four star level. and Bertie Blunt. 1992 w~n~Mary MITSUBISHI The two other American contenders, Thomson on King William and King Kong, MOTORS Karen O'Connor riding Biko, and Barry Burghley winners William Fox-Pitt and Thomason on Chase The Moon, also put in Chaka, Olympic champions Matt Ryan and BADMINTON superb performance finishing third and Kibah Tic Toe, and Karen Dixon, Tina twenty-second respectively. All three Gifford and Charlotte Bathe who, with Mary HORSE TRIALS American horses jumped clear on cross­ Thomson, took the team gold at the World country day, with Biko and Eagle Lion mak­ Championships last year. This year the Eagle Lion- King of Badminton! ing the time while Chase The Moon brought world's best were competing not only for the May 6-9, 1995, Avon, England home only two time penalties. It was, in beautiful Mitsubishi Motor's trophy, but for more than £120,00, with the winning purse by Lucretia Grindle many ways, a remarkable Badminton. The uncharacteristically bright weather, with tem­ increased to £22,500 or roughly $36,000. Straight from winning the individual gold peratures reaching into the upper seventies, medal at the Pan American Games, Bruce seemed to prove that the sun truly did shine FIRST VETERINARY INSPECTION Davidson turned around and fulfilled the on the American effort. At 4:30pm, Wednesday afternoon, the ambition of a lifetime when he became the The world's biggest Three-Day Event world's finest event horses were presented to first American to win the Mitsubishi Motors began with 79 horses entered from around the ground jury. Of the 76 horses presented, Badminton Horse Trials. It was a particular­ the world. This year's waiting list totalled two were held and withdrawn and 74 went ly sweet, coming after five previous attempts, 104. The challenging field was deemed to be on to the dressage phase. and on Eagle Lion, a horse he believes has one of the strongest ever and included last the absolute potential to go to the top of the year's winner Mark Todd on Just An Ace DRESSAGE The first American to ride was Karen O'Connor un Prince Panache early Thursday morning. The test was not up to their usual standard and Karen withdrew the horse before the stmt of cross-country. It was twenty four hours later that the next American ride took place. Bar1y Thomason (26) from Rome, Georgia, has a proven record at the three star level with Chase The Moon, an Irish horse he bought several years ago. The pressure took its toll and Barry rode an accurate, but not very inspired test, which left him in 66th place with a score of 69.0. Karen O'Connor followed on her World Champion ride Biko. They turned in a fluid test to score 51.0 leaving them tied for 11th. The final American ride was Bruce Davidson on Eagle Lion who produced a powerful test to score 46.6 putting them in Eagle Lion's " powerful" test put him in 3rd place after dressage. Bob Langrish Photo third place, only 6.2 marks behind the leader, last year's Burghley winner William Fox-Pitt and the fifteen year-old Chaka. BADMINTON HORSE TRIALS May 5-7, 1995, Avon, England SPEED AND ENDURANCE CCI**** Five horses had been withdrawn before JstDay 2nd Day Jrd Day cross-country leaving 69 to stmt Phase A of Dressage Steeplechase Cross-Country Show Jumping Final !'lace HORSE Rider Score A&C Jump Time Jump Time Jump Time Total the speed and endurance test. All three I EAGLELION Bruce Davidson (USA) 46.6 46.6 Americans rode late in the day which played KIBAH TIC TOC Matt R).ln ( ~USJ 42.8 .5 ·18.3 BIKO Karen Lende (USA) 51.0 51.0 into their favor. The weather was almost Jl'STANACE Mark Todd (NZL) 49.0 48 53.& eighty degrees and Barry, Karen and Bruce GENERAL JOCK Kristina Gifford ,GBR) 50.2 55.2 would benefit from the cooler, late-afternoon TRUE BLUE GIRDIIOOD Phillip Dutton (AUS) 56.2 .25 56.45 MIDNIGHT BLUE Kristina Gifford (GBR) 51.0 2.0 58.0 temperatures. SUM~IERSONG SF M. C. Duroy (FR..\) 52.6 6.8 .5 59.9 Initial indications were that Hugh ELEKTRA SPIRIT US ~\nna Hermann {SWE) 63.6 63.6 10 C~LIBER Ian Slark (GBR) 50.2 15 65.2 Thomas's course was not riding as smqothly 22 CHASE THE MOON Barry Thomason (USA) 69.0 2.4 15 1.5 87.9 as it had walked and no less than six of the 34 USCTA NEWS first twelve competitors were either eliminat­ the palisade. The arrowhead, apparently, was Luckington Lane Crossing, Chase The ed or retired on course. It was not until Ian simply deemed an automatic twenty penalties Moon never hesitated. Proving that not Stark came out on Caliber that the first clear and not worth the risk. However, Marie only are they bold, but accurate, as they round was ridden within the time. Christine DuRay of France set out on her bounced the bank, put in one stride and It became increasingly clear throughout wonderful little stallion, Summersong BF, came straight out over the arrowhead. After the day that, with one exception, no particular and managed to break the spell. She came the initial murmur in the grandstands, they fence was proving to be unrideable. By straight down off the bank and over the were rewarded with enthusiastic applause halfway through the day, only one person, arrowhead, proving that it was possible. No and cheering as they came through the Aylse Clancey on Augerrnist, had attempted one rushed to follow her example until the Vicarage Pond and went away over the to jump the arrowhead off of the bank at the first American ride of the day, Barry Vicarage Vee, making the corner look easy. second Luckington Lane Crossing and she Thomason and Chase The Moon, set·out on No one else would attempt the arrowhead had been rewarded with a run out for her their first four star ride. for the remaineder of the day and Barry's effort. By this time, a majority of the best From the start it was apparent that Barry clear round with only two time penalties event riders in the world had had their first was having the ride of his life. Chase The would be good enough to move him up an trip around the course including Mark Todd, Moon barely looked at the maximum log astounding 47 places to 18th by the end of Mary Thomson and Andrew Nicholson, and pile at fence three, flew through the double cross-country day! none of them had even attempted the arrow­ corners at the Mitsubishi M and went The next American to ride was Karen head. All were swinging wide to the left and straight across the huge angled hedges at O'Connor on Biko. Mr. & Mrs. Richard taking the considerable time involved to jump Luckington Lane. At the second Thompson's 17.3 hand gelding proved Save! Save! Save! Save! Additions to the Coaches and Instructors Directory rC;L;;O~~ -- TEXAS -------,Denny Emerson, Karen Lende, Pam Goodrich. Facilities: 20 stall barn & 4 stall barn. 30 acres. --------- Schooling arena (60 x 120 meters). Five turn­ BEA & DEREK DI GRAZIA ALYCE H. HINKLE I out paddocks with loafing sheds. Lunging STILLWATER FARM JOINT VENTURE FARMS paddock. Outside dressage arena. Show 126 Carmel Vall ey Road 140 16 Bert Brown Road jumps. Cross-country jumps with water. I Carmel Valley, CA 93924-9522 Conroe, TX 77302 School horses. Boardmg for horses and stu· ( 408) 659-4886 (409) 446- 1099 dents. (408) 659-0213 (Fax) Instruction Offered: Eventing · Novice to I Instruction Offered: Eventing- Novice to Advanced. Dressage through Prix St. George Advanced. Dressage through lntermediaire. level. USPC through "A" level. Hunter/Jumper. VIRGINIA I Show Jumping. Lessonsiclinics at farm . Will Lessonsiclinics at farm or will travel. Coaching at travel for clinics. Coaching at events. events. DAVID & KAREN O'CONNOR I Students Accepted: Adults; Juniors (at least 9 Students Accepted: Adults; Juniors, Working BRAECROFT FARM AT STONEHALL years old). students. 61 07 Coon Tree Road Experience: INSTRUCTING (25 y rs ) Novice Other Educational Services & Programs The Plains, VA 22171 I to Advanced eventing. Dressage through Offered: Conroe Independent School D istrict (703) 687-3652 (D), (703) 687-3383 (E) Instruction Offered: Eventing · Novice lntermediaire. Show Jumping. COI\\PETINC offers credits for P.E. & Athletics through my rid· I (25 yrs.) Advanced (20 yrs.)Novice through ing program . through Advanced. Dressage through 4th Intermediate (25 yr~.) Bea: lntermediaire level Experience: INSTRUCTING (28 yrs): Novice to level. Lessons at farm. Will travel for lessons in dressage, USPC graduate A, twice National Advanced CCI ... ( 1972- 1978) Young Riders and clinics. Coaching at events. I Jr. Champion. Competed at Badminton, from 1980 to present. Have coached through Experience: INSTRUCTING (20+ yrs)· Advanced ( 12+ yrs), Intermediate ( 15 yrs), Burghley (4th) and most major European three­ CCI ..• 3-Day event (Badminton & Burghley). I day events. 3 time DeBroke winner. Dressage Also Dressage through Prix St. Georges level. Preliminary ( 18 yrs), Training/Novice (20+ team silver at Olympic Sports Festival in 1994. COMPETING (28 yrs): From 1968 (Young yrs). USPC through A level. Dressage through I Derek: 2nd at Luhmuhlen, 1989; Won Riders C hampionship at Applegates Farm in 4th level. Hunter/Jumpers. COMPETING Kentucky CCI ( 1985) and Fair Hill CCI Mass.) through 2 Star CCI at Boekelo, Holland (25+ yrs): Advanced ( 15 yrs), Intermediate ( 18 ( 1991 ); /\\ember of U.S. Team at World 1977).