Diana and Cealy from Rio

One Two Three Four in a Row for the Eventers

O’Connor, Dutton, Chiacchia and Miles Make It Four In A Row

When the cross country was over, the U.S. continued in their dominating first place position with team members Karen O’Connor on Theodore O’Connor, Gina Miles on McKinlaigh, Stephen Bradley aboard From and Phillip Dutton on Truluck. Their score of 154.80 was over 20 points lower than Canada’s 177.10 and Brazil’s 192.60. Individually Karen stood in the lead with 48.70, Phillip Dutton 2nd (49.80), Darren Chiacchia 3rd (50.20), Gina Miles and McKinlaigh tied for 4th (56.30), Stephen Bradley 13th (68.90) and Mara Dean Retired.

Our day began early on the morning of July 21 when we headed out to the Deodoro Military Base for cross country day. We knew nothing at that point other than the fact that there were to be 26 competitors after one Chilean rider withdrew. We also knew that this was a three-star event and that the hilliness of the course could take its toll on some of the horses and riders.

As to the actual course, we didn’t have a clue. I made the decision to do the water jump because from experience I knew that you could generally get more than one picture there. Yet it was blind man’s bluff figuring out what lenses to bring, if the lighting would work and lots more unanswered questions. In the end it all worked out. Along the way we even had a chance to get some candid pictures of George Morris and Maria Partlow and saw Technical Delegate Roger Haller in action. At one point he yelled out to the volunteers to help a rider who had fallen off in the water.

When it was all over we maintained our Gold Medal lead achieved after Dressage despite a refusal for Stephen Bradley at the jump I was photographing (which added 20 penalty points to his score). The rest of the team’s results were minor. Karen had 1.60 time penalties but as the pathfinder for the team that wasn’t bad. She explained that she lost her way in some of the wooded area and thus lost some time. Her mistake was a benefit to the other riders because she advised them to keep up the pace through the woods. Both Gina Miles and Phillip Dutton stayed on their dressage score having accumulated no faults over the cross county.

The biggest disappointment was when Mara Dean had to pull up her horse when she felt there was something not quite right. This later proved to be true – the horse injured his front left leg but all seemed to be okay and he will leave with the other horses when they head home on Monday, July 23.

“Everybody feels for Mara – but she did the right thing,” commented Capt. Mark Phillips. “It was nice to see in this instance somebody doing the right thing for their horse.”

Darren had a great go with only .80 time penalties. I chatted with Darren after the U.S. Press Conference and he offered his insight into his ride, his team support and his horse.