RAEFORD, N.C.--Will Coleman of Gordonsville, Va. on Off The Record won the CCI4*-S title at Carolina International CCI and Horse Trial, while Phillip Dutton of West Grove, Pa., rode Caroline Moran’s Quasi Cool to win the CCI3*-S, and Andrew McConnon of Southern Pines, N.C., placed first in the CCI2*-S win on D’Luxe Steel on March 21.
Will Coleman on Off the Record (Photo by Brant Gamma)Cross-country proved influential across all divisions once again at the Carolina Horse Park, with all three winners adding nothing to their overnight dressage and show jumping scores to win.
In the CCI4*-S, time proved the hardest to make of any division.
Double clears were hard to come by with Coleman producing the only one of the day to win.
“It was a good weekend for us." said Coleman. "I thought my horses ran really well. I was particularly happy with Off The Record. He was on fire out there and just lives for the cross-country. As soon as he left the start box, he was on a mission. I was really pleased and looking forward to the next event.”
“I LOVE Carolina International," Coleman said. "You get a real proper run, and the ground was perfect. They have done such great work on the turf, and a lot of credit goes to the organizing committee and their wonderful sponsors. They have answered the call for what we want in high profile events in the USA and they deserve to be applauded,”
Phillip Dutton on Quasi Cool (Photo by Brant Gamma)Falling just one spot on the leader board after cross country in the CCI4*-S to second place was Liz Halliday-Sharp on Fernhill By Night., who had won the division in 2019.
She was clear but picked up 6.8 time faults after finishing 17 seconds over the optimum time.
“I am totally thrilled with both my horses, Fernhill By Night and Cooley Stormwater today," said Halliday-Sharp. "Fernhill By Night ran as fast as he could run. Everything ran pretty much to plan, and the time was tough this year. He isn’t a racehorse but is such a good boy and really fights for me. He gave me a super round and he gave me everything he had.”
Rounding out the top three in the CCI4*-S was Will Faudree on Pfun, who nearly produced the second double clear of the day, finishing just one second over to add .4 to their dressage score after jumping clear Saturday.
“My weekend was great and today was a really fun day," said Faudree. "Pfun was amazing. He is really learning how to go quick and be as efficient as he can be. I was thrilled that I got as close to the time as I did. I am kicking myself for adding a stride at the corners, otherwise he would have made it. I am so pleased with him and very excited for the future,”
The CCI3*-S produced the only wire-to-wire victory of the event with Dutton on Quasi Cool winning.
“I was really pleased with Quasi Cool," said Dutton. "You had to work to get the time, and the jumps came up fast and quick. Because of the terrain, it always rides a little bit harder than it walks, but it was pretty educational for horses. Quasi Cool was very mature and I was really pleased with the result.”
The top three in the CCI3* only slightly shuffled with Halliday-Sharp on Cooley Stormwater moving up one spot to finish in second and Sydney Elliot moving up from fourth after show jumping to finish in third with Commando D’Osthuy.
