USEF Network

Courtney King Claims Seven Victories and the East Coast Riders Cup Prix St. Georges Championship at Centerline Events at HITS on the Hudson CDI-W/Y/J/P

RELEASE: September 6, 2007
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: By Phelps Media Group

Courtney King of New Milford, CT, brought six horses to Centerline Events at HITS on the Hudson CDI-W/Y/J/P, held August 17-19 in Saugerties, NY, and competed in both the Open Show and the CDI. King's mounts for the event were Harmony's Wyoming, Jubilant, Mythilus, Rendezvous 3, Timber and Tsunami. The talented group spanned the training scale from third level to grand prix, and several of them were making their debut at new levels. After three days of competition, King claimed seven victories and two championships—the East Coast Riders Cup (ECRC) Prix St. Georges (PSG) Championship title with Jubilant and the ECRC Championship at third level with Harmony's Wyoming.

Mythilus Wins CDI Grand Prix Special in Inaugural Outing
Mythilus, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Richard Malloch, finished the 2007 USEF qualifying season as the highest-scoring horse in the nation in the small tour, and King moved him up to grand prix this summer. King and Mythilus ("Myth") competed in the CDI Grand Prix on opening day at Saugerties, earning 64.330% for third place in a field of 12 horses. On Sunday, Mythilus returned to the ring to make his debut in the grand prix special and claimed victory with a score of 68.560% to top the field of four. "I was disappointed in our grand prix because we were attacked by a huge horsefly, which drove poor Myth crazy," King noted, "but I was very happy that he didn't hang on to that for the special. We still have some things to smooth out in the special, but it was a solid, clean test with some points of super quality. I think it's going to be a very good test for him!"

Rendezvous 3 Debuts in Grand Prix, Earns ECRC Reserve Champion Title
Rendezvous 3, a 12-year-old Warmblood mare owned by Francine Walker, completed the 2007 USEF qualifying season as the fifth highest-scoring horse in the nation in the small tour, and made her debut at grand prix with King at Saugerties. In her first test at this level on Friday in the FEI Grand Prix ECRC/Open, the mare scored 65.521% for third place in a field of 10 horses. On Saturday, Rendezvous 3 ("RV") came back to win the FEI Grand Prix ECRC/Open with a score of 62.500%, besting the roster of nine. King's overall combined score with Rendezvous was 64.010%, which earned the duo the FEI Grand Prix ECRC/Open Reserve Champion title. "I was so thrilled with Rendezvous!" King beamed. "The first day we had many small mistakes, but she loves to show and came out ridiculously proud of herself. The second day was completely clean, but she needs more strength and fitness to go through the test showing her true qualities. It feels so good to have that first time down the center line done and then to go home and really work on polishing things up!"

Jubilant Debuts in CDI and Wins ECRC/Open PSG Championship
Riding Jubilant in his debut at a CDI, on opening day King placed third in a field of 15 horses with a score of 64.750% in the Euro American Prix St. Georges. Jubilant ("Eubie") is an eight-year-old Oldenburg stallion owned by Anne Wood and Virginia Easley. King also showed Jubilant in the open show where he swept the division, winning the FEI Prix St. Georges ECRC/Open on two consecutive days. On Saturday, Jubilant topped the field of 14 entries with 69.375%. On Sunday, Jubilant scored 68.750%, besting a field of 17 horses. Jubilant's overall combined score of 69.063% earned him the title of FEI Prix St. Georges ECRC/Open Champion. "I have to admit that Friday wasn't his fault; I was very sick the few days before the show and was still far under the weather on Friday, so Eubie wasn't exactly tuned on Friday, and I definitely could have helped him more," King shared. "But Saturday he was awesome, and I did my part, too!"

King's Up-and-Coming Mounts Capture Top Spots in Third and Fourth Level
On Friday, King brought out her group of up-and-coming mounts for the USE