Cross-country courses inevitably shook up some standings in the lower-level divisions today, Sept. 14, but a handful of overnight leaders were able to preserve their dressage scores and championship ambitions heading into the final phase.

Many pairs in the training horse division had to perform their dressage tests early this morning, but Virginia-based Brit Leslie Law’s overnight lead proved unbeatable, as no one outscored his 23.7. Law maintained his lead in today’s cross-country phase with a clean round aboard All The Buzz, his top 5-year-old mount. Law imported the Dutch Warmblood from England in May, and the gelding competed in his first event at the Virginia Horse Trials.

“He’s a very special, very talented horse,” Law acknowledged. “He was second in the 5-year-old championship this week, and he has a fantastic brain and good movement. I’d like to think that he’ll be produced for the London 2012 Olympics, honestly. He’s everything [my Olympic gold-medal mount] Shear L’Eau was at 5.”

Nina Ligon of Virginia also held on to her overnight lead in the Jr./Young Rider training division, logging a double-clear cross-country round with Chai Thai to stay on their dressage score of 25.8.

At the novice level, Rebecca Goad of Florida moved into the lead amongst the amateurs after overnight leaders Mary McKeon and IdleHour McHenry had a stop on cross-country, dropping them to 40th place. Goad’s double-clear round aboard Happy Daze gives her a narrow lead of less than a point.

In the novice horse division, yesterday’s leaders Emily Beshear and Phinneus have yet to tackle the cross-country course. Half the division’s entries will run tomorrow morning, but second-placed pair Jessica Montgomery and Legato put the pressure on Beshear with a double-clear round late this evening.

Taylor Foote of Michigan kept her lead in the Jr./Young Rider novice division with a lovely round aboard Lazerbeam.

Local veterinarian James Meister and Lesson’s Learned became the sole leaders amateur training division with a faultess round today. Amanda Teague and Princess Grayce, who had been tied with Meister after dressage, unfortunately had two stops on cross-country. They now sit in 37th.

Competitors in the upper-level divisions began their dressage rides this morning.

After a relaxed and forward dressage test, Virginia rider Allison Springer and Arthur currently lead the advanced division with a score of 27.1. Becky Holder and Courageous Comet sit second, followed by Darren Chiacchia and Windfall II in third.

John Williams topped the intermediate division with Sweepea Dean with a 25.0 in dressage, besting second-placed pair Erika Treis Petersen and Under The Influence by more than 6 points. Clark Montgomery and Up Spirit sit third.

In preliminary action, Wisconsin rider Jamie Marlewski emerged the leader of the amateur division with a 26.7 aboard Sprint Tech. Two riders tied for the lead in the Jr./Young Rider division. Californian Jennie Brannigan and Cooper scored a 29.6 as the third pair to ride in the class, and their score was soon after matched by Julie Wolfert of Kansas with Wondaree Merlin.

Chiacchia also continued his winning streak with Hanno, riding to the top of the preliminary horse standings with a score of 26.3. The Trakehner gelding owned by Jean Kopperud was named champion 5-year-old in Wednesday’s Young Event Horse Final.

“He’s really learning to carry himself uphill more, and getting that self-carriage.,” Chiacchia said. “He won his first [preliminary event] last weekend at Genesee Valley (N.Y.), where he finished on his dressage score.”

Chiacchia said he definitely expected his horse to be competitive this weekend. “You don’t come to championships to not win!” he said, smiling.

Tomorrow’s cross-country rides will begin again at 7:30 a.m., picking up with the remainder of the novice horses, followed by open beginner novice and then preliminary, advanced and intermediate.