Allentown, N.J. – May 15   

There were no victory gallops, no pumping the air with glee and no trademark excitement from announcer Brian O’Connor as the Jersey Fresh International wrapped up this afternoon.

Instead slight smiles, pats and quiet applause followed each show jumping round as the CCI** and CCI*** divisions named their winners following a tragic day on Saturday that saw the death of Philippa Humphreys from a rotational fall on cross-country and Skyler Decker’s Inoui Van Bost, who was euthanized due to a cross-country injury.

Riders met last night and decided to continue the event in honor of Humphreys. Each one wore a blue ribbon in her honor and the event held an emotional tribute this morning before the start of show jumping. It was also announced that a college fund has been set up for Humphreys’ 6-month-old daughter Millie.

“The riders and our event committee thought the best way to honor Philippa was to continue the competition here today, and with her in mind, that is what we are doing,” said O’Connor, his voice shaking. “We take these next few moments to honor and remember one of our own. Philippa was one of our team. The eventing team is worldwide, and we all share in this terrible loss. We know that the risks in life sometimes have tough consequences, but we have to soldier on [and] keep the memories of those we’ve lost alive in our hearts and thoughts. The Jersey Fresh organizers, and all of us in eventing, will remember Philippa as a lovely person, a great wife and mom, avid competitor and a terrific horsewoman. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends.”

Boyd Martin, who finished second in the CCI*** with Welcome Shadow behind Ryan Wood on Powell, was close with Humphreys.

“For me it’s a very, very hard event to celebrate,” he said. “Yesterday was just one of the worst days I’ve ever experienced in eventing, and for me I was thrilled with my horse, but it’s pretty had to punch the air and yell and shout just because it’s an absolutely miserable weekend, and everyone’s thoughts and feelings are with Philippa’s family at the moment.”

Wood, who led the event from start to finish on Ilona English’s homebred gelding, said the mood at the barn was somber.

“Everyone is very quiet. It’s a gray sort of sad feeling around the barn,” he said. “I feel sad and feel sorry for Pete and Millie and their family. Philippa was such a beautiful person. To lose a teammate in competition is heartbreaking.”

Ryan Wood and Powell. Photo by Lindsay Berreth.

As Wood completed his clear show jumping round over Sally Ike’s track, he smiled slightly, happy to have won his first CCI***, but humble in his victory.

“It’s such a special event to win. Ilona bred him and is local here and is a big supporter of Jersey Fresh, so it’s pretty awesome to take the title,” he said. “I wasn’t preparing too much. I was not getting too caught up in it—just going out and doing the best I can and hopefully that results in a clear round.”

Martin, who’s a close friend and fellow native Australian, was proud to see Wood win his first big event in what’s proving to be his break out year.

Wood takes his time with his horses, bringing them through the levels, and after eight hard years of work since moving to the U.S., he’s finally reaping the rewards with his Jersey Fresh victory, and completing the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** on two horses two weeks ago.

“I’m obviously thrilled for him. It’s been what I call a real gutsy effort. He won the dressage, was supurb yesterday on the cross-country, and the horse jumped out of his skin today,” he said. “Woodsy’s been slugging it out in America since he got here. To start with, nothing went to plan when he came over, but instead of going home with his tail between his legs, he worked away very, very hard, and this year we’re just starting to see him back at his best.”

Boyd Martin and Welcome Shadow. Photo by Lindsay Berreth.

He’s riding a couple of horses around a four-star, winning three-stars—in my opinion I think the Australians should look at him for the Olympic team just because for that particular format it’s going to be a softer format, and this horse has got the potential to get in the 30s in the dressage and is obviously a great cross-country horse and a clean jumper. Australia is a bit weak at the moment, so I’m not sure if that will happen, but I know from my personal experience it’s hard being Australian in America. You’re a bit off the beaten path, but an FEI result like this speaks for itself.”

Rails proved costly over Ike’s course, with only seven of 24 combinations jumping double-clear.

Phillip Dutton and Indian Mill, who were tied for second with Martin, dropped two rails to fall to fifth, but he moved up to fourth with a double-clear on Z. Canadian Jessica Phoenix and Bentley’s Best moved up to finish third with a double-clear in the gelding’s first CCI***.

Dutton Steps Into CCI** Winners Circle

After Dutton emerged victorious in the CCI** with Sportsfield Candy there was no jubilous celebration. To him, while the eventing community was still freshly mourning Humphrey’s death, a raucous victory gallop was not appropriate.

Instead he led his fellow riders in a quite walk out in a sign of respect.

“Obviously it was a terrible day,” he said. “I’d like to think that we sort of—‚we all understand the risks and understand it going into this, but it’s always pretty shocking when the ultimate happens.”

Overnight leaders, California pair Frankie Thieriot Stutes and Chatwin, had a rail in hand, however two dropped rails in the triple combination knocked them out of contention, paving the way for Dutton, who jumped a double clear round with Patricia Vos’ 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse.

Phillip Dutton and Sportsfield Candy. Photo by Kimberly Loushin.

Though the gelding has contested tough advanced courses earlier this spring, he was missing a crucial CCI** qualification, so Dutton elected to get that qualification at Jersey Fresh. “Candy” is a newer ride for Dutton, Jennifer Simmons produced the horse to the two-star level before he was sent to Dutton as a sales horse.

“It was good,” said Dutton. “He’s a very careful horse. I can’t take too much of the credit, Jenn Simmons brought him over from Ireland, so I’ve just had him this year. I think it was a great experience for him, and I’m pleased for the horse in particular because he’s quite a talented horse.”

Holly Payne Caravella started the competition with Bruisyard Hall, an off-the-track 9-year-old Thoroughbred, owned by Shelby Godfrey in second place, and she held that position all weekend. The pair added a rail to their score, preventing them from taking the title to finish on a 50.3.

“I’m thrilled because he’s definitely still a little green, but he was super. He was super all weekend,” she said. “He had his moments, but I couldn’t be happier with him.”

Faudree also elected to step his mount Hans Dampf down for the weekend. Though the 10-year-old Oldenburg owned by Jennifer Mosing has previously competed at the three-star level, Faudree felt it was important to take a step back to further build his partnership with the horse.

Holly Payne Caravella and Bruisyard Hall. Photo by Kimberly Loushin.

“This weekend it was a step down for him, but really a step up in our partnership together,” said Faudree. “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. Yesterday it was great to go around the track because I felt that it helped solidify more of us understanding each other because we don’t always speak the same language, so to speak. We starting to have a line of communication.

“He’s phenomenal horse. I’ve said that from the beginning. He’s an incredible jumper; he’s very competitive; he’s very honest about everything that he does,” he continued. “I’m very happy with the decision to step down a level and just try to solidify  our partnership because I do think that he can be a valuable horse for the U.S. for the future.”

For full results, click here.