Standing Ovation For Devon's Newest Favorite, George Williams

2002 Dressage at Devon was miraculously spared from Hurricane Isidore's rain showers today and created the perfect atmosphere for hailing the show's newest favorite, George Williams. Winning the Grand Prix for freestyle with an impressive score of 70.840%, Williams was far the best rider of the pack, riding a test of world championship quality with trainer Klaus Balkenhol's influence surfacing.

Aboard his delightful Westfalian mare Rocher, Williams produced a class act ride in which the extended trot, the piaffe and passage were the highlights. Rocher's overall coolness with the upper level exercises was clearly visible in her floppy relaxed ears and rhythmically swinging tail, never showing a sign of stress or uneasiness. Even though the contact with the bit seemed soft, it could have been more steadier. But that was the only detail worth a remark in their otherwise superb test. Ohio based George Williams is definitely in for the Freestyle victory and will deal with hardly any competition, if his mare maintains this top shape.

In second place were outsiders Pam Goodrich and Melville. Goodrich, who already competed at this level in Devon in 2001, has shown definite improvement today. There were no significant dips in her test and the horse was alert to his rider's aids during his performance. With 64.880% on the score board, Goodrich settled for the red ribbon.

Nancy Polozker and Hilcodion came close to Goodrich's score, but were just 0.120% short. With 64.760%, the earned their third position and a good starting position for the Grand Prix freestyle.

It was an exciting day today at Dressage at Devon.

Jan Brons High Point Champion Prix St Georges

2002 Dressage at Devon kicked off wonderfully for Long Island based Jan Brons. Aboard his flamboyant, yet petite Dutch bred mare Josien, Brons rode a delightful Prix St Georges test scoring a high 67.000%.

Winner of the afternoon PSG class, the Canadian JoAnne Mintz, ranked second overall with 65.333%. Her chestnut gelding Koriedon showed powerful movements but lacked a bit of the elegance cute Josien has. In third was morning session rider Lisette Thirion-Milner with Eminence. Trained by Robert Dover, Milner had a decent ride which was marked 64.667%.

The breed show classes in the afternoon were dampered by heavy rain showers caused by hurricane Isidore. Show announcer Brian O'Connor kept spirits high, however, by encouraging handlers and horses who had to face a woodstock mud slide scene instead a neatly dragged Dixon Oval ring. "Now we know that Friesian is a Scandinavian word. It means,"goes well in the mud," O'Connor joked.

The Prix St Georges class on Thursday was a warm-up for the CDI Prix St Georges on Friday in which 40 combinations are entered. All horses passed the vet check and the crowd is happy and ready to see some top level dressage at America's oldest horse show in Devon.