by Katherine O. Rizzo
Friday, October 20, marked the conclusion of the Dutta Corp. East Coast Young Event Horse Championships held during the MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill in Elkton. The 4-Year-Old Championships took place on October 19 while the 5-Year-Old Championships were split over two days.
Shmick, a Zangersheide gelding ridden by Boyd Martin (PA), was crowned champion in the 5-Year-Old division on a final score of 92.82. The gelding was bred by Chris Brems and is owned by Anne Hennessey. The reserve championship honors went to Fernhill Bertus, ridden by Madison Temkin (CA). The Hanoverian gelding was bred by Willi Worters and is owned by Bet Brown.
Sydney Solomon of Dayton rode the Hanoverian mare Dark Magic C to 14th place overall. Dark Magic C is bred and owned by Dr. Laurie Cameron. Also competing in the 5-Year-Old Championships was the Maryland-bred Cleveland Bay mare Magnific C’Imagination. Ridden and owned by Julie Pifer (NJ), the mare was bred by Marcia Brody of Magnific Sporthorses in Middletown.
It was HSH Afterglow that won the 4-Year-Old Championship with owner Caroline Pamukcu (PA) in the irons. The Irish Sport Horse gelding was bred by Peter Leonard. Jennie Brannigan rode Blacklist to the reserve championship for owner Katherine O’Brien. The Holsteiner gelding was bred by Welling Heike.
There were five horses with Maryland connections in the 4-Year-Old Championships with Mia Force finishing the highest in 30th place. The Thoroughbred mare is owned by Marylander Elizabeth Callahan of Oxford and was ridden by Sarah Cousins (PA). Daryl Layfield-Insley of Princess Anne rode his own Thoroughbred gelding Exmoor Excalibur to 32nd place.
The three Maryland-breds did not have the best showing in the 4-Year-Old division with Utah Beach, bred by Elizabeth Callahan, being technically eliminated on cross-country. Francesca Spoltore rode her own Volants to 34th place while Sarah Gonzalez of Rockville rode her Maryland-bred Thoroughbred The North Star to 35th.
CCI Leaderboards
After the conclusion of two-days of dressage it is three riders from Great Brittan that take the top spots in the CCI5*. Oliver Townend sits in the lead with Cooley Rosalent while Piggy March is in second riding Brookfield Cavalier Cruise. Currently in third is William Fox-Pitt aboard Grafennacht.
U.S. rider Doug Payne is in 16th place aboard the Maryland-bred Quantum Leap (Elizabeth Callahan breeder). Right behind him in 17th is former Marylander Lillian Heard Wood riding LCC Barnaby. Maryland rider Sydney Solomon is in 25th with Early Review C.
U.S. riders are dominating the CCI3* with Caroline Pamukcu in first after dressage riding HSH Connor. Currently in second is Lauren Nicholson on Larcot Z. Taren Hoffos and Regalla are in third place heading into Saturday’s cross-country phase.
Savannah Fulton of Finksburg is currently in eight place with Cash Point while fellow Marylander rider Ema Klugman (Clarksburg) is in 30th riding Slieve Callan Alpha. The Maryland-bred Lincoln’s Address, ridden by Philip Dutton, is in 23rd place. Maryland-bred Charmed Victory, ridden by Erin Kanara is in 19th. Another Maryland-bred, Brigantine, is sitting in 46th place with Stefanie Mazza in the irons.
Cross-country is set to start at 9:05 am on Saturday, October 21, with the CCI3* competitors. The CCI5* cross-country phase will start at 1:35 pm. You can keep up with all the action at: https://www.maryland5star.us/ if you are not out there in person!
Good luck to everyone competing!
