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In the USEF Eventing CCI3*-L National Championship, Caroline Pamukcu (Miami Beach, Fla.) and HSH Connor (Connor 48 x Galwaybay Merstona), a 2016 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Pamukcu, Sherrie Martin, and Luann McElduff, continue to hold the lead after cross-country. The pair finished well under the optimum time to stay on their dressage score of 25.4, and are one step closer to securing the 2023 USEF CCI3*-L National Championship. Pamukcu, who has been riding in numerous divisions this week, also piloted HSH Tolan King, a 2015 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Pamukcu, Sherrie Martin, and Derek Strine, to a clear cross-country round to stay in third on a 29.0.
"I don't want to say it's been a long time coming, but I have produced most of these horses [in her program] from 4-year-olds," said Pamukcu. "HSH Connor came through the Young Event Horse program and won the 4-year-olds championships three years ago, was second in the 5-year-old championships two years ago, and last year he was second at Le Lion. And then going into this year he has won one three-star long and three three-star shorts. He is an incredible horse and owned by an incredible owner and I am just very, very blessed."
Lauren Nicholson (The Plains, Va.) and Larcot Z, a 2013 Warmblood gelding owned by Jacqueline Mars, were efficient with their round and are in second place on 28.6.
"Larcot was amazing and I get to know him more each time we go out," commented Nicholson. "I thought it was an excellent track for these young horses that we are developing that have a great amount of base fitness on them and test them over 10 minutes. They were all confident and learned a lot the way around. I think it is a great course to set them up for the future. Both of mine I thought really answered everything and seemed straight forward the whole way. I think it sets them up really well for the long term for next year and moving up."
All of the three-star horses passed the final horse inspection this morning and the remaining 40 entries will head into show jumping this morning starting at 10:30 a.m. EST.
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