The second installment of the MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill concluded today (October 16) with the completion of the show jump phase for both the CCI3* and CCI5* divisions.
Overall, 21 of 25 CCI5* competitors finished the competition. One horse was not accepted at the first inspection, two retired on cross-country and one withdrew before the final horse inspection.
In the CCI3*, 42 out of 58 riders completed all phases. There were 33 double clear rounds on cross-country and eight riders finished the weekend on their dressage scores.
Tim Price (NZ) wins this year’s MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill with Coup de Coeur Dudevin!
CCI5* Recap
After moving into the lead with a double clean cross-country round, the number one eventer in the world Tim Price kept his number one spot by winning this year’s CCI5*! New Zealander Tim Price brought Coup de Coeur Dudevin, a 10-year-old Selle Franceis to the states this year for his second run at the MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill. It was the gelding’s first CCI5* and he finished the week with only 0.8 time faults in show jumping added to his dressage score of 27.4.
In second place, and the top U.S. rider, was Tamra Smith of California. She rode Danito to sixth after dressage and then moved up to second after jumping clean and inside the time on cross-country. They jumped clean in show jumping as well adding 0.4 time faults to their score.
Third place went to Oliver Townend of Great Britain riding As Is. They were the only pair in the top there to finish on their dressage score, which was a 29.9%. The pair were in 10th after dressage, moved up to third after cross-country and stayed there after show jumping.
Doug Payne rode the Maryland-bred Quantum Leap to a ninth place finish overall. Bred by Elizabeth Callahan, Quantum Leap and Payne scored a 29.5% in dressage to be in seventh headed into cross-country. They jumped clean but added a few time faults dropping down to ninth place, which is where they stayed after two dropped rails in show jumping.
Former Marylander Lillian Heard had a great weekend with LCC Barnaby moving up from 15th after dressage to finish in 11th overall. They jumped clean cross-country with a few time faults and had one rail with some time in show jumping.
Also noteworthy was Hannah Sue Hollberg (PA) who finished her 12th CCI5* with her longtime partner Harbour Pilot. Owned and bred by Jacqueline Mars, the 19-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding finished his international career with a 10th place.
CCI3* Recap
At the conclusion of the CCI3* it was U.S. rider Elisa Wallace who reigned supreme riding Renkum Corsiar to the win. Wallace, who is based in Florida, was in second place after dressage with a 26.4%. She and the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding jumped clean and inside the time on cross-county, but so did overnight leaders Hannah Sue Hollberg (PA) and Capitol HIM.
Heading into the final phase of competition, show jumping on October 16, Wallace jumped clean and inside the time so remained in second. Hollberg and Capitol HIM had a bit of trouble on course dropping three rails and adding 8 time faults which moved them out of the ribbons and moved Wallace up into the top spot.
The CCI3* podium ended up being swept by the ladies as Jennifer Caras of Georgia jumped double clean with Sommersby to moved from 11th all the way up to second place. Cassie Sanger of Connecticut dropped one rail to finish in third aboard Fernhill Zoro.
The Maryland connected entries finished outside the top 10 but all finished the competition. MCTA member Sarah Cousins, based in Pennsylvania and riding the OTTB Syndicate’s Wizard, finished in 17th overall after putting in the first double clean show jumping round in the CCI3*. A few members of the OTTB Syndicate owners hail from Maryland!
Savannah Fulton of Finksburg rode Nelson Warnell’s Thoroughbred Cash Point to 35th place overall. The pair scored a 33.5% in dressage to sit in 34th place going into cross-county and had a lovely clear jumping round. Several time faults dropped them down to 41st place but they moved back up to 35th after dropping one rail in show jumping on the final day of competition.
Former Marylander Daniel Clasing, now based in Virginia, had four rails down in show jumping after jumping double clean on cross-country to finish 28th. Lillian Heard, also hailing from Maryland but now based in Pennsylvania, shared Clasing’s fate having a double clean cross-country round followed by four rails in show jumping. The pair finished 31st overall.
The Maryland-bred Hanovarian Spartacus Q, bred by Suzanne Quarles and ridden by Anna Loschiavo of Vermont, was sitting in the top 10 going into show jumping after jumping double clean on cross-county. The pair had an unfortunate five rails to finish in 30th overall. Also bred in Maryland is Doug Payne’s Oldenburg stallion Quiberon, bred by Elizabeth Callahan. The pair had some faults on cross-county and in show jumping to finish in 36th place.
