by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 11, 2022
Hunter Holloway and Pepita con Spita. (Photo © 2022 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
What does the name Pepita con Spita mean?
I’ve wondered since I started writing about the feisty show jumper a few years ago, and the question crossed my mind again today when she won the $405,300 FEI 5-star Grand Prix at HITS Saugerties with the only double-clear performance.
Hunter Holloway, who rides the gray mare, has searched the internet for an answer, with little luck.
I did some searching of my own and got one definition; a pepita is an edible pumpkin seed.
Okay, and “con” means “with” in Spanish.
As for spita? It appears to be Romanian for fifth wheel. That’s all I could find, but it probably isn’t right. A hint might be that the 11-year-old German-bred Westphalian is by Con Spirit. Maybe they meant to call her Pepita Con Spirit, but someone wrote it wrong? It’s happened before; think of all the weird misspelled horse names that are out there.
So I’ve made up my own definition of spita in the way it applies to “Princess P,” as they call her around the barn. I take it to mean grit, and Hunter expanded on that.
“She’s a really catty, brave mare. She’s full of heart. She gives it her all every time she steps out in the ring and she is very fast as well.’’
And the best things about her?
“I think it’s her heart and how much she tries for her rider,” said Hunter. “Keeping her happy is our main goal.”
Hunter Holloway enjoys her victory gallop. (Photo © 2022 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
There were 25 starters in the grand prix, the finale of championship week at HITS.
Will Simpson, whose unforgettable round in the 2008 Olympics assured a gold medal for the U.S. team, was the first rider to try Scottish course designer Mark McGowan’s route in the wide open space of the Grand Prix Stadium.
Will Simpson and Chacco P. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
But after he and Chacco P secured a clear, the designer had to wait nervously for the twelfth to ride, Great Britain’s Amanda Derbyshire on Cornwall BH, before he could be assured of a jump-off. (In 2017, with a different designer when the class was worth $1 million, victory belonged to a rider with just one time fault and nobody clear, which meant no jump-off).
“I was told this morning that two (clear) was unacceptable and if I could get more than two, the boss would be quite happy. Thankfully, I got four and now he’s happy. I was pleased with that,” Mark related.
Pepita, seventeenth in the order of go, eased the tension further with a third clear, and then Jessica Leto, going four before the end with Cinbura, turned in a fault-free trip.
Discussing his course, Mark said, “the lines were the lines,” contending, “I didn’t overcomplicate it. I was getting them to the fences,” which were “between 1.55-1.60 (meters) in places” but he handled things in such a fashion that exhibitors could “cope with the height.”
Will saw things differently.
“It was too complicated for me,” he said with a smile.
“At my age I can’t get my car out of the driveway without a GPS.”
Before the class, he told me that Chacco, a Mechlenberg by Chacco Blue, can be difficult.
“He’s best in the show ring,” said Will.
“He’s miserable to hack. I’ve started to take it personal. He’s calm and cool about everything, except when I get on him. He’s getting better. Maybe he’s a late bloomer, a lot like me.”
In the jump-off, a rail down at the ice cream soda fence, the second in the tiebreaker, left Will on four faults with a time of 55.56, which would be good enough for third and a $60,795 paycheck. Amanda had a pole at a vertical, the third-to-last, after getting a little flat while pursuing a much faster time of 51.78. It would be good enough for second, and $81,860 in prize money.
Amanda Derbyshire and Cornwall BH.( Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
After seeing her rivals have faults, Hunter didn’t rush with Pepita, but she made the most of her mare’s trip, “relying on her natural quick foot speed” while leaving all the poles in place. That gave her the lead, as the only rider to that point with a clear, even though her time of 54.42 wasn’t all that speedy. Her strategy paid off in a victory worth $133,749. Jessica, the least experienced in the group, started with a lot of pace, eyeing Hunter’s time. But she had two rails in a clocking of 59.95 to be fourth.
Show manager Rian Beals announced that there will be another 5-star at Saugerties next year. He also mentioned a big money class at the end of HITS Ocala in the winter, but did not reveal an amount.
In other action at HITS, Jimmy Torano repeated his 2021 victory in the $200,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final with Laskano. They were on top with scores in the 90s in every round.
“The horse never put a foot wrong. He won every single round, which I believe he also did last year. He is just a horse that doesn’t want to let you down,” Jimmy observed.
In the $50,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix Finals, Kaitlin Porath took the victory on Democracy, taking home the victory by more than 20 points.
The $15,000 HITS Green Hunter Prix went to Hannah Isop and Let It B with scores in the high 80s to take the top placing.
The Blackbarn $25,000 Junior/Amateur Jumper Prix was won by Laura Sloey with Beijing LS La Silla.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 8, 2022
After more than 40 years heading HITS LLC, its founder, Tom Struzzieri will be leaving his post as chief executive officer at the end of the 2022 season, it was announced this morning.
The organization, known for its hunter/jumper shows around the country, will be led by its management team during the search for a new CEO. Traub Capital Partners became a majority partner in HITS in March.
Tom will remain a part-owner and director of the company while providing strategic consulting as well as significant involvement in the launch of the Del Mar, Calif., Showpark in 2023.
“I have been extremely fortunate over the four decades of running HITS to have a terrific group of employees who have been by my side through some very hard climbs as we together have grown the company,” Tom said.
“I remain committed to those people and will be in constant touch as a consultant as we face the next challenges together. On a parallel course, I have also been blessed to have very loyal clients and because of that loyalty, they too can continue to count on me as a liaison to all things HITS-related. The future of HITS is bright and I plan on doing what I can behind the scenes to help it shine.”
The move will enable Tom to pursue his life-long goal of cycling across the U.S. as he supports the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) with Team Alpha.
“It has been a pleasure to witness the industry through Tom’s eyes. He has been, and will continue to be, a guide and advisor to us all.” said Mortimer Singer, managing partner of Traub Capital Partners.
“Tom has built a great business and we look forward to continuing our work together as partners.”
With venues in New York, Florida, Vermont, Illinois, Virginia and California, “HITS will continue its mission of providing top quality competitions for riders at every level, while improving its facilities, technology and overall customer experience,” according to a statement from the company, which also offers dressage shows.
New developments are promised at the beginning of 2023 as the HITS Ocala Winter Show Series kicks off at Post Time Farm, as well as at Del Mar Showpark, where teams are already in place to begin renovations.
Those who want to donate to the organization Tom will be supporting with his bicycle trek may do so at https://www.alphabikeride.com/team.
Traub Capital Partners is a New York-based strategic private equity firm specializing in building value in consumer companies using its unique combination of investment, strategic and operational expertise. The fund targets investments in companies with revenue between $50 and $250 million. To learn more about Traub Capital Partners, visit www.traubcapitalpartners.com
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 15, 2022
Great Britain, as expected, is heading the standings in the FEI World Eventing Championships on the first of two days of dressage at Pratoni del Vivaro in Italy. The Olympic champs are on 45.5 penalties, as their Laura Collett leads the way individually with 19.3 penalties aboard London 52.
New Zealand has 53 penalties and the U.S. is just a bit behind in third at 53.5. Individually, the USA’s Will Coleman was marked at 26.4 on Off the Record, putting him in a tie for fifth, while Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus scored 27.1 to be seventh.
Will Coleman and Off the Record. (Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian)
The other American riders, Boyd Martin, Tamie Smith and Ariel Grald, will ride on Friday. It’s worth noting that this is the first time since 1994 that Phillip Dutton has not been part of a world championships team.
Looking ahead to Saturday and Guiseppe Della Chiesa’s cross-country course over rugged terrain, French rider Thomas Carlile assessedit this way: “It seems to me like a balance between a true championship test and a modern look at eventing, with a lot of frangible pins that we all have our ideas about.
“But it’s the way the sport is going and we need to choose and produce our horses in that aspect now. There are plenty of different routes to make sure everyone has the possibility to get around and it will require proper cross-country riding with the terrain,” added Thomas, who tied with Will in fifth place aboard Darmagnac de Bellard.
This is the last of the world championships this year in which the U.S. will have a team. The four-in-hand driving championships, which follow the eventing at Pratoni next week, will not have an American squad because Misdee Wrigley dropped out for health reasons. Chester Weber is the lone American driver competing.
There is no endurance championship because the event was cancelled due to a problem with track.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 7, 2022
It was quite a different Michael Barisone who came back to the Morristown, N.J., courtroom where he was tried for attempted murder last spring.
Michael Barisone in court Wednesday with attorney Chris Deininger. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
The dressage trainer appeared today for a hearing that would determine whether he could be freed after serving nearly four months in a psychiatric hospital. He was neatly dressed, a contrast to his disheveled look during the trial.
He has been in a psychiatric facility since shortly after a jury returned a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity in connection with the shooting of his student, Lauren Kanarek.
It was up to the same judge who presided at his trial to decide the next step for the 2008 U.S. Olympic dressage team alternate. Want to know how he ruled?
To read the story, click here.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 4, 2022
There were so many remarkable stories out of the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in England, which ended today. It has certainly lived up to its reputation as the toughest of all the 5-stars (including Kentucky and Maryland in the U.S.) under its new cross-country course designer, Derek di Grazia, who also laid out the route for the Olympics last year. (He designs Kentucky as well).
Of the 51 entries who started cross-country, 31 completed that phase. Three of those, however, did not go on to show jumping.
Britain’s Piggy March, rated number four in the world, was the winner on Vanir Kamira with 27 penalties, which included four for a show jumping knockdown (but her margin was such that she even had another rail in hand). Meanwhile, another Brit, world number one Oliver Townend, was eliminated on cross-country after falls with two separate horses.
The USA’s Cornelia Dorr and Daytona Beach 8 made the biggest leap that wasn’t on the cross-country course by finishing 10th after standing 50th of 52 starters in the dressage phase. She was clean in cross-country except for 8.4 time penalties, and fault-free in show jumping. A star is born!
The other U.S. riders who finished were Emily Hamel (Corvett) 20th and Meghan O’Donoghue (Palm Crescent), 24th. Wood Baughman was eliminated for three refusals on cross-country with C’est la Vie 135.
To me, the most amazing result was a fourth-place finish for Jonelle Price of New Zealand on the 19-year-old Classic Moet, the only horse to complete cross-country without time penalties. Don’t know how she did it; the battery on Jonelle’s watch died while she was riding, which means she has a very accurate clock inside her head.
Her achievement earned the new Avebury Trophy for the best cross-country round of the day, judged by former Burghley course designer Mark Philliips.
It was donated by Rosemary and Mark Barlow, owners of three-time Burghley winner Avebury, bred by New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson. Their first Burghley win came in 2012. The horse retired in 2016 and was put down that year due to a malignant tumor. He is buried at the Nicholsons’ home at Westwood Stud in England.
Jonelle Price and Classic Moet. (Photo courtesy Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials)
What spoils Jonelle’s story a little bit is the fact that she dropped two rails in show jumping, without which she would have been second. But fourth place on 40.2 penalties is still pretty terrific under the circumstances.
She finished just behind her husband, Tim on Vitali (38.5), who was back of runner-up Tom Jackson, another British rider. He collected 32.5 penalties on Capel’s Hollow Drift.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 10, 2022
The Region 2 Maclay championship today went to Jordan Gibbs, a Coloradan who trains with Stacia Madden of Colts Neck, N.J.
Jordan led the top 33 from a field of 49 at Old Salem Farm who are eligibile to ride in the ASPCA Maclay Championship at the National Horse Show in Lexington, Ky., in November.
Reserve champion was Kate Egan of Glen Gardner, N.J., trained by Luke Olsen of Redfielf Farm in Califon, N.J.
Discussing her strategy, Jordan said, “I came into today just wanting to put down a smooth round and make it into the top 33 and make it to the Finals. I trust my horse and I trust myself and I am so happy with how it turned out.”
Stacia explained, “Our goal was to have what we call a `lock-it-in’ round, where we just avoid making any blatant, big mistakes. Sometimes that takes the pressure off and we get better results. Jordan has a tendency to be an overachiever, so we weren’t working on having the brilliant round, but she wound up having the brilliant round.”
Holly Orlando and Lyman T. Whitehead, who judged the class, saw it as “a nice stepping stone to the Finals at the National Horse Show.”
“The course was very well done,” said Holly,speaking of the route designed by Paul Jewell and Nancy Wallis that mimicked the look of the Alltech Arena at the National.
“In a lot of ways, the class judged itself, with the top 12 separating themselves from the others. Jordan was clearly the leader after the first round and there was no doubt that she earned the win.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 11, 2022
The $3 million (Canadian) CP International, presented by Rolex, went to German star Daniel Deusser on Killer Queen VDM after a jump-off today against Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat (Venard de Cerissy) and Gilles Thomas of Belgium (Aretino 13).
Daniel Deusser and Killer Queen VDM. (Photo© Spruce Meadows Media/Mike Sturk)
Daniel received his $1 million share of the purse with the only clear round in the tie-breaker.
McLain Ward had a seventh-place finish on HH Azur, who won a class earlier in the week. It ended the show at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta on a better note for the U.S. after the team failed to make the second round in yesterday’s Nations Cup.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 1, 2022
The Nations Cup of show jumping, a contest that epitomizes a country’s equestrian pride in its achievement, will continue as a two-round competition next year.
The International Jumping Riders Club noted the FEI (international equestrian federation) has confirmed the format for 2023, even though some organizing committees have expressed interest in making it just one round. Economically, a two-round approach is expensive for a number of reasons, including the cost of consecutive hours of media coverage.
A Nations Cup win is always a cause for celebration. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
Remember how removing roads and tracks and steeplechase from three-day eventing changed that game? Making the Nations Cup one round instead of two would have a similar effect on a different discipline.
As IJRC points out, the Nations Cup is the oldest and most prestigious class in equestrian sport. Riders wearing team colors are a symbol of the competion’s sporting importance.
In terms of its value, dropping a second round would not be in keeping with the Cup’s philosophy concerning consistency in horse and rider performance. They must prove their teamwork and freshness over longer courses involving two rounds. A second round enables a team to improve its standing in the class, or create an opportunity for redemption. A team can correct its mistakes or change its strategy in the second round.
IJRC maintains, “It is the most coveted and important competition in an athlete’s sporting career. This is underlined by the fact that riders agreed to the formation of three-combination teams at the Olympics, being assured that the Nations Cup formula would not be affected.”
Outside of the Olympics, as in last month’s world championships, four-member teams have always been the rule. IJRC contends joint solutions to the economic issues should be found in order to support the organizing committees and address their concerns.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 28, 2022
New Jersey riders continued to do the state proud as the Dressage Festival of Champions came to a close at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Illinois today.
It was quite the show, with 168 horses and riders across 15 divisions for seven days. The Festival began as a multi-discipline competition in the 1990s at the U.S. Equestrian Team in Gladstone, N.J., eventually winding down there to include only the dressage championships, but with less divisions than were held in Illinois, where more rings were available at a larger facility.
Cesar Parra, who splits his year between Pittstown, N.J., and Florida, won the Markel/USEF Young Horse Six-Year-Old championship with Møllegårdens Fashion (83.480). The Danish gelding (Florenz 71 X Tailormade L’Espoir) “was very relaxed. I didn’t want to push for much more. He’s a a very powerful horse, we are a little bit new to each other. I know how he can get really, really strong,”
Cesar Parra and Møllegårdens Fashion claim their prizes. (Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian/Susan Stickle)
Cesar added, “I’m very happy he’s getting so obedient, so supple.” He characterized him as “almost a Grand Prix horse now.
While it is “Important to come here and win,” he added what is more important is that “the education follow parameters we need for Grand Prix.”
Cesar told the story of showing Fashion at the Florida Horse Park last April, when “he ran away from the groom. two miles and almost got hit. That was his warm-up. I think that’s why he’s a beautiful gelding.”
The reserve champion was Lauren Fisher’s Lionell VE (81.800), ridden by Rebecca Rigdon. She said their test had one mistake, but it was hers and “I can fix that.”.
Alice Tarjan, the omnipresent Oldwick, N.J., resident, who took the Grand Prix title with Serenade MF earlier in the week, was third in the six-year-old section with Gjenjanger (80.840).
“I’m really pleased with my horse. She did her job. It’s been a long week,” said Alice.
Fourth place went to another of her horses, Glory Day (79.520), ridden by her trainer, Marcus Orlob of Anandale, N.J.
The Markel/USEF Young Horse Seven-Year-Old title belonged to Endel Ots on King’s Pleasure (Dark Pleasure X Glock’s Johnson TN) with a score of 78.925. Cesar was second on Fanta (76.181), a Hanoverian he owns with Gina Raful.
Endel said the horse’s final test, marked at 78.925 “couldn’t be better” after a day devoted to a hand walk, turnout and a roll.
“He had a lot of power and energy and really stayed with me.”
Endel told his horse’s owner, Heidi Humphries, that he didn’t want to show him in the six-year-old championship last year, because he wasn’t ready. But 2022 would be another story.
Endel Otts and King’s Pleasure. (Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian/Susan Stickle)
“For her birthday about 10 months ago, I gave her a silver frame and it said `Seven-year-old 2022 national champion Kings Pleasure.’ I said there will be a photo in that frame of your horse with a championship ribbon on there. I see it, I feel it. I know it. It’s there.”
And he was right.
Cesar said he enjoyed his ride on Fanta, even though he was having a hard time keeping him on his aids. “He’s an amazing horse. I really love him. I’ve been riding him for two years.”
In the Markel/USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix section, Claire Darnell earned the championship with the 10-year-old Dutchbred Harrold S (Vivaldi X Fiedermark NRW) on a score of 69.942 percent.
“My horse was super good all week,” said Claire, noting that even when “I made a couple of little rider errors, he kept doing his thing.” She said the best quality of the horse is his reliability.
Judge Janet Foy, left and U.S. dressage development coach Charlotte Bredahl (far right) with Claire Parnell and Harrold S. (Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian/Susan Stickel)
“My goal for the year was to qualify for this. To have him win was super, super special,” she said, noting he adjusted to everything but “the fake horse in front of the VIP.” They kept putting different decorations on it, so “every time he came by, it was different.”
Reserve champion on Jane was Alice, with a total of 69.325 percent.
As she has said was the case with her other horses, being in Germany much of the summer as an alternate for the U.S. world championships team meant little training for those who stayed at home. Alice called the championships a good experience for Jane, noting now it’s back to work. She’d like the horse to have more exposure, so she’s thinking of going to Show Plus Dressage at Devon next month.
Third place went to Marcus on Jeannette Pinard’s Spirit of Joy (68.966).
He sees “a lot of things to improve,” but noted it was the hose’s first Intermediate II.
Marcus said, next up is “a few weeks of light work, then our homework will start. He’s only eight. I think I have to push to the next level,” which means starting with national Grands Prix in Florida.
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Read stories from previous days in the previous columns section, listed at the top of the website.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 27, 2022
Alice Tarjan and Serenade MF made a clean sweep of the Grand Prix championship classes at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions today, after adding a freestyle win to her victories in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special earlier in the week at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Illinois.
The Oldwick, N.J., resident breathed a sigh of relief after the competition ended, saying she was “just happy we got through it.”
It was only the second time she had ridden the freestyle on Serenade (Sir Donnerhall X Don Principe.) She was marked at 76.985 percent and took the overall championship on 74.176.
She didn’t know much about the music to which her 9-year-old mare danced, expIaining that when she needed a score to try and qualify for the world championships, a European produced the piece for her.
“He was kind enough to throw it together for me in five days,” said Alice, who won the championship for the second year in a row. In 2021, she rode Candescent to the Grand Prix title, while Serenade won the Developing honors.
The mare was bred in America by Maryanna Haymon. Alice and “Shrimp,” as she is nicknamed, were the first alternates for the U.S. team that went to Herning, Denmark, for this month’s world championships.
Critiquing her progress with Shrimp, she noted, “The balance uphill has been a real struggle,” adding the mare is getting better and better overall. She kind of wants to be a show hunter,” Alice observed slyly, “so it’s been a real push to try keep her in front of my leg. Over the week, she’s getting hotter and hotter. This is like a way different horse than I ever used to ride.”
Alice Tarjan is heading home to Oldwick, N.J. from the national championships with quite a collection of ribbons. (Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian/Susan Stickle)
Training with the team in Europe “helped me have an idea about how much more compressed you have to keep the horses through the test to be able to get the quality and higher marks you want.
“You have to really ride to get a young horse through a Grand Prix, because otherwise it doesn’t happen. You have to make something happen in the beginning, but after becoming more proficient in movements, the idea is to back off and have it be more harmonious.”
The reserve champion was Katie Duerrhammer on Paxton with an average of 70.547. Katie rode Quartett on the world championships team in Denmark, and for today’s competition, Katie said she borrowed Quartett’s freestyle. (Quartett is Paxton’s uncle, so it’s all in the family.”
Katie told Terri Gallo, who produced her freestyle, that she “wanted music that would be fun, that people would know and wouldn’t overpower him. He’s a very powerful horse, but he’s very lightfooted.”
He had not done this freestyle before and they had some mistakes, but she liked the way it showcased “his power and showed how elegant he can be. I was very proud of him; he tried very hard to accomplish everything in there.” She was marked at 74.980 for her performance to the music.
The Markel/USEF Developing Prix St. Georges Championship went to Fritz and Claudine Kundrun’s Johnny Be Goode (Glock’s Dream Boy X Tietse 428.
“I was really pleased with how he stuck with me and did everything I asked and handled everything, despite being hot. You can’t ask for more than that,” said his rider, Olivia Lagoy-Weltz, who has been riding him since December. His score was 73.223.
Reserve was Kathryn Fleming-Kuhn’s Ronin, ridden by Martin Kuhn (71.211).
Adrienne Lyle was a big winner at the show, taking the four- and five-year-old Markel/USEF Young Horse Championships and coaching her assistant trainer, Quinn Iverson, to the Brentina Cup championship for riders 16-25. Quinn, who started with Adrienne as a working student, rode Billie Davidson’s Beckham. That competition is named after Brentina, who was the ride of Debbie McDonald, Adrienne’s mentor.
Adrienne praised Quinn for all her help in keeping things going while she was away at the world championshps.
Although Adrienne has always trained young horses, this is her first year doing young horse classes and championships.
She described the 5-year-old, Valor (Vitalis 4 X Fürstenball OLD), as “so rideable, such a kind, giving horse.”
He was bought off a video when he had just turned three. He’s already earning astronomical scores, taking the championship on 92.480. The Westphalian is owned by Kylee Lourie, who also owns Katie’s horses. Adrienne is Katie’s coach, so that’s a nice little package
Alice was reserve five-year-old champion with Ierland’s Eden (88.480).
Adrienne topped the four-year-old rankings with Fürst Dream (Fürstenball OLD X Benneton Dream). Their average for the show was another whopping score, 92.920. The Hanoverian stallion is owned by Betsy Juliano, who also owns Adrienne’s world championships mount, Salvino.
Adrienne Lyle and Fürst Dream. (Photo courtesy USEF/Susan Stickle)
While the horse was frisky outside the ring, “he really focused when we went down centerline. He’s really rideable,” said Adrienne.
“He has such incredible suppleness, especially for a four-year-old. He just feels like every part of him moves, and I love that feeling. And he’s got an amazing brain.”
Reserve was yet another of Alice’s horses, Ice Princess (89.760).
“I’m super excited about that horse,” said Alice, who bought her as a yearling from a friend in Denmark.
“I think she’s going to be a super Grand Prix horse.”
While she’s honest, she’s also hot, and can “overboil easily.”
Since she had the summer off while Alice was in Europe, her owner thinks it says something about Ice Princess that she could come to the show with a minimum of training.
The mare lives up to her name, she’s quite the princess.
“There is no question that horse thinks she’s the most important horse in the barn. That horse thinks she’s special, I’ll give her that,” Alice said.
To read previous days’ stories about the championships, check the On the Rail section.
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