Alison Coates and her Irish Cavalier, Michele Lobsinger and her Able Sportsfield, and Adele Baker with her Ruthertin Gent were first, second, and third, respectively, in the open preliminary division to dominate the teams.
Coates said her dressage “felt different” because she had recently had two lessons from local dressage trainer Jim Koford. Coates attributed her score (28.5 penalties, or 71.5-percent) to the horse being “… more up in the bridle, it felt very different to me, but the judge obviously liked it.”
On cross country, Coates credited recent help from local pro Bobby Stevenson. She enjoyed “the adjustability I haven’t had before, it made a huge difference. … Finally everything I’ve been working for in the last four years came together. He was awesome!”
In the open intermediate class, Eleanor Phillips posted her best finish (fourth, 50.4) with her Bailey’s Rebel Rhum.
Gina Fiore was present in many of the victory laps throughout stadium day with Linda Dreher’s Remington (second, training, 26.5), Ferol Errol (seventh, training, 32), Sweet Talking Man (second, Novice, 29.5) and Real Tuff Cricket (second, Novice, 37).
Charlie Plumb with Ringwood Deacon was one point behind Fiore in finishing third in open training.
Southern Pines fielded two winners at Novice. Meika Decher made a great save in the in-and-out to land the blue with Metolius (27.5) and Courtnay Gray led all the way with Easy Does It (28.5), followed by Lefreda Williams and Lowkey (31).
Mary Cobey and Lauren O’Brien’s former four-star horse Wexford were third in the same class.
Brittany Strange and Luck of the Draw were second at Junior Novice (28) followed by Alex Martone and Teddy Bear in seventh (38.5).
Hillary Irwin posted the best dressage score of the day (22) with another of O’Brien’s former mounts, Ballintaggert Freddie. The pair slipped to third on stadium day.
Bobby Stevenson finished second at beginner novice with a new prospect Ice Wine, a gelding by Mileaway Farm’s Not Surprised.
Other local notables were Rebecca DiMaggio (seventh, novice) and Roisin DePasquale (eighth, Novice).
For complete results: www.forkstables.com.
