It was a “shock and a pleasant surprise” for Kristi Nunnink to be charging around the Rebecca Farm show jump arena on July 28 as this year’s winner of the The Event at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Mont. Nunnink was also last year’s winner of the CIC*** division.
Today’s show jumping was a test of boldness, accuracy and control, and Nunnink was the only rider to complete the show jumping phase without any penalties, moving from fifth place to the top position. See full results of all divisions.
“R-Star’s show jumping is her forte,” said Nunnink. “I always feel rather confident and calm going into the final competition. I think she’s jumping even better than last year.”
Katie Ruppel and Houdini had 4 faults for a rail and no time penalties to move them from the fourth position to the second spot. “For a 9-year old in only his third CIC three-star competition, I’m very happy for him,” said Ruppel. “He put on a great performance — even after shipping all this way. It was about a 40-hour trip for us (from Florida), so I’m very thrilled with him.”
After cross-country, Groesbeck had been sitting first and second with her two full brothers, Oz Poof Of Purchase and Oz The Tin Man, but she admitted that her show jumping is a work in progress. Four jump penalties and 4 time penalties for Groesbeck on Oz The Tin Man moved them from second place to third. Her other horse, Oz Poof of Purchase, had a rail and 4 time penalties to drop them to eighth.
“I was really proud of both horses,” said Groesbeck. “After running so hard yesterday, they both came back and felt really fresh and ready to have at it again today. This was Oz Poof of Purchase’s first CIC three-star, and even though we had some unfortunate rails today, his heart and his mind were in the right place. So, we’re going to go home and keep working hard. My other horse, Oz The Tin Man, is a little machine. We had an unlucky rail at the first fence, due to my nerves, and I was a bit behind the pace. But, he tried his heart out, and put in a solid weekend in all three phases.”
Regarding The Event at Rebecca Farm, Nunnink said, “The Event gets better every year. Those of us from California or the West Coast are so happy to have the Broussards promoting the sport. And I’m always amazed at how beautiful the cross-country footing is. It’s like a golf course.”
Ruppel agreed, “I’m really grateful to the Broussards—they’ve been a big supporter of West Coast riders for a long time. But, I’m very grateful that they are extending their generosity to us East-Coasters, too, and for giving us the Rebecca Broussard International Rider Grant. That’s the only way I could come out here. I’m so thankful to the family for encouraging us to make this journey. Time-wise, we had to step away from our business to come here for a week and a half. It was a lot of effort and it’s hard to do many trips like that in a year, without some sort of help.”
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“I could not be here without the grant, either,” said Groesbeck. “I think Becky’s vision for developing top U.S. horse and riders is coming to fruition. Every year this competition gets better, and I think that as our upper-level competitions improve, the riders and horses will step up to the plate. There are more incentives and opportunities now to go places and to pursue upper-level goals. I am that rider. When I was competing at the lower levels, I never dreamed I would be up here. But, you get support from grants like this and you can start to do the things that you never imagined possible.”
Two years ago, the Broussard Family established the Rebecca Broussard International Rider Grant. Over five years, the grant will award over $50,000 annually to event riders competing at the advanced level in an effort to relieve training, competition and travel costs. The first portion of the grants, amounting to over $20,000, are awarded annually to several riders, to assist with their travel to The Event at Rebecca Farm to compete in the CIC*** division. The international portion of the Rebecca Broussard Grant, amounting to $30,000 is awarded to an individual rider to assist with the expenses incurred while competing internationally. The grant is bestowed by the Broussard Family in memory of Rebecca Chaney Broussard and is the fulfillment of her desire to help riders achieve the goal of representing the U.S. in international team competition.
For more information, visit the event’s website.
Top CIC*** Final Results:
CCI***
1. Kristi Nunnink, of Auburn, Calif., on her own R-Star
2. Katie Ruppel, of Anthony, Fla., on her own Houdini
3. Katherine Groesbeck, of Temecula, Calif., on her own Oz The Tin Man
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4. Lauren Billys, of Columbia Falls, Mont., on her own Ballingowan Ginger
5. Zachary Brandt, of San Martin, Calif.on his own Cavallino Cocktail
6. Geriann Henderson, of Florissant, Colo., on her own Kingslee
7. Ellen Doughty, of Forney, Texason her own Sir Oberon
8. Katherine Groesbeck, of Temecula, Calif., on Teresa Groesbeck’s Oz Poof of Purchase
9. Emilee Libby, of Temecula, Calif., on her own Nonsensical
10. Pam Fisher, of Los Alamos, Calif., on her own Sea Lion II