Tag Archives: eventing

Rolex 2010- Day 3

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I realize we’re two days late in reporting from Rolex but I hope you’ll still enjoy seeing some more photos we took while ringside on Sunday.  The crowd was fired up and it was an electric environment- everyone cheered after each clear round or clear effort over the triple combination. 

 Capt. Geoff Curran had 8 faults on The Jump Jet.

Here is Napalm and Ian Roberts, who finished just inside the top 20.

This is Kyle Carter and Madison Park.  They had 4 faults to finish 13th.

Phillip Dutton and Woodburn went double clear and finished second.

Kim Severson came into the stadium round in second but unfortunately had a refusal and rails down to knock them out of the placings.

And the winner… British rider WIlliam Fox-Pitt claimed his first Rolex title after 6 trips to Kentucky.  He lead the competition from start to finish, with a dressage score of 42.8 and no faults in cross-country or stadium jumping.

Rolex 2010 – Day 2

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Our second day in Kentucky started wet and dreary, with forecasts of heavy thunderstorms and hail.  The schedule was shortened up, with no lunch break and riders starting every 4 minutes.  This enabled most rides to take place under hazy skies, moderate breezes and just wonderful conditions.  The rain held off until about 30 minutes after the last ride, so it was a really great day.

The Rolex web site (rk3de.com) has the ride by ride summary of the day, I just have a bunch of photos to share with you.  So look below for some of my best photos from Saturday’s Cross Country competition.

#12 Peter Atkins and Henry Jota Hampton over fence #6A, the Ducks.

Rider #17 over fence #4, the Covered Bridge.  This would be Kyle Carter of Canada on Madison Park.

#24 Will Faudree on Pawlow over fence #23, the Keeper’s Brush.

#36, Boyd Martin on Remington XXV dropping into the Hollow, fence #21.  This jump proved to be difficult for several riders, with three falls over the course of the day.

#41, Jonathan Paget of New Zeland on Clifton Promise over the first of the two Squirrels (fence #17).

#67, Tara Ziegler on Buckingham Place dropping into the water at #15B -the Head of the Lake.

#69, Oliver Townend of Great Britain on Ashdale Cruise Master over part C at the Head of the Lake. Just a few minutes later, he suffered a serious fall  and was brought to the UK hospital.  Reports say that thankfully both he and his horse are OK.

After the Cross Country we headed out to dinner, and returned to the park for the WEG Stadium Jumping Grand Prix Test event – only to find out that it had been canceled at the last minute.  So I am sorry, but no stadium jumping pictures until we report back from phase 3.

Getting Excited for the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

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Anyone who knows anything about eventing has heard of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.  Even if you don’t event there’s a good chance you know about the only CCI Four Star competition held on U.S. soil.  Taking place at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington from April 22-25, the event is also being held in conjunction with the Kentucky Cup Test Events for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games . 

Three of us here at Hodges are very excited because we’re taking a trip to be part of the action up close.  With dressage tests on Thursday and Friday, the Cross Country on Saturday and the Jumping Test and awards on Sunday, it looks to be an action-packed long weekend. 

With an impressive list of horses and riders entered for the event, the level of talent is high.  American Olympians Karen O’Connor, Phillip Dutton and Amy Tryon, among others, will compete against Britain’s William Fox-Pitt and Oliver Townend, who is attempting to become only the second rider to claim the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing.  After winning the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials and the Burghley Land Rover Horse Trials in 2009, the pressure is on to take the title and a $350,000 prize, in addition to the event’s own prize money.

Oliver 'Ollie' Townend aims for the Grand Slam

Sound exciting?  Want to join in on the fun?  You can view the full schedule through the RK3DE website, and tickets are still available online.  You can buy a single day admission if you can’t make it to all four days.  From my own experience, finding a local hotel room might prove harder than getting tickets, so get planning!