Wayne, IL – August 26, 2016 – Anna Buffini started off the USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Championship presented by Dressage Today with a bang, taking home the top two spots in the FEI Young Rider Grand Prix 16-25 Test.
Buffini was the first rider to head down the centerline aboard her own Wilton II, a 13-year old Dutch Warmblood gelding. The pair posted a score of 67.488 percent to claim second place. Buffini was also the last rider to go in the class and earned an impressive 71.256 percent to take home the win with her 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Sundayboy.
“We are really comfortable together in the show arena which is nice,” Buffini said. “I’ve never ridden a horse like this before and I’ve never had this kind of connection with a horse. I am just enjoying every ride on him. We wanted to go in there today and put in a clean test and we did it together, I was so proud of him.”
Buffini was also pleased with her test on Wilton II and was enthusiastic about the connection that she is developing with him.
“I just wanted to go out there and put in the best test we could and not ask for more than we’ve been getting in practice,” Buffini explained. “We are fairly new together so it’s been nice to feel him connecting more and he was there for me. It was fun to see how much more he trusted me. I’m just really really proud of him.”
Buffini praised the Under-25 Grand Prix program as an important stepping stone between the Young Rider division and the Grand Prix.
“There is such a huge jump from Young Riders to the Open Grand Prix. You’re either competing against 21 year olds or you’re competing against Guenter [Seidel],” Buffini laughed. “This is our first big tour year and I think it’s a great way to get us prepared for the Open Grand Prix.”
Rounding out the top three was Kerrigan Gluch and HGF Brio, an 11-year-old Andalusian stallion owned by Hampton Green Farm with a score of 64.233 percent. Gluch was happy with the test that she put in aboard her HGF Brio especially given that their partnership began in January.
“Today our test was extremely rideable,” Gluch said. “I was able to settle in and really ride every movement more than I’ve ever felt before so I think that’s a huge accomplishment for us. I couldn’t ask anything more from him.”
Young Rider Division
In the AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship riders took to the ring for the FEI Young Rider Team Test. Nicholas Hansen and his own Ritter Benno, a 15-year-old Westphalian gelding, took home the top spot continuing their domination of the Young Rider ranks. The pair swept the medals at July’s Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships taking home gold in the team, individual and freestyle competitions. Hansen topped the leaderboard Friday in a tightly contested class with a score of 68.947 percent.
“I thought it was a really good test,” Hansen said.“What we have been working on coming off of Young Riders was really making sure that the trot work is forward and energetic, and making sure that the shoulder stays high. I was really happy with the fact that we were able to keep the more energetic trot a little bit more consistently today.”
Close behind Hansen in second place was Allison Cyprus and Madoc Gareth, a 12-year-old Welsh Cob gelding owned by Kristin Cyprus with a score of 68.728. Cyprus was thrilled with how Madoc Gareth went on Friday and was already looking forward to making a few tweaks before Saturday’s FEI Young Rider Individual Test.
“I was pleased with my ride,” Cyprus said. “The canter tour was a little bit more in front of my leg than the trot. We had one bobble in our three tempis in the second change, but our pirouettes were really good. Hopefully we can fix the mistake in the three’s for tomorrow and get him a little more in front of my leg.”
Cyprus also praised the Lamplight facility “I really love it, this is my first time here,” she said. “It reminds me of Gladstone but on a bigger scale, there’s tons of places to graze and trails to walk on and lots of shade and the footing is amazing.”
Rachel Robinson and Indira a 12-year-old Westphalian mare owned by Jeff Robinson brought home third place with a score of 68.728. The tie between second and third place was determined by higher collective marks.
“The highlight was definitely our pirouettes today,” Robinson said “They were probably our best ones we’ve done in a while, better than Young Riders. Keeping her energetic for tomorrow is going to be our biggest goal, especially in the tempis.”
Junior Division
Jenna Upchurch and her own Greystoke, an 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding topped the leaderboard in the FEI Junior Team Test with a score of 70.270 percent. Similar to Hansen, Upchurch is coming off a successful Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Champions. She won an individual gold medal, as well as the freestyle gold medal. Though the pair have only been together since December, they have been dominating the junior division this summer.
“He was really listening to me which was a great thing,” she said. “He wasn’t nervous, he really paid attention to what I was asking him to do. I’ve been working on getting to know each other and what kind of feel I need to ride him to present him as best as I can.”
Bringing home second place with a 69.414 percent was Marline Syribeys and her own 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding Hollywood. Rounding out the top three was Callie Jones and her own Don Philippo, an 8-year-old Hanoverian gelding with a score of 68.604 percent.
Young Riders and Junior Riders will ride for their championships on Saturday while the USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship will kick off with the FEI Pony Rider Team Test. The USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Championship presented by Dressage Today will conclude on Sunday with the FEI Intermediate II Test.
For results and starting times, visit http://www.foxvillage.com. For more information about Lamplight Equestrian Center, visit http://www.lamplightequestriancenter.com. Live streaming will be available on the USEF Network.
U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions Results
FEI Young Rider Grand Prix 16-25 Test
1.Anna Buffini/Sudayboy/71.256
2.Anna Buffini/Wilton II/67.488
3.Kerrigan Gluch/HGF Brio/64.233
4. Kayla Barteau/Merlin/63.209
5. Sean Sierra Keasler/Lux Stensvang/62.093
6. Sarah Thomas/Argo Conti Tyme/60.000
7. Katie Foster/Sacramento/55.977
FEI Young Rider Team Test
1. Nicholas Hansen/Ritter Benno/68.947
2. Allison Cyprus/Madoc Gareth/68.728
3. Rachel Robinson/Indira/68.728
4. Bebe Davis/Feivel Mousekewitz/68.640
5. Kristin Counterman/Three Times/67.237
6. Bebe Davis/Rotano/65.263
7. Bobbie Kerr/Alcazar/64.518
8. Kayla Barteau/Raymond/63.114
FEI Junior Team Test
1. Jenna Upchurch/Greystoke/70.270
2. Marline Syribeys/Hollywood/69.414
3. Callie Jones/Don Philippo/68.604
4. Anna Weniger/Don Derrick/68.333
5. Juliet Hess/Diano/68.288
6. Jackson Gillespie/Westpoint CB/67.793
7. Allison Nemeth/Dafoe/66.171
8. Abigail Fleischli/Laguna/65.991
