DEVON, Pa.--Boyd Martin on Miss Lulu Herself won the $50,000 Area Eventing competition for the second consecutive year and for the third time overall on Sunday, May 25 at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.
Boyd Martin on Miss Lulu Herself (Photo by Kind Media)Martin was one of seven clean in the first round and then was the fastest of the four clean in the second round.
He finished in 95.93 on Miss Lulu Herself, with Shannon Lilley on Ideal HX second in 98.77,.
Martin was also third on Shanroe Cooly, clean in 99.96.and Caroline Pamukcu on Redfield Dexter was fourth, clean in 104.04.
The top 12 from the first round returned for the second round, carrying forward any faults from round one, so Ema Klugman on Chiraz was fifth with 1.2 time faults from round one, and Pamukcu was sixth with four faults in 99.96, the fastest of two four-faulters
For the presentation ceremony, Martin entered the ring with his horse being led by his two children, Leo, 6.and Nox, 9, one on either side, each holding a lead-shank.
"I've had Miss Lulu for four years," said Martin. "She's a careful jumper. She's a sharp chestnut mare, she's quick and nifty, she's nimble and cat-like."
All those attributes make her the perfect horse for the courses set by Capt. Mark Phillips.
The first course of eventing and show jumping fences wound through the Dixon Oval, into the Wheeler ring and back into the Dixon Oval, ending with Phillips' signature at Devon, a very careful last fence that has always resulted in a number of rails down.
The second course was in the Dixon Oval with a number of places for tight turns and two long runs, both spots where Martin stood out.
"Captain Mark Phillips is a genius at this,"said Martin.
"SHANROE COOLEY is quite a new horse for me," said Martin. "He came to me two weeks ago, so I didn't know quite what to expect. He's been in training as a hunter and jumper. He's been around. He showed at Aachen. I schooled hm over some very big fences a couple of days ago. He's big, and he has a big stride."
"The 4* and 5* horses are on rest, so these two were the best to bring to Devon," he said. "Miss Lulu will probably do a 4* later this year."
Martin ascended to World Number One in Eventing at the beginning of May.
"Being World Number One is a great achievement, but my life hasn't changed at all," said Martin. "I still get up early and work hard and chase kids around."
Prior to showing at Devon Sunday evening, Martin had already taken his kids to hockey practice and ridden horses at this farm, Winderra, in Cochranville.
