Fair Hill, Md. - Spectators were on the edge of their seats until the very last horse came through the finish flags Saturday at The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International Three-Day Event. While Derek di Grazia's challenging cross-country course shuffled much of the leaderboard, overnight leader Frankie Thieriot Stutes rose to the challenge, holding her lead of The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI3* Eventing National Championship.
Thieriot Stutes (Occidental, Calif.) put the pedal down with Chatwin, a 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by The Chatwin Group, to finish inside the time on their dressage score of 27.3. They were one of only two pairs to achieve this feat. The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation Jacqueline B. Mars International Competition National Developing Rider Grant recipient combination also holds onto the lead of the USEF Developing Rider National Championship, awarded to the highest-placed U.S. competitor in the CCI3* that is 18 years of age or older and who has not yet completed a CCI4* event.
"I just wanted to attack the course. I think it was mentally tough the whole way around for me. He has so much heart and I'm just really proud of [Chatwin] today and lucky be on him the whole round," Thieriot Stutes said.
Buck Davidson (Reddick, Fla.) and Archie Rocks made the cross-country course look deceptively easy as they finished a comfortable seven seconds inside the time, sitting second overall, as well as in The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI3* Eventing National Championship. Maya Simmons' 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding sits on his dressage score of 32.4.
"He's [Archie Rocks] a true thoroughbred, and he tries hard. We've developed a great partnership. He's very fast and very honest and he gave me a great ride today. He was terrific," Davidson said.
Boyd Martin (Cochranville, Pa.), a two-time CCI3* winner at Fair Hill International, had a banner day, taking over the lead of the CCI2* with On Cue and moving into third overall, as well as in The Dutta Corp./USEF Eventing National Championship in the CCI3* with Long Island T.
Long Island T, a 12-year-old Oldenburg Thoroughbred gelding owned by the Long Island T Syndicate, cruised easily around the track, adding just four time penalties for a score of 33.4.
Martin and On Cue were confident and quick to take over the lead of The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI2* Eventing National Championship. Coming through the finish 14 seconds under the clock, Martin and the 12-year-old Selle Francais mare were the fastest pair of the day to stay on a score of 23.7.
"She sailed around the course today," Martin said. "She's all class. She's got a huge stride and did the time quite easily. I think she's going to be strong horse for the future."
Emily Beshear (Somerset, Va.) and Jennifer Eisenbrandt's Olney Uncle Sam had one of only five double-clear cross-country rounds to move into second place overall and in The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI2* Eventing National Championship. She and the 11-year-old Trakehner gelding remain on their dressage score of 26.8.
Will Faudree (Southern Pines, N.C.) and Michel 233, an 8-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Silver Stables, moved into third place after an impressive cross-country performance that had them adding only 1.2 time penalties. They carry a score of 28.3 into the final phase.
Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) with Sea of Clouds, Sea of Clouds Partnership’s seven-year-old Thoroughbred gelding move into first place in the USEF Young Horse Eventing National Championship, awarded to the owner of the highest-placed U.S. horse that is six or seven years of age in the CCI2*, on a score of 32.20 for eighth place overall. Mia Farley (San Clemente, Calif.) and her BGS Firecracker, an eight-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare, sit on a score of 31.90 and continue to lead in the USEF Young Rider Eventing National Championship, awarded in the CCI2* to highest-placed U.S. competitor who is 16 years of age to 21 years of age during the current competition year.
The 30th Anniversary continues Sunday, Oct. 21, with the nail-biting show jumping phase.
The Dutta Corp. is proud to sponsor the U.S. Equestrian Federation and is honored that the USEF has chosen to provide a The Dutta Corp. flight to the winner of The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI3* Eventing National Championship as the top-placing U.S. rider in The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International's CCI3* competition.
Competition Information
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of The Dutta Corp., the event's title sponsor. The Dutta Corporation is an international and domestic horse shipping company founded by J. Tim Dutta. It has been expanding rapidly since its inception in 1988 and particularly so in the last twenty years. With state-of-the-art jet stalls and an expert team of grooms, The Dutta Corp. provides horse air transport solutions tailored to each individual horse.
Click here for more information on The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International.
Follow US Equestrian
Stay up to date on U.S. Eventing by following US Equestrian on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and USA Eventing on Facebook. Use #USAEventing.
The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members.