California rider Molly Rosin and Havarah’s Charly posted a double clear round on the Open Preliminary division cross-country course Thursday, September 21 at the Wellpride American Eventing Championships at the Carolina Horse Park in Raeford, North Carolina. This moved Rosin into the lead (29.4) after overnight leader Allison Springer, on Arthur, added two time penalties to her dressage score of 28.5. Lynn Coates-Holmes on Pistolero held on to third place (31.5) on a double clear round; she was tied with Lucia Strini, who is now in sixth place (33.5) on Pantalaimon because of 2 time penalties.

In the DeBroke Preliminary Horse division, Karen O’Connor maintained her lead but switched leading horses when Lottery Ticket stopped at fence seven and Mandiba moved into first (29.6). Bonnie Mosser and Magic Carpet (30.6) were tied for third but are now in second after a double clear round; they were tied with Donna Smith and Cicera’s Ice Water but 14.4 time penalties dropped Smith to 12th place. Emily Beshear on Baileywick are placed third (32.3) despite .8 time penalties. Lottery Ticket is now in 16th place (87.7). O’Connor is also in ninth place on Lets Make A Deal in the Intermediate division.

In the Preliminary Junior/Young Rider division, Callie Judy and Kilkenny Castle finished six seconds under optimum time to hold on to their overnight lead (32.9) while Barrett Diehl, who was tied for first, fell to 18th place (75.3) after a stop and the resulting time penalties. Kristen Selvig and Ruse de Guerre moved up from a tie for sixth (35.6) to a tie for second place with Laura Sappenfield on Derrik. Callie Judy was a member of the gold medal winning team in the CIC* at the 2006 NAJYRC.

Lauren Kieffer and Woodrow are leading the Intermediate division after dressage (25.6), followed by Dana Widstrand on Relentless Pursuit (30.6) and Emily Beshear on Woodburn (32.3). Beshear may just be taking home a couple of yellow ribbons from the Wellpride AEC! Tomorrow this division and the Novice championship continue on the cross-country course.

Three divisions of novice dressage also took place today. Sarah Blum on Brilliant Disguise is leading the Open Novice division on a score of 29.5, ahead of 72 other entries in that division. Holly Payne on Fruition’s First have the lead in the Novice Horse championship (29.0). And in another big division of 73 horses, Hanna Owens on Jamberry scored 25.8 to lead the Novice Junior/Young Rider division.

The top three placings did not alter in the Beginner Novice division: Mary McKeon maintained her lead riding Idlehour McHenry (24.80) after a double clear cross-country trip, followed by Margaret Simak on Cappuccino (28) and Fred McCashin on Private Pilot (30.3).

For complete results go to: http://carolinahorsepark.com/aec/results_wed/aec06_results_main.html.

The Title Sponsor of the AEC is Wellpride; Presenting Sponsors are Amerigo Saddlery, Bit of Britain, Nutrena and Saratoga Horseworks; Contributing Sponsors are Cover-All, UlcerGard, Adequan i.m., The Fork Stables, Finish Line and Suncoast Bedding; Gold Level Sponsors include Fleeceworks, Maui Jim Sunglasses, Stackhouse Saddle Makers, Practical Horseman, Mountain Horse, Charles Owen, and EquestrianCollections.com.

The competition continues tomorrow with beginner novice and preliminary show jumping, novice and intermediate cross-country and training and advanced level dressage.