Top Six Triumphant Moments at Great Meadow International – Originally posted by Eventing Connect
By Sable Giesler – Jul 10, 2018 – Sponsored by MD Barnmaster
Photo via Lesley Leslie Grant-Law on Facebook
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Top six triumphant moments at Great Meadow International – Sponsored by MD Barnmaster
Top pairs from around the world were contesting at the Great Meadow International CICO3* Nations Cup event over the weekend. This is the only Nations Cup event held in North America and the fifth leg of the series. With many Great Britain fielding a team and Canada and the USA sending their very best to this event, the competition was intense, and there were some serious accomplishments made.
Let’s take a moment and celebrate the “Top six triumphant moments” at Great Meadow this year.
1) Ben Hobday (GBR) and Shadow Man’s perfect show jumping round. Ben and Shadow Man, an 8-year-old British-bred gelding, led the field heading into cross-country after their perfect show jumping round. Shadow Man was the youngest horse in the field, and he proved he is one to watch in the future. 20 jumping penalties on cross-country cost them their lead, but they still finished in a respectable 16th place.
2) Jessica Phoenix (CAN) and Pavarotti making Canada proud with their top-three finish. This pair will hopefully represent Canada the fast approaching 2018 Tryon World Equestrian Games. Jessica has been the top Canadian at numerous events in the past, and she reminded everyone at this event that she is a force. She piloted her other ride, Bogue Sound, around cross-country double clear to finish in 12th place. #GoCanada.
3) Caroline Martin (USA) and Islandwood Captain Jack adding only 2.8 cross-country time penalties to their dressage score to climb the leaderboard from 41st to 6th. This pair made the biggest climb up the leaderboard this weekend. It is not very often that the jumping phases are so influential that you can end your weekend with a top-ten finish after starting in 41st. The new FEI scoring, which has dropped the dressage coefficient certainly helped this pair out over the weekend and deservedly so.
4) Great Britain claiming the team victory. The British demonstrated that they are an Eventing powerhouse by winning the team competition by nearly 20 penalty points. The team members were Ben Hobday and Shadow Man, Georgie Spence and Halltown Harley, Sophie Brown and Wil, and Leslie Law and Voltaire De Tre. The United States better up their game if they want to medal at the World Equestrian Games on home turf later this year.
5) Georgie Spence (GBR) and Halltown Harley finishing in 2nd place after adding nothing to their 35.2 dressage score – the only pair to finish fault-free at this event. This duo moved up from 22nd place after dressage to 2nd place helping their team take the win.
6) Will Coleman (USA) delivering a double clear cross-country round aboard Off The Record to clinch the individual win. Time mattered on cross-country for this duo and they only won by .1 penalty points. But Will had no difficulties laying down a speedy clear round under pressure. Making this win even more impressive, is the fact this was only Off The Record’s second CIC3* competition. In 2022, this pair could easily earn a spot on the World Equestrian Games team.
