Phillip Dutton’s mount, Mr. Medicott, has not competed in a four-star eventing competition since 2014. However, with the six-time Olympian in the driver’s seat, Mr. Medicott made his return a great one, as the combination placed fourth in the 2017 Rolex Kentucky Three Day-Event presented by Land Rover (RK3DE). As the top-placing American, Dutton picked up his fifth Rolex/USEF CCI4* Eventing National Championship for the Roger Haller Trophy. Germany’s Michael Jung returned to the top of the podium for his third straight RK3DE title aboard fischerRocana FST, making him the only rider to win three consecutive titles. “I was quite unsure whether I should bring him. He’s been off nearly two years. There wasn’t much else [in terms of competitions] that fit his level of experience, and Rolex is a very appropriate event for him. He’s such an incredible horse, and this will probably be his last event at this level so it is a great way for him to finish,” said Dutton. Dutton (West Grove, Pa.), who earned his 40th RK3DE completion at this event, put in three solid phases with the Mr. Medicott Syndicate’s 1999 Irish Sport Horse gelding. Their dressage score of 46.3 got them off to a strong start on Friday. However, it was Clark Montgomery (Lexington, Ky.) and his Rio Olympic Games mount, Loughan Glen, Holly and William Becker, Kathryn Kraft, and Jessica Montgomery’s 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding, who took the early lead with an excellent score of 33.6. On Saturday, course designer Derek di Grazia created a challenging course that tested combinations early on. Dutton and Mr. Medicott gave it their all, picking up 8.8 time penalties to sit in eighth place with a score of 53.6. “That had to be as good a round as I’ve ever had,” said Dutton following his clear cross-country round. “He has the heart of a lion. Every time he lands, he just goes to it, and looks for the next one. He’s a freak; I wish I could clone him. I was hoping to make the time, but he got tired, and I had to look after him a bit, but I couldn’t be more pleased with him.” Matt Brown (Cochranville, Pa.) and Blossom Creek Foundation’s Super Socks BCF were the top-placing American combination in fourth place with a score of 47.8 heading into Sunday’s show jumping finale. However, they incurred one rail and five time faults, which moved Dutton and Mr. Medicott up to fourth following a clean jumping round. Hannah Sue Burnett (The Plains, Va.) and Mary Ann Ghadban’s Under Suspection had one rail down, which dropped them to fifth for her second Rolex/USEF CCI4* Eventing National Reserve Championship. The 2004 Holsteiner mare made her four-star debut at the RK3DE and had wonderful performances in all three phases. “It’s great to be back at the top of the sport, and all of my owners and supporters have been so fantastic to get me to this point, so it is nice to deliver for them,” said Burnett. Dubarry of Ireland sponsored the fourth annual $20,000 Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge and the USA came out on top of the standings ahead of the combined New Zealand/France/Germany team with a final score of 179.2. The combinations who represented the USA were Burnett and Under Suspection, Boyd Martin and Crackerjack, Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive, and Lauren Kieffer and Vermiculus.
Phillip Dutton’s mount, Mr. Medicott, has not competed in a four-star eventing competition since 2014. However, with the six-time Olympian in the driver’s seat, Mr. Medicott made his return a great one, as the combination placed fourth in the 2017 Rolex Kentucky Three Day-Event presented by Land Rover (RK3DE). As the top-placing American, Dutton picked up his fifth Rolex/USEF CCI4* Eventing National Championship for the Roger Haller Trophy. Germany’s Michael Jung returned to the top of the podium for his third straight RK3DE title aboard fischerRocana FST, making him the only rider to win three consecutive titles. “I was quite unsure whether I should bring him. He’s been off nearly two years. There wasn’t much else [in terms of competitions] that fit his level of experience, and Rolex is a very appropriate event for him. He’s such an incredible horse, and this will probably be his last event at this level so it is a great way for him to finish,” said Dutton. Dutton (West Grove, Pa.), who earned his 40th RK3DE completion at this event, put in three solid phases with the Mr. Medicott Syndicate’s 1999 Irish Sport Horse gelding. Their dressage score of 46.3 got them off to a strong start on Friday. However, it was Clark Montgomery (Lexington, Ky.) and his Rio Olympic Games mount, Loughan Glen, Holly and William Becker, Kathryn Kraft, and Jessica Montgomery’s 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding, who took the early lead with an excellent score of 33.6. On Saturday, course designer Derek di Grazia created a challenging course that tested combinations early on. Dutton and Mr. Medicott gave it their all, picking up 8.8 time penalties to sit in eighth place with a score of 53.6. “That had to be as good a round as I’ve ever had,” said Dutton following his clear cross-country round. “He has the heart of a lion. Every time he lands, he just goes to it, and looks for the next one. He’s a freak; I wish I could clone him. I was hoping to make the time, but he got tired, and I had to look after him a bit, but I couldn’t be more pleased with him.” Matt Brown (Cochranville, Pa.) and Blossom Creek Foundation’s Super Socks BCF were the top-placing American combination in fourth place with a score of 47.8 heading into Sunday’s show jumping finale. However, they incurred one rail and five time faults, which moved Dutton and Mr. Medicott up to fourth following a clean jumping round. Hannah Sue Burnett (The Plains, Va.) and Mary Ann Ghadban’s Under Suspection had one rail down, which dropped them to fifth for her second Rolex/USEF CCI4* Eventing National Reserve Championship. The 2004 Holsteiner mare made her four-star debut at the RK3DE and had wonderful performances in all three phases. “It’s great to be back at the top of the sport, and all of my owners and supporters have been so fantastic to get me to this point, so it is nice to deliver for them,” said Burnett. Dubarry of Ireland sponsored the fourth annual $20,000 Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge and the USA came out on top of the standings ahead of the combined New Zealand/France/Germany team with a final score of 179.2. The combinations who represented the USA were Burnett and Under Suspection, Boyd Martin and Crackerjack, Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive, and Lauren Kieffer and Vermiculus.