Two Clear Runs Keep Dutton and O'Connor in the Lead

Tension Mounts Leading into Final Day of HSBC FEI World Cup™ at Rebecca Farm

KALISPELL , MONT. -- Riding with assertiveness and confidence, displaying balance, communication, and the long time partnership that Karen O'Connor (The Plains, VA) and Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) have with their horses, Mandiba and Truluck, these two riders were the only World Cup competitors to clear the cross-country course without time or jump penalties today, keeping them in the number one and two spots respectively. Both O'Connor and Dutton were one of the nine riders who arrived at Glacier Park International Airport on July 19 with 18 different horses on a charter flight from the East Coast.

     With record spectators watching the dramatic HSBC FEI World Cup competition, riders displayed forward, flowing riding through the 37 efforts on the course. Canadian Olympian Hawley Bennett-Awad on Gin N' Juice, moved up into third position with only 6 time faults, bumping Mara Dean and High Patriot to fourth with 8.4 time faults.

     "It was fun to see so many good horses going around the course having such a happy experience," said Captain Mark Phillips, one of the leading designers in the world for equestrian courses. "It ended up a great competition with the prospect of exciting show jumping tomorrow."

     Maxance McManamy of Templeton, CA riding Beacon Hill had a fall at the sunken road obstacle. She was transported to the hospital for further observation. That fall caused O'Connor to be held on the course, midway through her run.

     "Mandiba gave me a great ride," said O'Connor. "My horse was not too bothered by the holding spot, which was in a very good place. I had three fences to get back into the rhythm. I had watched Phillip do his round earlier, but that was all thrown out the window with the hold. I just went as fast as I could at the end. I'm thrilled."

     O'Connor was once ranked the number one lady rider in the world and has held the U.S. Female Equestrian athlete of the year title ten different times. She won the team silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, the team bronze at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and was a member of the 2008 Olympic team in Beijing .

     "It was a good day," said Dutton, who had three horses competing, but placed best again with Truluck. "My horses get the idea that if they get on an airplane to come to a competition, they have to go quick. It was a good experience."

     Dutton is a native Australian now riding for the U.S. and Dutton has represented Australia on two Olympic gold medal-winning teams. A resident of the U.S. since 1992, he became a citizen in 2006 and has represented the U.S. since 2007 in Pan American and Olympic games.

     "I am thrilled with my mare," said Bennett-Awad. "We went out slow, but Ginny doesn't like a slow ride, so after the second minute marker, I went fast. She was on the money out there and I am really excited. That mare, she gets more relaxed as she gallops along."

     In cross-country, each obstacle that the horse is presented to must pass through red and white flags over the jump. Refusals or run-outs are penalized by 20 faults and riders may only have three stops on course. If they fall, riders must stop and are eliminated from the course. Riders must be able to complete the course within an optimum time calculated by measuring the distance of the course against a predetermined speed. If a rider comes in over optimum time, they incur time penalties.

     The final day of the HSBC FEI World Cup™ at Rebecca Farm begins tomorrow, July 25 when the show jumping phase happens all from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. World Cup riders will compete from 1:20 to 2:20 p.m. Show jumping is a big, beautiful and colorful event that is not over until the last jump has been jumped.

     The jumping test is run in reverse order of the standings and the main objective is to prove that the horses have retained their suppleness, energy, and obedience in order to jump the course. Tomorrow's World Cup course consists of 15 jumps. Four penalties are assessed per dropped rail and riders must complete the course within the time allowed.

     "With show jumping, it can all get mixed up," said O'Connor. "We're all ready for that. That's how the sport is and that's what we do. It takes some luck, some experience, and technique. You roll the dice. Everyone is going to be trying to win this thing."

     For more information, visit www.rebeccafarm.org. For live results, visit http://eventingscores.com.