Alliston’s Jumbo lead at Galway

By November 5, 2011

James Alliston and Jumbo's Jake leap over a giant log on the cross country field at the Galway Downs 3*.

James Alliston and Jumbo's Jake go cross country at the Galway Downs International Three-Day, where they took the lead in the CCI3*. (Photo by Caroline Craven)

 

TEMECULA ― James Alliston of Great Britain and Jumbo’s Jake put on a masterful display of cross-country riding to move into the lead in the CCI3* at the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event Saturday, with a score of 45.4. The 27-year-old Alliston, who lives in Castro Valley, Calif., finished faultlessly aboard India McEvoy’s 13-year-old Irish Sporthorse, taking over the top spot after dressage leaders Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM suffered a refusal at fence 23, the PRO Water Complex, and second-placed pair Michael Pollard and Jude’s Law retired at fence five after an unscheduled dismount.  Alliston also finished faultlessly on his first mount, Parker II, who stands ninth with a 61.6.

On Friday’s 3* dressage test, the 45.4 was good enough to earn Alliston and Jumbo third place. Of the cross country test, Alliston said, “It’s a beautiful course. It rewards forward riding. I suspect most of the mistakes were from people riding a bit backward. If you’re committed and you’re brave, the horse will be rewarded—they come out of it like lions.”

The British native has been based in California for two years, but his parents have come from England this weekend to cheer for him. Alliston said  his greatest successes have been with them in the audience. “I think they’re my lucky charm—maybe I should fly them out more often,” he joked.

Portrait of James Alliston, a 27-year-old British eventing rider, sitting in a garden at Galway Downs after winning the cross country portion of the November Three-Day.

James Alliston, a 27-year-old Brit, lives in Castro Valley, CA. (Photo by Paula Parisi)

Nate Chambers notched second with a flawless round on Rolling Stone II (49.2). Chambers is one of the eight East Coast rider riders, plus three foreign riders, who journeyed to Galway Downs for CCI3*.

“For me, the course rode exactly the way I thought it would, but it was hard,” said Chambers, 24, of Vienna, Va. “There were some fences that were meant to terrify the riders and some that were meant to terrify the horse, but they weren’t the same fences. I thought it was a great test.

“This was the biggest test I and ‘Rolly’ have ever seen,” he continued. “I thought this was actually a little bit tougher than the [Fair Hill CCI3* in Maryland]. But the footing there is tougher, so they were an even match. On a horse I wasn’t as familiar with, I don’t if I would have gotten it done.”

Jolie Wentworth, a 30-year-old rider from Martinez, Calif. claimed third place on GoodKnight (53.6)  “He was awesome—so, so amazing,” Wentworth said. “I don’t think there was any one thing—he’s just really showed a lot of maturity and growth over the last year that all came together today. He got a little tired at the end, but he just kept trying for me. That was probably the highlight.”

In the CCI2*, dressage co-leaders Amber Levine and Oz Poof Of Purchase finished faultlessly to take complete control of the lead (47.8), as co-leaders Max McManamy and Project Runway gathered 2.0 time penalties to drop to third (49.8). Canada’s Hawley Bennett-Awad and Splendorofthesun also jumped faultlessly to remain in second (49.7).

“I got really lucky to have such a great ride on such a great horse,” said Levine, a 23-year-old resident of Santa Rosa, CA.

Amber Levine, 23, smiles amidst the greenery after she and horse Poof Of Purchase won the CCI2* Cross Country phase at Galway Downs.

Santa Rosa rider Amber Levine, 23, leads the CCI2* competition with Poof of Purchase. (Photo by Caroline Craven)

Levine has only been riding Poof for two months, but the pair looked like old friends as they stormed around the course. The 16-year-old Anglo-Arab gelding finished second in the classic-format CCI1* at Galway Downs last year. Owner Teresa Groesbeck bred Poof, as well as his full brother Oz The Tin Man, also competing in the CCI2* with daughter Kathryn Groesbeck.

The total prize money at this year’s Galway Downs Three-Day is $33,000, with a $21,000 purse in the CCI3*. Land Rover, the Professional Riders Organization, Del Mar Eventing and Professional’s Choice are the presenting sponsors of the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event.

A portion of the general admission and patron’s ticket revenue at Galway Downs will benefit Operation Homefront, the official charitable partner of the Professional Riders Organization Tour and of Galway Downs.

The mission of Operation Homefront is to provide emergency financial and other assistance to the families of our nation’s service members. Since its founding in 2002, Operation Homefront has provided more than $92 million to programs that benefit military families.

For complete results for this week’s events at Galway Downs, click here.

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