Boekelo, the Netherlands—Oct. 10
The second day of dressage at the Military Boekelo CCIO*** wrapped up on Friday in Boekelo, the Netherlands, and U.S. rider Clark Montgomery has taken the lead aboard Loughan Glen.
Strong performances in the first phase have put the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team in second place with a score of 139.60, with Sue Benson’s cross-country track to come on Saturday. USEF Land Rover Competition Grant recipients Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen led the way for the U.S. contingent, going into the lead on Friday in the field of 89 competitors.
Montgomery, who is now based in Wiltshire, England, and the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Jessica Montgomery, Kathryn Kraft, and Holly and William Becker had an excellent test in front of the Ground Jury made up of Anne-Mette Binder (DEN), Christoph Hess (GER), and Angela Tucker (GBR). The pair delivered one of their trademark tests with fluid movements and quality trot and canter work to receive a score of 35.20, putting them atop the leaderboard.
“I’m thrilled with our performance today and looking forward to the cross country! The weather is cooperating so we should have good footing, but Sue has built a challenging enough course, which should make for a good day of cross country competition,” Montgomery said.
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After earning a score of 47.90 on Thursday, Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp (East Sussex, UK) and Deborah Halliday’s Fernhill by Night sit in 20th place heading into Saturday. Tiana Coudray (Ojai, Calif.) and her own and Jatial Ltd’s Kinnordy Rivaldo also performed their dressage test on Thursday and stand 59th with a score of 56.50.
Sharon White (Summit Point, W.Va.) withdrew Mary Ann Ghadban’s Under Suspection prior to their dressage test on Friday afternoon. The 10-year-old Holsteiner mare has not been feeling herself and White along with the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team veterinarians are working to make a plan for Under Suspection to return to top form.
Great Britain leads the Nations Cup standings at the Military Boekelo CCIO3* with a score of 137.10, only 2.5 points ahead of the U.S. Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team.
