Wayne, Ill. – Aug. 25, 2018 – Taking home a big championship win was Codi Harrison and Katholt’s Bossco in the USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Championship presented by Dressage Today. Harrison and her 11-year-old Danish Warmblood had remained at the top of the leaderboard from the start of the division, earning blue ribbons in both the FEI Intermediate II Test and the Grand Prix 16 – 25 Test. When it came time for their Grand Prix Freestyle, Harrison was determined to give her best performance with new choreography set to popular country songs, finishing with a freestyle score of 74.075 percent and a combined total of 72.622 percent.
Since purchasing Katholt’s Bossco from Denmark three years ago, Harrison has grown with the gelding and moved up the levels from Prix St. Georges to the Grand Prix. Harrison was proud of her mount for remaining in tune with her throughout the week’s competition and giving everything he had to the task at hand.
2018 USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Champions
“I’m very excited and so proud of him. I had no idea what to expect coming in and I’m so thrilled for him to give me every ounce that he had.”Codi Harrison and Katholt’s Bossco win the 2018 USEF #BrentinaCup Dressage National Championship presented by Dressage Today Magazine at #FestivalofChampions after scoring a 74.07% in their freestyle!
Posted by USA Dressage on Saturday, August 25, 2018
Also maintaining her position in the division was Molly Paris riding Countess, a 17-year-old Danish Warmblood mare. In just three years of being partnered together, the pair has placed third in the 2017 championship and won an FEI CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle Competition in Tryon in September of last year. Today, they added the reserve championship to their resume, riding to a score of 69.125 percent and fourth place in the freestyle and earning a total combined score of 68.743 percent.
In third place was Kerrigan Gluch and Hampton Green Farm’s HGF Brio. Gluch and the 13-year-old Andalusian stallion were sitting in third place following the FEI Intermediate II test earlier in the week, but placed fifth in the Under-25 Grand Prix. Despite their Grand Prix finish, the pair was able to pull out third place overall with today’s Freestyle performance that earned them a score of 69.525 percent and a total combined score of 67.584 percent.
Codi Harrison – USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Champion
On her freestyle:
“I was really happy with it and it’s only the second time we’ve ever done it. For him to be with me and not completely off course was definitely a win. I was a little nervous coming into it because of the heat today. He’s not the hottest horse so when it’s cooler it’s nicer. He stayed right with me though and he felt really good, I’m so proud of him.”
On winning the championship:
“I am so excited and I’m so proud of my horse. I had no idea what to expect coming in so I’m really thrilled. For him to give me every ounce that he had and to stay so with me for the show was great. It was such a competitive field so I’m very honored.”
On the benefits of the U25 division:
“I think it’s a really good transition from the Young Riders to the Grand Prix. You have all of the Grand Prix elements without the difficultness — it’s modified. It’s fun to have a division of people your own age. It’s a great ease into the Grand Prix.”
On how NAYC prepares you:
“I loved my Young Rider experiences. I went once as a junior and three times as a young rider. Every year that I went it got a little bit better, but it really helped me prepare for this. It prepares you with being on a team and collaborating with teammates. You make a lot of friendships and meet a lot of people through it. It’s just all together fun. Here you’re a little bit more on your own, but we all know each other a little bit.”
Molly Paris – USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Reserve Champion
On her freestyle:
“I’m really happy with her. I felt like I had her but then she stopped again [in the piaffe]. She’s super talented. She is pretty fit to the heat because we’ve been working on that. She feels way better than she did when I first got her so I am super happy with her.”
On the benefits of the U25 division:
“I’ve been doing this division a few years now and every year it gets better and better. You learn so much from progressing in it by learning the movements and learning how to actually ride a Grand Prix test without the stress of competing against your Olympic team. It’s been a good stepping stone for me.”
On her future plans:
“This was our goal to come here and do better than last year, so I’m super happy with that. We’ll go home now and have a little break. We’ll head back down to Florida.”
Kerrigan Gluch – USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Championship third place
On her freestyle:
“I was very happy with both of my freestyles. With Brio, I haven’t done it in a few months so it was nice to go in the ring and have him feel even better than he did during the Wellington season. He gave every ounce of energy he had throughout the whole freestyle, which is really awesome to feel as a rider. To have that underneath you is super.”
On the benefits of the U25 division:
“The overall youth programs in general for the US have got much better in the past few years. Over the years it brings more and more riders which makes our division even bigger. I think just having that pipeline of kids to keep coming is really special and crucial for having young people on the senior team, or Olympic team.
On her future plans:
“I just arrived home from Europe a few weeks ago so I will take a mental break before the Wellington season. I want to get the horses back to gymnasticizing and keep them happy. The Wellington season is super tough on their bodies and minds so I want them to be in a happy place and ready to work is the more important.”
Results: USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Championship
Rider / Horse / I1 Score / GP 16-25 / GP Freestyle / Total Score
1. Codi Harrison / Katholt’s Bossco / 71.941 / 72.744 / 74.075 / 72.622
2. Molly Paris / Countess / 69.147 / 68.256 / 69.125 / 68.743
3. Kerrigan Gluch / HGF Brio / 68.147 / 66.436 / 69.525 / 67.584
4. Claire Manhard / Wilfonia / 67.088 / 66.923 / 66.575 / 66.937
5. Kerrigan Gluch / Bolero CXLVIII / 66.059 / 66.462 / 70.325 / 66.88
6. Benjamin Winger / QC Roberto Cavalli / 64.529 / 64.128 / 68.025 / 64.873
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