Canadian eventers well positioned after cross country heading into Sunday's final day of competition.

Source :  Equine Canada

In today's CH-J* cross country phase, Moira de Ste. Croix Laframboise of Kars, ON and Blue Ben, her 12-year-old Westphalian gelding sired by Gambit Z, rode clear earning only 2.4 time penalties finishing on their score of 52.2, moving them one position on the scoreboard from fourth to fifth, still within a shot of the medals heading into Sunday's show jumping final. April Simmons of Uxbridge, ON, and Impressively Done, her eight-year-old Thoroughbred gelding by Eulogize, finished with 1.2 penalties for a score of 54.9 moving them up the scoreboard to finish in eighth from 13th.

Moira de Ste Croix Laframboise riding Blue Ben in the CH-J*

 Rae Becke of Luskville, QC and Tyne Be Merry, her 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding sired by Maltstriker, had a fault free cross country performance finishing on 57.5, leaping up the leaderboard eight spots, finishing the day in 13th place. Frontrunners Lauren Clark of Tottenham, ON and Yoscha Bosche, finished in 18th on 67.7.

"Overall, we had a very good day. Our CH-J* team moved up from fifth to fourth, and we are one rail and one penalty point away from finishing as the bronze medal team. I was very impressed by the way everyone handled themselves on cross country. There were definitely some heartbreaks out there, but the way the girls came through the finish line and handled their horses, both in the vet box then back at the barn, made me really proud of them. I think they showed maturity beyond their years, "commented Jessica Phoenix, Coach Team Ontario.

A lot of girls had their personal bests out there, which is amazing. Jamie Kellock had an absolutely foot perfect cross country round, it was incredible to watch her out there eating up that ground. April Simmons and Moira de Ste Croix Laframboise also had beautiful cross country rounds, and did a great job out there. Tomorrow is going to be such an exciting day. We have Moira, who is just over a rail out of first place and is within striking distance. For individual competition, that is a really great position to be in. It's going to be a really exciting finish."

Top Three CH-J* Standings
1st - Nicolette Doolittle/Tops/(Area III) USA/48.1
2nd - Mary Peabody Camp/Rave Review/(Area VIII) USA/50.6
3rd - Emily Macauley/Canadian Exchange/(Area VIII) USA/50.8

Top Three Canadian CH-J* Standings
5th - Moira de Ste Croix Laframboise/Blue Ben/52.2
8th - April Simmonds/Impressively Done/54.9
13th - Rae Becke/Tyne Be Merry/57.5

Top Three CH-J* Team Standings
1st - Area III USA/ 157.7
2nd - Area VII & VIII USA/ 159.7
3rd - Area II USA/ 187.2
________________________
4th - CAN/ 192.4
April Simmonds/Impressively Done/54.9
Lauren Clark/Yoscha Bosche/67.7
Jamie Kellock/Don't Blink/69.8
Mia Dover-Terrettaz/Etoile/103.0

For complete CH-J* results: http://bit.ly/1bsCjrg
For complete CH-J* Team results: http://bit.ly/13tRiMU  

 In the CH-Y** division, Dasha Ivandaeva of Tottenham, ON and Autorytet, her 11-year-old Thoroughbred cross gelding sired by Banita, moved up from 11th place to eighth after taking 20 jump faults and 17.6 time penalties. Haley Armstrong of Mono, ON and Dejavu, Jan Bigelow's 11-year-old Canadian-bred American Warmblood mare sired by Dreitakt, finished the event on an unfortunate refusal eliminating them from tomorrow's finals.

"I think today was one of my best rounds with Autorytet," said Ivandaeva. He was really with me the whole time and trusted my judgement, and just really went for everything I asked for. I couldn't be more proud of him. My goal for tomorrow is to go clean in the show jumping which will guarantee me a place in the ribbons."

 Dasha Ivandaeva riding Autorytet in the CH-Y**

 "The CH-Y** course that David O'Connor designed was incredibly tough. There were five clear rounds all day, and only one was double clear. It was a true championship course. I thought our girls handled it extremely well. There has no break in the weather for these horses or riders and they've all done amazing in these conditions," commented Phoenix, Team Coach Ontario.

I'd like to add that we had a Team Canada vet box, so all of the provinces joined into one vet box and it was just an incredible feeling for all of those girls to cross the finish line and be surrounded by that type of energy and support. You could just see them take a deep breath and relax when they crossed that finish line and they knew that they had all that support. I want to thank everyone who contributed to that because that is a huge part of what we are doing here. Even though some are here as individuals, it is good for everyone to know that we are all part of one big team effort."

Top Three CH-Y** Standings
1st - Rowdie Adams/No Money Down/(Area V) USA/ 50.9
2nd - Caroline Martin/Quantum Solace/(Area III) USA/52.2
3rd - Jennifer Caras/Fernhill Stowaway/(Area III) USA/63.6

Top Canadian CH-Y** Standing
8th - Dasha Ivandaeva/Autorytet/96.5  
 

For complete result for CH-Y** visit: http://bit.ly/12EtZg7
For complete results for CH-Y** Teams visit: http://bit.ly/13VQ1kI