“I was freaking out all day,” admitted young rider Molly Duda of the hours preceding her first CCI4*-L victory – in her debut at the level no less. She’d taken over the lead ahead of her coach Tamie Smith after cross-country and had all day to ponder and plot between competing horses in the 3* and 2*.
“Mentally this sport is so challenging, especially in the long format with show jumping happening last,” Duda said. Compounding matters, her 15-year-old Swedish Warmblood, Disco Traveler, “is more challenging in the show jumping phase.”
That’s the final phase of The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs’ international divisions, staged in the Grand Prix Arena buzzing with fans’ enthusiasm.
Riding last, Disco knocked the second fence on Marc Donovan’s track. “I mentally accepted that we’re probably not going to take the win and I had to go on and ride my best through the rest of the course,” Duda said. Regular work with sports psychologist Natalie Hummel and a midday talk with Smith helped her execute that plan to go clear the rest of the way and within the time.
They only had a rail in hand, but making the time kept them ahead of James Alliston and the other CCI4*-L debutante, Cora. Molly had been working on “base pace” and “trusting a bigger canter” in this phase. “I probably overdid it at fence 1, and I think that caused the rail at 2.”
Describing Disco as a horse that might “not look so impressive from the ground,” Duda heaped praise on her partner. “We clicked from the start. He’s such a fighter and I’m so lucky to have him.”
Hopping off after leaving the ring with her first Championship in hand, Duda and Smith had a long, loud hug fest. “I wanted it so badly, and she wanted it so badly for me, which speaks to her character and how selfless she is,” Duda said of her coach and mentor to many West Coasters.
The admiration is mutual. “I won two FEI divisions today, (the 3* and 1*), but having that happen for Molly was even better,” said Smith. “I can’t say enough good things about Molly as a human being. She’s an amazing human and that’s what I love most and what we need more of in this sport.”
Duda hopes to make another USEF European Development Tour next summer and said a 5* is a possibility for the end of next season.
The nearly 18-hand Cora, a 9-year-old Hanoverian, was her “lady like” best today, said runner up James Alliston. She was adjustable in a snaffle bit and left air to spare everywhere. Speed was the only issue, with 1.4 time faults keeping them in the reserve spot. They’d started 4th in the four-horse division after dressage and Alliston is thrilled about the mare’s future.
Jennie Brannigan and FE Connery finished third, happy to return to their California stomping grounds. Jennie regretted having to scratch her other star, Pascal, who she said sustained a spider bite before boarding the plane on the East Coast.
Smith and Kynan jumped clear with .4 time penalties. Even though they finished last after a pilot-error run-out on cross-country, Smith had only praise for the outing. “He was super reliable all weekend and proved that he’s the horse I’ve been hoping he’d be.”
Smith expects to have more competition in the coming year’s international divisions since Galway Downs became the proposed venue for the LA28 Olympic equestrian competition. “I can’t reiterate enough how different it feels to compete at a Championships venue,” she reflected. “Everyone has a unique opportunity to get a lay of the land, which we often don’t at Championships venues.
“I know it’s going to look a lot different in four years, and that’s exciting,” she continued. “I feel very fortunate to know the venue like the back of my hand. I think others will want to come out and get familiar with all the different elements here before the Games.”
Lillet 3* and Tamie Smith Stay Atop the CCI3*-L
Smith and new ride Lillet 3 needed none of their many rails in hand as they jumped double clear to nail the win. “She gave me such an incredible feeling – quality through and through and jumping with her feet way above the jumps,” Smith enthused. “And I know a lot more about the mare now and am really excited about what a cool horse she is.”
The mare who helped Smith earn the division’s leading rider Yogi Cup is owned by Molly Duda.
Northern California trainer Megan McIver is also high on a relatively new horse – Igor B. The 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood was produced to 4* by Kristina Hall Jackson in England, and purchased by a client to help McIver fulfill international ambitions. Their first outing and win together came at the Galway Downs spring CCI2*-S and today’s double clear show jump was their sixth in a row. A 4*-S is on the agenda for the coming spring.
Christina Rennie travelled three days from Pritchard, Canada to compete here. Second after cross-country, the thrilled rider said her main hope was to earn a qualifying score. She and her 18-hand homebred mare, Flight of the Arabesque, finished third after a two-rail show jump and should have happy drive home.
Molly Duda’s fifth place finish with Carlingsfords He’s A Clover earned her the Mia Eriksson Memorial Trophy as the division’s highest placed young rider. Taylor McFall, 8th with Stoneman, earned reserve honors.
Megan Sykes’ partner, Spiro P, was showered with special prizes as the 2*’s top placed 7-year-old horse.
Alliston & HMR Rolan Top CCI2*-L
James Alliston called HMR Rolan a “cool dude” yesterday after clean cross-country and the 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse was even cooler day after doing the same for show jumping. “He’s not used to the big arena with all the people around,” Alliston said. “That can really affect concentration, but he was really solid and jumped really well.”
Kendra Mitchell and Calcourt Legend, a 10-year-old Anglo/Dutch Warmblood, laid down the most gratifying effort of their three-year partnership. This was the first time “we really had all the three phases come together,” said Mitchell, who is assistant trainer at Avon Eventing in Northern California. The former show jumper had struggled with dressage, but their 31 score this week reflects improvements. That was coupled with a more rideable, focused gallop on cross-country to set the stage for an excellent finish, Mitchell reported.
Amber Bitcil and Mississipi continued their year of mostly top five finishes at this level, finishing third on their 32.7 dressage performance.
This division had extra extravagant prizes, highlighted by a Devoucoux saddle for the highest placing young rider. That was Greylin Booth, who finished 4th with Modesto RE. Molly Duda earned reserve honors with her 9th place finish with Jutopia.
Young horses had special recognition, too. Andrea Baxter’s two entries, Camelot PJ and The Big Easy, took Champion and Reserve honors as the top placing 6-year-olds.
Smith and Solaguayre Cantata Stay Atop the CCI1*-L
Solaguayre Cantata’s development has not been as easy as her flawless three phases might suggest. But Tamie Smith is thrilled with the mare’s maturity when it counted. Their wire-to-wire win looked in potential jeopardy before the bell rang as the 7-year-old Argentine Sporthorse balked and bobbled while passing near fence 2, the Defender square oxer at jumbotron end of the arena.
A few run-outs at that spot red-flagged the fence’s spookiness, so Smith gave her a good look before getting underway. “I tell my students that even when the bell rings, you still have 45 seconds, so don’t get anxious. You still have time to do what you need to.”
A good look at the jump was all Contata needed. Once on course, it was smooth sailing to end on their 24.3 dressage score. Contata is owned by Julianne Guariglia. She is a long-time fixture of Smith’s Next Level Eventing team, which had winners in numerous divisions this week.
Seventeen-year-old Emma Slocum and Patito logged a double clear to move up into reserve champion status, adding just .4 time penalties to finish on a 28.6. The 11-year-old Irish Draught Sport Horse started with one of her “best dressage tests ever,” said Slocum, who rides with Megan McIver in Northern California. “A year ago, we were really struggling, but now this is the most confident she’s ever felt.” Progress with suppleness and relaxation came from lots of bending and stretching work and a long warm-up with both exercises.
“It’s so great to feel confident around such a hard track yesterday.,” Slocum stated. “Today, even though she was tired from that, she tried hard for me and kept the rails up.”
Kaylawna Smith-Cook and Moscato-Versent SA were third. The 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood owned by Bonner Carpenter is known as “Mo” at home, where he’s a champion napper who snores a lot. He’s also smart, quick footed and sparks to life at show time as he did in all phases this weekend.
The Course
There was a lot going on and a lot to look at for hopefuls navigating Marc Donovan’s colorful international tracks. Giant minions, swans, cookies and snails served as standards for fences set at the end of rollbacks, bending lines and a few straight-aways. Related distances dominated the track and staying on the prescribed striding rewarded most horses.
Donovan has been designing Galway Downs show jumping for several years and noted an “absolute evolution” in the caliber of West Coast horse/rider pairs. He said the same of the venue. “Every year I come out here, there’s another million-dollar improvement” This year in particular the management of the footing stands out.
The FEI divisions’ finalés drew a big crowd warmed up by opening ceremonies featuring the Temecula Cowgirls. They set the mood with their famous flag-flying and glitter-enhanced drill routines. The VIP Pavillon was buzzing with loyal enthusiasts and the Southern California Pony Club drew many with their display of horse health research projects.
Sponsors
Presenting – Land Rover Mission Viejo, Adequan i.m., CWD, Devoucoux
Gold Medal – Majyk Equipe
Silver Medal – Equerry’s, The Farrier’s Wife, ProElite, Nutrena
Bronze Medal – RevitaVet, Chocolate Horse Farm, Shires Equestrian, Area VI, Auburn Labs.