Chacoa—Castlequarter Royale) owned by the Cooley Cruise Control Syndicate.

Kara Angulo’s Metallica continued her reign over the CIC* after the jumping phases with Kelli Temple in the tack. The 8-year-old Holsteiner (Cancara—Ulysses) sailed smoothly to the win in this division on a score of 28.5 with one rail down and no penalties added on cross-country.

The top three remained the same after Saturday’s jumping phases with Mike Pendleton and Olivia Dutton finishing second and third, respectively. Pendleton and The Fonz Himself, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Vincenzo Vant Merelsnest—Jadore Chanel) owned by Bonnie Stedt, had one pole down and 3 seconds extra on cross-country for finishing score of 29.5.

Dutton also had one rail with Mr. Medicott, a 19-year-old Irish Sport Horse owned by the Mr. Medicott Syndicate, to close the weekend out on 31.6 points.

Fair Hill International was also pleased to host riders preparing for the Land Rover Kentucky Three Day Event, held April 26-29. These pairs performed a four-star dressage test Friday and jumped around Donovan’s advanced show jumping track Saturday.

Click here for scores.