Sinead Halpin ends an impressive 4-star debut as the highest placed American rider in one of the world's great three-day events
A fault-free round in show jumping at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event propelled Sinead Halpin of Branchburg to the U.S. Equestrian Federation National Championship as the event's highest-placing American when she finished third on Manoir de CarnevilleHalpin, 29, shed tears of amazement and joy yesterday after crossing the finish line of the show jumping finale at the Kentucky Horse Park aboard Manoir de Carneville. She had no penalties and moved up from fourth after Saturday's cross-country after Australian Clayton Fredericks dropped a rail with Be My Guest and went from third to fifth.
Great Britain's five-time Olympian Mary King was 1-2 with Kings Temptress and Fernhill Urco, the first person ever to achieve distinctio that at the Lexington, Ky., fixture.
While Halpin never dreamed she would do as well as she did, Rolex long has been a goal for her.
"The first time I came to Rolex, I was 13 or 14...and didn't realize it was something I could actually participate in," recalled Halpin, who runs a training facility in Pittstown..
"Once I got into eventing and realized that was the highlight, that was always the focus. Right now, I feel great. I'm just beside myself. I'm not going to cry anymore," she concluded, and then cheerfully amended that vow.
Those she defeated included the defending Rolex champion and world number one eventer of 2010, William Fox-Pitt of Great Britain, for whom she worked several years ago. Fox-Pitt, fourth on Neuf de Coers, said of Halpin after the event, "I felt very proud watching her jump today and making it look so easy. I'm delighted to be one place behind."