Great Meadow Open Thread: Jennie Brannigan Wins CIC3*, Lauren Kieffer Wins Pan Ams Class

Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Good morning and thanks for joining us for the Land Rover Great Meadow International cross country phase. Keep refreshing this page for updates all morning as a star-studded list of riders tackle Mike Etherington-Smith’s new course. The CIC3* will head out on course first followed by the Pan Ams division after a 20 minute break.

Despite last night’s torrential downpour, the footing has reportedly held up pretty well and the grounds crew has been hard at work laying down stone dust on either side of the fences. It is sunny and warm this morning in The Plains, Virginia which is a big help to dry out the ground.

Mike has designed a gorgeous course on what Jennie Brannigan said is probably the best turf in the country, and we’ve been anticipating eventing’s return to Great Meadow for a long time. You can see the full course in pictures here and a drone flyover here.

Jennie Brannigan and Tim and Nina Gardner’s Cambalda lead the CIC3* on a career best score of 39.8 followed closely by Buck Davidson and Carl and Cassie Segal’s Ballynoe Castle RM. Lauren Kieffer and Marie Le Menestrel’s Meadowbrook’s Scarlett moved into the lead in the Pan Ams divisions after show jumping. Boyd Martin and Pancho Villa are 0.6 penalty points behind in second place.

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12:42 p.m. EST: Morgan McCue has reported on Facebook that Abecca GS, owned by Lance McCue, and her rider Sally Cousins are A-OK after parting ways on course in the CIC3* division. The live scores initially reported a rider fall and then changed to a horse fall. According to Morgan, Sally popped out of the tack at the offset cabins near the end of the course, and Becca walked back to the vet box before stopping to munch on grass. Good to know they’re both just fine!

Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook's Scarlett. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook’s Scarlett. Photo by Jenni Autry.

11:40 a.m. EST: Our entire Pan Am team finish in the top five at Great Meadow. CAN’T WAIT for Toronto. USA! USA!

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11:39 a.m. EST: Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook’s Scarlett are the winners! Clear round with just 6 time penalties; they finish on a 49! Marilyn and RF Scandalous are second with a 50.4.

11:38 a.m. EST: Lovely round by Lauren and Scarlett. Lauren looks really pleased crossing the finish!

11:37 a.m. EST: 10 time faults for Boyd Martin and Pancho Villa to finish on 53.9. That moves them down below Marilyn and RF Scandalous.

11:35 a.m. EST: Lauren rides through the step combination on a long rein. Very smooth and nicely done.

11:34 a.m. EST: Will Faudree and Pfun finish with 18.8 time despite 20 penalties at 9.

11:32 a.m. EST: Our top two after show jumping are on course now. Boyd Martin and Pancho Villa are having a good round so far. Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook’s Scarlett are clear through the pond at 5. Ears pricked and focused!

11:31 a.m. EST: 12.4 time penalties for Matthew Brown and BCF Belicoso. They finish on 57.6.

11:28 a.m. EST: Pan Am American alternates Will Faudree and Pfun have a runout at 9C after the step. Sinead and Jimmy said Will took a tug down the hill and the horse took his eye off the fence.

11:26 a.m. EST: 4.8 time penalties for Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous. They move into the lead!

11:25 a.m. EST: Really positive riding at the steps from Matt Brown. He’s giving BCF Belicoso a great round.

11:23 a.m. EST: The scoreboard has updated Sally Cousins’ score to reflect a horse fall. We will update you on the condition of Abecca GS as soon as we know.

11:21 a.m. EST: Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive have moved into the lead with a clear round and 11.2 time faults.

11:19 a.m. EST: Guillermo de Campo had one refusal and 30.8 time. Daniela Moguel gallops right past the Angled Brushes at 4 with Agave. They would have told the ground jury earlier that they will do so and use this as a training round.

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11:17 a.m. EST: Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous are having a truly gorgeous round. They’re moving right along and may be the first to get close to the time.

11:14 a.m. EST: Sinead Halpin says Guillermo De Campo’s Quelite looks like a really happy horse!

11:13 a.m EST: Daniela Moguel and Cecelia are clear with 17.2 time. Lauren and Vermiculus were clear with 12.4. Looks like Abraham had a third refusal on course resulting in elimination.


Donner finishes second at the #landroverGMI CIC3* with a beautiful cross-country run. #ottb #eventing #flyingdeer

A photo posted by Lynn Symansky (@lynn.symansky.equestrian) on


11:07 a.m. EST: Muggle runs out to the right twice at the Angled Brush at 4. The horses didn’t appear to understand the question so Moreira da Silva retires.

11:05 a.m. EST: Abraham Ojeda and Obusero have a hard stop at the table at 3. They’re clear on the second attempt and picked up another stop at 4. Abraham is carrying on and is clear through the pond at 5.

11:03 a.m. EST: Lauren Kieffer gives Vermiculus a really positive ride through the steps at 9.

11:00 a.m. EST: We’re underway with the Pan Ams division. Daniela Moguel and Cecelia are the first on course. She went to take the long route at the step at 9. The horse tripped around the turn but recovered and is clear through the combination.

10:41 a.m. EST: Sinead Halpin is in the commentator’s booth and says the footing is brilliant despite the rain yesterday. That’s great news! James Wofford says there is a very good drainage system at Great Meadow that has contributed to that.

10:40 a.m. EST: Here’s the top 10 for the CIC3*. The Pan Ams division gets underway at 10:57 a.m. EST. Screen Shot 2015-06-21 at 10.39.18 AM

10:38 a.m. EST: Jennie and Ping are the CIC3* winners! They picked up 8 time penalties for a final score of 47.

10:36 a.m. EST: We’re being told Reggie didn’t get his shoulders through the flags of the skinny at fence 9C, but Buck carried on, resulting in a technical elimination.

10:34 a.m. EST: According to the live scores Buck and Reggie received a technical elimination for missing a jump. That’s really unfortunate.

10:33 a.m. EST: 7.6 time faults for Lynn Symansky and Donner to finish on 50.4. Jenni is having to really kick through the coffin at 20.

10:32 a.m. EST: Jennie Brannigan and Ping have now passed the area where Buck and Reggie are being held.

10:29 a.m. EST: Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM have been pulled up. We’re not sure why yet.

10:28 a.m. EST: Pan Am alternates Michael Pollard and Cyrano finish with an unfortunate 20 and 31.2 time.

10:27 a.m. EST: Overnight leaders Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda are on course.

10:23 a.m. EST: Tamra and Mai Baum are clear with 8.4 time to move into second.

10:18 a.m. EST: Cyrano another one to duck out at the side on 4B.

10:17 a.m. EST: Kurt and DeLux Z had a cracking round with 17.2 time.

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10:13 a.m. EST: Clear round with 8 time for Sydney Conley Elliott and Cisko A. Ellen Doughty-Hume and Sir Oberon were clear with 15.6 time. We’re into the top six in the CIC3* division now.

10:09 a.m. EST: Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights with 0.8 time. Crackerjack sidles out to the side at the C element after the step at 9.

10:08 a.m. EST: Cisko A just cruising on a long rein with Sydney Conley Elliott. They go beautifully through the main water complex.

10:06 a.m. EST: Ellen and Sir Oberon finish clear with 15.6 time. That moves them up to third in the clubhouse.

10:05 a.m. EST:

10:01 a.m. EST: Sally Cousins fell somewhere on course but it was not reported on the video. We’ll let you know if we find out more.

9:59 a.m. EST: Sir Oberon trots in the water before the B element but jumps through the combination clear with Ellen Doughty-Hume.

9:56 a.m. EST: Bobby Meyerhoff and Dunlavin’s Token are unfortunately eliminated after a third refusal on course.

9:55 a.m. EST: Abecca GS props a bit between the two Angled Brushes at 4. Sally Cousins makes it happen!

9:54 a.m. EST: Sara Kozumplik-Murphy and Fly Me Courageous had the look of eagles in their eyes at the startbox. They finished with 2.8 time, the fastest clear round so far.

9:53 a.m. EST: Justine Dutton parts ways from Jollybo at the Angled Brush at 4. He jumped the first one and then put on the breaks in the one-stride to B. Justine jumps up right away and she’s fine.

9:51 a.m. EST: Bobby Meyerhoff and Dunlavin’s Token had way too much momentum coming off the bank at 9 and couldn’t find their balance for the skinny at C. They skidded to the side and picked up a second runout. Bobby was going for a third attempt.

9:48 a.m. EST: Buck and Flower were really cooking around the course but they pull in 11.2 time penalties. The ground may be just a bit holding.

9:47 a.m. EST: We’re getting some scores in now. Colleen and Escot 6 finish on 112.7 with a stop and 18 time penalties. Erin Sylvester and Mettraise were clear with 30 time penalties for 112.6 final score. Michael and Ballingowan Pizazz were clear jumping with 17.2 time faults.

9:43 a.m. EST: Rats! Maggie Deatrick and Divine Comedy run out at the Angled Brushes at 4. She jumped through the pond after and retired.

9:42 a.m. EST: Flower’s being very brave and fresh this morning!

9:41 a.m. EST: We’re seeing the horses leave the box and jump the first 8 fences or so on the live stream, but they’re not reporting how they finish.

9:40 a.m. EST: Buck Davidson and Petite Flower leave the box blazing. Flower was bouncing around at the box. She was ready to go!

9: 38 a.m. EST: We’ve seen Michael Pollard and Ballingowan Pizzaz leave the startbox. Started off fresh but has settled in nicely.

9:33 a.m. EST: Colleen Rutledge and Escot 6 are the first out on course. Erin Sylvester is out with Mettraise. She has withdrawn No Boundaries.

9:26 a.m. EST: We’re just moments from the start of cross country.