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Kristi Nunnink and her own R-Star made easy work of Ian Stark’s CIC*** course, adding 5.6 time faults to hang onto their lead ahead of John Michael Durr and Ruth Bley’s Esprit De La Danse by just .9 penalties.
Nunnink was complementary of both the way the course rode, and the venue as a whole saying, “It rode just beautifully and this venue gets better and better every time thanks to Robert Kellerhouse and his team.”
R-Star and Nunnink were able to accomplish their goal of going quickly around the course in the Galway Downs International CIC*** and Adequan USEA Gold Cup/PRO Tour Series.
“I went super fast for me, and she was quite rideable. I was thrilled with everything.” Nunnink will now head east in one week to ride with Bruce Davidson prior to contesting the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** in late April.
In his first CIC*** event with Esprit De La Danse, John Michael Durr jumped around clear with just a bit of time to finish second amongst an experienced field of competitors.
“She was amazing, and to be honest that is the best ride I have had on her at any level. I think this mare was born to do this,” Durr said of his new partner. The duo finished just in front of local Temecula favorites, Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice, the most decorated and experienced combination in the field.
Bennett-Awad and her long time partner will also be making the trip to Kentucky this year, for what will be their fourth time together at Rolex. She gave great praise to event organizer Robert Kellerhouse, as well as course designer Ian Stark.
“Without Robert, we would not have these great events, and we have one of the best designers in the world here which is pretty special.” She also had great things to say about her mare, who is co-owned by Terry and Linda Payne, stating “We know each other so well now, and she felt amazing out there. This horse is very special. I cut a couple of the turns out there and she just locked right on.”
For full results click here.
About the Adequan USEA Gold Cup and PRO Tour Series
Qualifying for the 2014 Adequan USEA Gold Cup began last fall with the Plantation Field CIC3* (PA) and the Woodside CIC3* (CA) and features 11 qualifying competitions throughout the United States at the Advanced Horse Trials and CIC3* levels. The final will take place at the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships September 2014 in Tyler, Texas. Riders who complete a qualifier earn the chance to vie for $40,000 in prize money in the Adequan Advanced Division and the title of Adequan USEA Gold Cup Champion.
The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of its many sponsors:Adequan; Standlee Forage Nunn Finer; SmartPak Equine; Nutrena; Broadstone Equine Insurance Agency, Point Two;Dubarry; and FITS.
The PRO Tour Series consists of 13 premier destination events in the United States and Canada in 2013/2014 featuring the best riders and most entertainment. Riders and Horses are awarded points on the PRO Tour Rider Leader Board and PRO Tour Horse Leader Board. Riders can also earn points on the PRO Tour Series at the Intermediate or two-star level for the Multi Radiance Intermediate Challenge. The 2014 Multi Radiance Challenge Leader Board Champion will win a Multi Radiance MR4 ACTIVET Portable Laser System.
The Professional Riders Organization would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of the 2014 PRO Tour Series: Martin Collins USA, The Official Footing of PRO; Multi Radiance Medical, The Official Laser Therapy of PRO & Sponsor of the Multi Radiance Medical Intermediate Challenge ; Tex Sutton, the Official US Equine Air Carrier of PRO; SSG Riding Gloves; Finish Line Horse Products; Midlantic Ltd.; and Mythic Landing Events.
