LONGLEAF HORSE TRIALS TURNS 30
By Sue Smithson at The Pilot Newspaper

The Longleaf Pine Horse Trials celebrated its 30^th anniversary last weekend, April 23-24, at the Carolina Horse Park. Longleaf used to be considered early season, but nowadays the eventers have been hitting hard and heavy since February, which could be the reason for a decline in numbers this year. Still, 130 riders made for a lively competition with a spring cold snap and blustery winds.

Mark Weissbecker of Southern Pines rode five horses, and all finished on their dressage. He won the top division, open preliminary A, with Top Gallant. The 10 year old Thoroughbred gelding began his eventing career last summer after flat racing until age seven and four steeplechase starts. “He’s a very talented horse, but he won’t be moving up (to intermediate) for awhile,” said Weissbecker. “After running in circles (on the track) for years, he gets surprised with the rapidly changing scene on cross country. It’s a huge change.”   Two Weissbecker horses were debuting in their first event, and he was proud to post double clear jumping rounds on all. “I love the babies!” he said.

Olympic veteran and CHP course designer John Williams was the star at training level with his two youngsters. He posted the best dressage (23) of the entire event aboard Woodrow, and was only a half point back with Sweetpea Dean to claim first and second in the 14-horse A division. 

A local winner emerged in the novice ranks, too. Robert Stevenson piloted Veronese Atkins’ new horse Icewine to the head of the Novice-A division. The six-year old gelding is in his first season eventing, and Stevenson said “He was a little green in the beginning (on cross country), then he got over it.” Stevenson stood on his dressage score with three horses, finishing second and fourth in prelim A with Edie Overly’ Dr. Pepper and Veronese Atkins’ Social Register. “Our dressage was not the best,” Stevenson said. “I’ve been focusing on the jumping lately.”

The Carolina Horse Park is now designing and building a new beginner novice course for its next event, the Lumber River Horse Trials in June, which is a new date for the Raeford facility. For more information, www.CarolinaHorsePark.com.

RESULTS:

OPEN PRELIMINARY A: 1. Top Gallant (31) Mark Weissbecker, 2. Dr. Pepper (34) Robert Stevenson, 3. Rock Star (35.4) Bruce Mandeville, 4. Social Register (37.7) R. Stevenson.

OPEN PRELIM B: 1. Derrick (34.5) Laura Sappenfield, 2. Decordova (40.3) Erin Renfroe, 3. Fiddlestix (47.5) Nicole Kemmerling, 4. Fashion Statement (48) Kelsey Briggs.

OPEN TRAINING A: 1. Woodrow (23) John Williams, 2. Sweetpea Dean (23.5) John Williams, 3. Hannah III (28.5) Robert Costello, 4. Orange Pippin (30.5) Jennifer Goebel.

OPEN TRAINING B: 1. Suma’s Lazarus (33) Nicole Kemmerling, 2. Curious George (35) Andrea Waido, 3. Carisma (37) Courtney Gray, 4. Rafferty’s Rule (39) Adrienne Classen.

OPEN TRAINING C: 1. Magothy Bridge (40.5) Anita Quinn, 2. Forever Fast (49.6) Yve Reed, 3. Cache of Gold (54.5), 4. Go diva (54.5) Beth Case.

OPEN TRAINING JUNIOR: 1. Courting Tompkins (27.5) Madigan Murphy, 2. Shanaki (35) Hilary Irwin, 3. Aladdin’s Treasure (36) Kelsey Briggs, 4. Hello Gorgeous (39) Andrew McConnon.

OPEN NOVICE A: 1. Ice wine (31.5) Robert Stevenson, 2. Carlingford Jack (33.5) Jennifer Goebel, 3. Pearl (33.5) Karen McCollom, 4. Grenadine (36) Barney Mullady.

OPEN NOVICE B: 1. Westmoreland (27) Karen Mahaffey, 2. Elemental (34) Katie Atkinson, 3. Grey’s Dutchman (34.6) Suda McNeill, 4. As Good As It Gets (35.5) Erin Renfroe.

OPEN NOVICE D: 1. Turn To Zuni (37.5) Cady Erickson, 2. Santana (43) Amy Bonis, 3. Publicity Stunt (44.2) Sheryl Kursar, 4. Digging For Gold (49) Cathy Milligan.

OPEN NOVICE JR, 1: 1. Painted Shamrock (29.5) Ashley McNeely, 2. Dig This Coyote (34.1) Kylie Lyman, 3. Balladeer Flight (38.5) Katelyn Foster, 4. Bossa Nova (39) Andrew Diemer.

OPEN NOVICE JR, 2: 1. Princess Chamus (29) Rebecca Preston, 2. Townsend Hill (30) Rachel Hudson, 3. Bourneville Jester (33) Jill Wagner, 4. Candlewyck (34.5) Cameron Ripley.