Dressage-News

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

WELLINGTON, Florida, Mar. 22, 2017–The husband and wife Team Irwin gave Canada the lead over the United States and Spain after the first of two days of the CDIO3* Nations Cup Wednesday. Tina Irwin on Laurencio and Jaimey on Donegal V both posted personal best scores at Prix St. Georges to more than make up for bonus points awarded to the all-Grand Prix American team.

The United States, however, was down to three combinations with no room for error for the second day of competition when Arlene “Tuny” Page on Woodstock was eliminated for blood when the horse bit his tongue.

Tina Irwin and her 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding scored 74.026 per cent while Jaimey and Donegal, a nine-year-old KWPN gelding were awarded 72.921 per cent. Megan Lane on her 2016 Olympic mount Caravella solidified the lead with 70.080 per cent at Grand Prix, with another 1.5 per to be added for Big Tour.

Olivia LaGoy-Weltz of Haymarket, Virginia, on Lonoir also produced a personal best of 72.940 per cent while Lisa Wilcox of Wellington on Galant received 70.560 per cent, the only other U.S. pair to score above 70 per cent.

Arlene Page of Wellington on Woodstock was eliminated for blood after the horse bit his tongue while Shelly Francis of Loxahatchee on Doktor scored 68.220 per cent after going off course.

The competition format in the second year of the official trans-Atlantic series is a mix of big and small tour in Wellington to follow the same procedure as the Pan American Games that are an Olympic qualifying championship.

The team scores after the first day with 1.5 per cent added to Grand Prix results were: 1. Canada 218.527, 2. United States 216.220. 3. Spain 198.911.

The competition will be decided by the Intermediate I and the Grand Prix Special Thursday.

The United States won the Nations Cups at Wellington as test events every year beginning in 2013 and then the first official year in 2016 when the Americans went on to win the entire series.

Results: