Rosemont, Ontario – American rider Corinne Ashton held on to the lead she established after cross country yesterday to win the Wits End FEI World Cupâ„¢ Horse Trials with her Thoroughbred gelding, Dobbin today.
Though Ashton had one rail today during stadium jumping, the final phase of the three-day event, she finished the CIC-W*** event with 66.9 penalties to claim top spot.
In second place, and top Canadian, was Michele Mueller of Port Perry, Ontario and Amistad with 68.7 penalties, followed by American Buck Davidson and My Boy Bobby in third with 88.3 penalties.
Scottish-born Ashton of Princeton, MA. bought 14-year-old Dobbin 10 years ago after seeing a classified ad for him in the local paper and though she was in the business of training and selling horses, Ashton decided he “was the one that couldn’t be sold. He is always brilliant and he’s never not been fabulous.”
Her husband chose the horse’s name, a colloquial term for an old cart horse, and according to Ashton, “luckily, Dobbin’s not a dobbin.”
Mueller was thrilled after making a successful debut at the international three star level with Amistad, a nine-year-old Thoroughbred cross gelding owned by Julie Pring of Port Perry. She and Buck Davidson were the only riders to have no stadium faults.
“He was just excellent,” said Mueller. “Show jumping is always our weakest phase but at the higher levels, he’s been jumping better than ever. And this was a hard course because of the hills,” referring to the undulating landscape of the jumping arena.
Ian Roberts of Port Perry won the advanced division with Myrrdin’s Sebastian and was Open Preliminary champion with Gigi. Penny Rowland of Orangeville won the Intermediate/Preliminary division with Charley Farley and was second in the CCI* with H.S. Flying Finn. Jessica Phoenix of Uxbridge was first in the CCI* with Exuberant.
Course designer for the CIC-W*** was American, David O’Connor while Jay Hambly of Fergus, Ontario designed the courses for the other divisions.
CCI*
1. Jessica Phoenix, Uxbridge, ON Exuberant 57.6
2. Penny Rowland, Orangeville, ON H.S. Flying Finn 60.8
3. Rebecca Rebus, Burlington, ON Rubies to Diamonds 67.9
4. Stephanie Hodge, Port Elgin, ON Newport Agent 68.0
5. Yves Landry, Napierville, QC Espiegle 68.3
Open Preliminary Division
1. Ian Roberts, Port Perry, ON Gigi 81.9
2. Buck Davidson, Reigelsville, PA L.A. Albert 82.8
3. Sarah Croft, Barrie, ON Gulliver’s Travels 85.0
4. Diana Burnett, Blackstock, ON Wild T’Mater 94.3
5. Robyn Townsend, Munster, ON Jack Be Nimble I 96.2
Intermediate/Preliminary Division
1. Penny Rowland, Orangeville, ON Charley Farley 60.7
2. Karl Slezak, Caledon, ON Pavarotti 62.9
3. Kelly Poland, Hillsburgh, ON Digby 72.9
Advanced Division
1. Ian Roberts, Port Perry, ON Myrddin’s Sebastian
CIC-W***
1. Corrine Ashton, Princeton, MA Dobbin 66.9
2. Michele Mueller, Port Perry, ON Amistad 68.7
3. Buck Davidson, Reigelsville, PA My Boy Bobby 88.3
4. Buck Davidson, Reigelsville, PA Three Wishes 100.8
5. Ian Roberts, Port Perry, ON Paleface 106.4
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