Mill Spring, NC – September 12, 2020 – Doug Payne (Aiken, SC) maintained his lead in both Advanced A and Advanced B divisions at the Blue Ridge Mountain Horse Trials at TIEC presented by EquiSafe Global. Starr Witness, the 2011 Dutch Warmblood mare (Chello III VDL x Veneur) owned in partnership with Catherine Winter and Laurie McRee, added nothing to her Dressage score to remain in first with a 25.70 heading into Cross-Country on Sunday. The same was true for Payne with Quantum Leap, the 2011 Zweibrücker gelding (Quite Capitol x Corporate Report) owned by Doug and Jessica Payne, adding nothing to their 26.10 Dressage score to hold onto second place. Matthew Flynn (Potomac, MD) improved from fourth to third, riding Wizzerd to a clear round to keep his original score of 27.30 aboard the A. Patrick Flynn, Kathleen Flynn, and Merry Go Round Farm’s 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Wizzerd WV x Oklund).
“These two are both stepping up to the level,” Payne said of his Advanced A mounts after touring the Chris Barnard course design. “Quantum [Leap] has had a little more experience than Starr Witness, but both of those guys responded really well and I think they benefited from the time we spent here in the summer.”
