Frankie Thieriot Stutes and Catwin. Photo credit Shannon Brinkman
Frankie Thieriot Stutes' trek from California to the 2018 Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International Three-Day Event proved to be worth every mile as the amateur rider was crowned the Dutta Corp./USEF CCI3* Eventing National Champion. She was joined in the winner’s circle by Boyd Martin, Cochranville, PA, who was winner of the CCI2* and Reserve Champion of the CCI3*.
Thieriot Stutes, who juggles being a mother to two young sons alongside managing her own businesses, dominated the competition from start to finish with Chatwin, a 10-year-old Oldenburg owned by the Chatwin Group. They had a rail in hand, but made no use of it to finish on their dressage score of 27.3.
"I think this week I was psyched thinking about how grateful I am for all the incredible people in my life--Chatwin is certainly is at the top of the list," Thieriot Stutes said. "I think everyone would agree that it's the people that get you where you’re going, and I'm feeling incredibly lucky and grateful to be here."
Thieriot Stutes also received the Alexander MacKay Smith Trophy as the highest placed U.S. rider in the three-star who has not yet completed a CCI4*.
Spectators were on the edge of their seats until the very last horse came through the finish flags on cross country day, Saturday, October 20. While Derek di Grazia's challenging course shuffled much of the leaderboard, overnight leader Thieriot Stutes rose to the challenge, finishing inside the time on their dressage score of 27.3. They were one of only two pairs to achieve this feat.
Boyd Martin, 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 in the CCI3* with Long Island T. The 12-year-old Oldenburg owned by the Long Island T Syndicate cruised easily around the track, adding just 4 time penalties to their dressage score. Sunday they put in a faultless show jumping round for a final score of 33.4 for the reserve 3* championships.
Buck Davidson and Maya Simmons' Archie Rocks rounded out the weekend in third in the 2*. The 10-year-old Thoroughbred had a dressage score of 32.4, finished a comfortable seven seconds inside the time in cross country and had one rail down in show jumping for a final score of 36.4.
Two Star
Martin also secured a win of the Dutta Corp./USEF CCI2* Eventing National Championship after a faultless clear round with On Cue. Christine Turner's 12-year-old Selle Francais was foot perfect through every phase, speeding through cross country with fourteen seconds to spare and finishing on her dressage score of 23.7. Martin also received the Judy E. Thayer Memorial Award as the highest placed two-star rider who currently resides in Chester County, PA.
"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.
“Fair Hill is one of the best courses and best venues. If you can get through this event you know you've got a horse that's competitive anywhere in the world," Martin said. "It really builds the horses up for a four-star, and we are very grateful Tim Dutta backs this event."
Emily Beshear and Jennifer Eisenbrandt's gorgeous grey Olney Uncle Sam gilded around Marc Donovan's course, delivering a clear round to finish in second place. Beshear and the 11-year-old Trakehner closed the weekend on their dressage score of 26.8.
Will Faudree finished third with Michel 233, an 8-year-old Hanoverian owned by Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Silver Stables. The pair produced a lovely clear round for a three-phase score of 28.3.
Charlotte Collier was presented the Amanda Warrington Memorial Trophy as the highest placed CCI3* debutant. Mia Farley received the John H. Fritz Trophy as the highest placed Young Rider in the CCI2* division. The Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue Trophy was awarded to the Sea of Clouds Partnership's Sea of Clouds, who was ridden by Phillip Dutton, as the highest placed American Thoroughbred. The off-track Thoroughbred also won the USEF Young Horse National Championship as the highest placed 6- or 7-year-old horse in the CCI2*.
Young Event Horse Championships
Horses participating in the Young Event Horse Championships have earned the right to compete by garnering qualifying scores throughout the year at Young Event Horse Classes. These Young Event Horse Championships are made up of the best four-and five-year-olds in the country.
The USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships culminated Friday with the jumping and galloping portion of the competition.
Tamra Smith was the third of the west coast contingent to best the competition at Fair Hill Friday as she and the MB Group LLC's MB MaiStein finished first in the 5-year-old division. The Oldenburg gelding by Rocky Lee finished on an 88.29% (out of 100%), impressing the judges with his cross country efforts that earned him 13.5% (out of 15%).
Neal Camens' R River Star was crowned champion of the 4-year-old division after topping the dressage and conformation portions of the Young Event Horse Championships. The judging panel of Sally Ike, Lucinda Green and Chris Ryan awarded R River Star, an Irish Sport Horse/Dutch Warmblood (Riverman x R Star), a score of 24.75% to lead the 4-year-old division with Courtney Cooper in the tack.