A team of young riders led by local equestrian Fiona Graham of Portola Valley recently captured first place at the new North American Young Rider CCI* Team Championship (West Coast), held in Temecula, California, Nov. 1-4. This was an “eventing”-only competition. Eventing is the “triathlon” of riding and includes dressage, cross country, and show jumping days.
(Note: CCI stands for Concours Complet International. One star (*) stands for the first level of four international levels. )
The U.S. Equestrian Association (USEA) Area VI Eventing team, representing the whole of California, scored 1,232.0 points to win the title. (Team members and horses: Max McManamy/Beacon Hill, Fiona Graham/Good Barter and Allegra Aiuto/Harley.)
The Areas VI/VII/X team finished second, scoring 1,296.8. (Team members and horses: Kelsey Kristosik/Smoke Alarm, Erin McElhone/Parkiki Star and John Michael Durr/Phoenix Secret.)
The winning team was presented with the USEA Linda Tellington-Jones Perpetual Trophy donated by Tom Angle and Jeffray Ryding.
The team competition was run as a long-format CCI* with steeplechase in which the riders complete two phases of roads and tracks, and complete a three-minute steeplechase prior to starting cross country.
“My horse had to be really fit for this,” said Graham, 20, a junior at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
The championships were open to all riders between the ages of 14-21 and horses qualified to participate in a CCI*.
Spectators can watch 3-Day Eventing Horse Trials four times a year (in April, May, August and October) at The Horse Park at Woodside. For information, go to www.horsepark.org.
