Olivia Dutton, the daughter of eventing legend Phillip Dutton, earned the individual bronze medal on Jewelent in the first FEI U25 Eventing Championship Sunday. It was the only U.S. medal of the championship at Millstreet, Ireland.
Jewelent, bred in County Armagh, Ireland, previously was ridden by Phillip, who will represent the U.S. at the world championships next month in Aachen, Germany.
Germany’s Calvin Böckmann (Altair de la Cense) won individual gold and Cerys Macauley (Kananaskis) of Great Britain claimed individual silver to add to her team’s gold medal. Germany took team silver and Ireland captured the bronze. The U.S., which had two riders fall on the Michael Etherington-Smith cross-country course, was fifth and last behind fourth-place France.
Eventing U25 champion Calvin Böckmann of Germany with Cerys MacCaley of Britain, left, the silver medalist and bronze medalist Olivia Dutton wearing the bronze. (FEI Photo/Benjamin Clark)
The championship was the first offering ever of the global title at Under 25 level, bridging the gap between Young Rider and senior championship competition.
“I honestly don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun at a championship. We are very lucky to have this new competition and this venue at Millstreet. The gap between Young Riders and seniors can be big and you can get lost,” Calvin said.
“I don’t normally get nervous, but I did feel the pressure. The cross-country was tough and quite different to anything we have seen in central Europe, but it will prepare us well for the future. My horse showed that she fights and wants to do her best; she grows 10 centimeters. For her to have this result means the world to me.”
Calvin, was the FEI Eventing U25 world number one as he arrived at the meet with the horse he has ridden for 10 years, up from the junior level. He was the leader after dressage, but time penalties cross-country moved him down to third. However, in stadium jumping, the riders standing first and second faltered, with overnight leader Tom Nestor of Ireland dropping to eighth as Cooley Diamond Dancer toppled four rails. Calvin’s clear round gave him the honors with a total of 40 penalties.
Cerys moved up from seventh after cross-country to secure the silver with 45.3. Olivia had the U.S. team’s drop score of 35.8 in dressage, putting her twenty-sixth at that point. She added 12 penalties cross-country, but her stadium round with just 0.4 time penalties to give her the unexpected bronze on 48.2 penalties.
After cross-country, Olivia said of the half-thoroughbred, “This horse is amazing, he was with me all the way round. The plan was to do the straight routes and the priority was to get round for the team, but also to be competitive. And I knew the horse was coming back to his country (Ireland) and that everyone would be watching.”
Olivia Dutton and Jewelent. (Irish Eventing Times photo)
The U.S. had two other combinations in the top ten, as Molly Duda (Disco Traveler) fifth on 49.2, followed by Jack Curtis (Luska’s Candy Clover) with the same score of 49.2.
Click here for team results. Click here for individual results.
