laid down a 42.10 to bring Canada into second place, then the very last rider of the day, Boyd Martin and The Pancho Villa Syndicate’s Pancho Villa added a personal best and secured the lead for the U.S. with 43.3. With 43 riders representing 12 countries, maintaining
that lead was no walk in the park. So following dressage, the U.S. led on 133.0, followed by Canada on 133.7 and Brazil on 136.7. That didn’t leave much room for error the next day in the cross-country phase.
Out of the Start Box Cross-country took place at Will O’Wind Farm in Mono,
Ontario, over a tough course designed by Australian Wayne Copping and built by Americans Eric Bull and Greg Schlappi. The course featured lots of Canadian-style carvings including wooden beavers, a bear and lobster traps. But the somewhat cutesy decorations certainly didn’t detract from the challenge the course presented. On cross-country day, the U.S. riders posted four double clear rounds to keep their team score of 133, while Canada lost their drop score when Kathryn Robin- son, who was overnight individual leader after dres- sage, had a fall and was eliminated from the competi- tion. Canada then had to include the score from Waylon Roberts’ test, during which his horse Bill Owen appeared tense and excited. Waylon, the son of Canadian Olympian Ian Roberts,
is currently working with Phillip Dutton, who is not only an Olympic medalist but a popular and success- ful eventing coach. Asked if it was awkward to compete against his coach, Waylon joked, “Did we have any money on this, Phil?” to which Phillip quipped, “Yeah, you owe me!” Thanks to strong performances on cross-country day
from Colleen Loach, Waylon Roberts and Jessica Phoe- nix, Canada finished on 159, for the team bronze posi- tion. The Brazilian team had a super day: Olympian Ruy Fonseca took the individual lead and the team score of 136.7 put them in silver position for the team medals. At the end of cross country, individually Marilyn Little
and RF Scandalous took silver position on 40.3 and Cana- dian Jessica Phoenix, who had suffered serious injuries after a rotational fall at Jersey Fresh in June, galloped around clear for individual bronze position on 42.1. On the American team, Boyd Martin and Pancho Villa were fourth on 44.3 while Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive and Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook’s Scarlett were tied for seventh place on 48.4. Marilyn, who also competes in Grand Prix show
jumping, commented, “There was plenty of terrain and there were a lot of options on the course. You had to have a plan but be open to change. My horse came out firing and was a lot to hold on to in the beginning; she’s only been eventing for a year and has done only one CCI2* in her career.”
TOP: Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous, after her success- ful dressage test for the U.S., putting her in second place individually. Ultimately she earned the individual gold. BOTTOM: Canadian Waylon Roberts on Bill Owen.
Warmbloods Today 15
“With 43 riders representing 12 countries, maintaining that lead was no walk in the park.”
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