Jessica Phoenix Second in CCI4*-L at The Event at TerraNova

Cornelia Fletcher and Daytona Beach 8 were the only pair to jump double clear in the B&D Builders CCI4*-L at The Event at TerraNova, claiming the win with a final score of 41.4 penalties. Overnight leader Jessica Phoenix (CAN) and Fluorescent Adolescent finished in the time allowed but had two rails down – the first and last elements of the triple combination – and finished second on 47.1. Brooke Burchianti and Karin Burchianti’s Cooley Space Grey, with one rail down and .8 time faults, placed third overall (49.6). The top three finishers in this division moved up from 15th, 14th and 17th after dressage, respectively.

Phoenix also finished fourth overall with Sara Irving’s Aeronautics, who had 12 jumping and 1.6 time faults (60.8). Ireland’s Tim Bourke hung on to fifth place with Lisa Takada’s Monbeg Libertine (64.6) with one rail down and 2.4 time faults.

Fletcher said of the 14-year-old Oldenburg/Thoroughbred mare, “From the beginning Daytona got here and she knew what she was here to do, and I think she wanted to go and do it. Dressage is not her favorite phase, but she was a good girl and stayed calm. Then she went and did what she’s best at, which is double clear. She helped me out a little bit yesterday on cross country and I helped her out a little bit today in the show jumping and I think that shows our partnership and bond.”

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A woman riding a bay horse, jumping a cross-country fence.

Cornelia Fletcher and Daytona Beach 8 during the cross-country phase; they were the only pair not to have any show jumping penalties. (Shannon Brinkman photo)

Fletcher said that she had set the goal to go double clear on cross-country yesterday and was thrilled to meet all of her mile markers and make the time. Fletcher gave birth to a daughter in June and said, “It was hard to take the time off to have her, but I think it’s one of the best things I’ve done.”

Cornelia’s husband Jacob Fletcher competed Daytona Beach in the CCI3*-L at TerraNova in March, finishing 15th overall.

“Jacob is also a four-star event rider and Grand Prix show jumper and he put his show season on the back burner for me to be able to do this and try to come back after taking twelve months, essentially, off,” she said. “So it’s been challenging and it takes a village – they don’t lie about that! In the long term, I think [motherhood] will make me more compassionate and a little more careful, too. As a rider I tend to not be too careful on cross country and I think that it will add a new dimension to my riding.”

CCI3*-L

Lucia Strini and DHI Kevin G, owned by Plain Dealing Farm, won The Event at TerraNova CCI3*-L presented by The Estates at TerraNova and Laughlin Tanner Group at Premier Sotheby’s International Realty. Lauren Nicholson and Landmark’s Jungle’s Gold, owned by Jacqueline Mars, finished second overall and Alexa Thompson and her own Clear Candidate rounded out the top three. Karl Slezak, finishing fourth with Zenith’s Petite Etoile, was the top-finishing Canadian in this division.

Following her victory gallop Strini commented on her horse, “He’s a really good show jumper, he’s really careful. There was a lot of atmosphere, but I try not to do too much in the warmup. It’s kind of on me to go clear, because he wants to do a good job, and he was really, really brave, I was proud of him. He feels amazing after yesterday – he was quite ‘up’ this morning. It felt good that I got him fit enough, it’s always sort of a test.”

Lucia’s sister Benita, who was placed fifth going into the final phase of the event, had a tough day at the “office” with Shirsheen Ice. After he got a tight distance to a big oxer and landed in the middle of it, she was able to kick on over the next couple of fences, but the horse was clearly rattled. She pulled up and patted him and then continued on course, but still knocked a couple of fences. The final line, a triple combination, proved too much for him to deal with today and the pair was eliminated.

Lucia said that it was hard to celebrate her win when her sister was so disappointed. “Honestly, I’m so proud of Kevin, and obviously thrilled to win, but I do feel kind of a gut punch because she’s worked so incredibly hard. This sport is so hard and that can happen to anyone. I think he got a little backed off, and they’re still such a new partnership. It’s hard to have that happen at the end of the season, but it’s good we’ll have a break after this.”

Strini said that they’ll head home to Virginia tomorrow and for the first time, she and her sister plan not to spend the whole winter in Florida since her children are now school-age. But, she said, “We’re tentatively looking at coming back to TerraNova in [March] because it’s been a great weekend here.”

Results here.