Fence 28 of Capt. Mark Phillips' cross country course. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
It’s cross country day at Luhmühlen! Capt. Mark Phillips has designed a great course for the riders, and we’ve got a brilliant group of competitors to see this morning.
The official start time will be 9:54 a.m. local time / 3:54 a.m. EST, and you can watch live on FEI TV or follow along with our open thread below.
If you’re awake with us this morning, refresh this page periodically for the latest updates. The optimum time is 11 minutes 10 seconds. We’ll see our sole U.S. pair, Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen at 6:15 a.m. EST.
Three pairs have withdrawn overnight: Andreas Dibowski and It’s Me, Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Ducati van den Overdam, and Tom McEwan and Diesel. Michael Jung and La Biosthetique Sam will be our first pair out. Here’s to safe, fast and clear rounds for all!
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7:49 a.m. EST: Clark’s appeal goes through, as head-on photos clearly show Glen’s shoulders over the jump. USA! The scoreboard has been updated: zero jump and one time penalty will send him into 7th place.
6:46 a.m. EST: John Kyle says Clark was eliminated for not clearing the flag – this may very well be appealed so we’ll keep an eye on that. Stay tuned for the full report coming your way!
6:44 a.m. EST: That’s a wrap on the cross country! 14 were clear in the time, and while several problems were evident everyone got home safe and sound. There was just one fall on course, and not a severe one. We’ll call this a big win. Ingrid Klimke and FRH Escada will lead going into show jumping.
6:43 a.m. EST: Oh No!! Rocana stumbled badly coming into the water of 17, both of them made an incredible save to stay on their feet. They were unable to make the B work, and they’ve retired. How heartbreaking, but Michael surely knows his mare will be back to win another day. Might as well save her legs. What a horseman. “Nothing even the great Junginator could do” – John Kyle
6:42 a.m. EST: What Michael does for fun.
6:41 a.m. EST: Michael Jung’s a man with a plan with Rocana. The mare looks like she could do this course in her sleep. Actually, she probably could.
6:40 a.m. EST:
And yet another CLEAR INSIDE THE TIME for @BschorerNiklas good round on this class horse – one everyone should want to take home! #Luhmühlen
— Lissa Green Eventing (@LissaGreen88) June 20, 2015
6:36 a.m. EST: Last to go for the day, Michael Jung and Rolex winner fischerRocana FST are on their way out of the box! They’re in third at the moment.
6:33 a.m. EST: Andreas Dibowski and FRH Butts Avedon neatly through the water at 5.
6:27 a.m. EST: Owner of the best save ever at Badminton Nick Bschorer is on course with Tom Tom Go.
6:27 a.m. EST:
Scoring has eliminated Clark Montgomery at 28b, it was a bit hairy and perhaps he missed the flag… #luhmuhlen2015
— Horse & Hound (@horseandhound) June 20, 2015
6:24 a.m. EST: The scores are now showing Clark was eliminated. Again, we did not see or hear of a problem on the feed, so we aren’t quite sure what is going on.
6:22 a.m. EST:
GB’s Emily Lochore has a hairy ride at the third water and runs out 17c #luhmuhlen2015 — Horse & Hound (@horseandhound) June 20, 2015
6:21 a.m. EST: Clark’s score is now showing a 20, a 57.4 total. We will update if this changes but it looks like he was awarded the 20 at the last combination at 28. The camera did not show what happened, we only saw him make it through.
6:19 a.m. EST: Ingrid Klimke has taken the lead overnight with a clear inside the time! Can she win her second CCI4* tomorrow?
6:18 a.m. EST: Correction, unsure if Clark went clear yet. The scores are showing a 20 with a question mark at 28B. Stay tuned.
6:17 a.m. EST: Clark and Glen drift right over the B element of fence 28, one of the more troublesome combinations on course, but they’ve got it done and they are home CLEAR! Just one second over for a time of 11:11. He’ll stay in 8th or better on a 37.5. USA! USA! USA!
6:15 a.m. EST: Ingrid had an amazing ride through the water at 17. FRH Escada is as game as ever and I now have goosebumps.
6:12 a.m. EST: Clark is a bit down on his time but he’s looking super keen through the arena. 
6:11 a.m. EST: Ingrid Klimke, in second currently, is on and clear through 6 with FRH Escada.
6:10 a.m. EST: Clark and Glen looking sharp so far. You jump those jumps, Clark.
6:08 a.m. EST: Clark and Loughan Glen are away!
6:07 a.m. EST:
NZB Campino Mark Todd (NZL) home clear in 10:58 36.5 #CCI4 #eventinglive — German Eventing (@luhmuehlen2015) June 20, 2015
6:01 a.m. EST: This camera angle is weird. And it makes this fence look more intimidating than it probably is.
5:57 a.m. EST:
Good luck to Sir Mark Todd, a clear could put them into third. Go Sir Mark!!! — Eventing NZ (@NZEventing) June 20, 2015
5:56 a.m. EST: For those of you tuning in, Chinch would like to apologize for some spacing issues you’ll see below. He’s too busy in the biergarden to pay attention to my internet woes.
5:55 a.m. EST:
Chris Burton is easily up on time with Graf Liberty as he casually clears the arena fences #luhmuhlen2015 — Lissa Green Eventing (@LissaGreen88) June 20, 2015
5:49 a.m. EST:
Yay Rebecca Howard!!!! #doubleclear #champions — Anne Marie Duarte (@duarte_am) June 20, 2015
5:46 a.m. EST: Joseph Murphy and Electric Cruise have retired.
5:45 a.m. EST:
Joseph Murphy and Electric Cruise run out to the left at 9. Several pairs have picked up 20 there. @luhmuehlen2015 — Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) June 20, 2015
5:44 a.m. EST: Andrew Nicholson picks up 20 at the same place Blyth Tait did at fence 28. He cleared on second attempt and is now home, surely just a bit over time.
5:42 a.m. EST: Just five more to go before Clark Montgomery’s start time.
5:38 a.m. EST: Joseph Murphy and the lovely Electric Cruise are away.
5:38 a.m. EST: Andrew Nicholson and Qwanza are on course and clear through 12. Qwanza is also making his return to the four-star level; his last completion was his 7th place at Rolex in 2012.
5:37 a.m. EST:
Couldn’t be happier to see @RHowardEquest & Riddle Master cruise round @luhmuehlen2015 xc clear inside time & make it look so easy #class — samantha clark (@samanthalclark) June 20, 2015
5:32 a.m. EST: Looking great, Rebecca! She’s home clear and inside the time in 11:03! She’s in fourth at the moment on 42.5.
5:31 a.m. EST: Rebecca and Riddle Master dig deep and show their experience at the water a 17 after a sticky moment at the B element. She’s clear through that and back on her way.
5:28 a.m. EST: Just now hearing that Jonelle Price’s time was 11:09 – one second under the time with the pull up at the penultimate. She will take the lead on a 32.8 at the moment.
5:25 a.m. EST: Blyth Tait have a refusal at the B element of fence 28 and are clear on the long route. They seemed to have a miscommunication approaching the fence. What a bummer!
5:25 a.m. EST: Oh Canada! Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master are away!
5:20 a.m. EST: Blyth Tait is all business. As he should be. “Let me show you how it’s done.” Fun fact, this is Blyth’s first CCI4* since Burghley in 2011, where he retired with Santos. Before that, it was 2004 and Burghley/Athens.
5:18 a.m. EST: Germany’s Kai-Steffan Meier and Sunny Side First go for a swim at the water after 17A. Both are up on their feet and looking grumpy but otherwise healthy.
5:17 a.m. EST:
@BlythTait has started!! #Legend #luhmuhlen2015 — Lissa Green Eventing (@LissaGreen88) June 20, 2015
5:16 a.m. EST:
Jonelle Price was not sure why she was flagged down, but thinks she’d have been a second or two over without that #luhmuhlen2015 — Horse & Hound (@horseandhound) June 20, 2015
5:14 a.m. EST: Andrew Hoy has retired on course. John Kyle calls him “Hoy Boy”. Catchy, John. Catchy.
5:12 a.m. EST: 4 clear inside the time so far, not counting Jonelle who is still pending final time due to her flag down.
5:12 a.m. EST:
Andrew Hoy and Algebra have an unnecessary glance off at a skinny #luhmuhlen2015 — Lissa Green Eventing (@LissaGreen88) June 20, 2015
5:10 a.m. EST: Jonelle has evidently been let go and has finished. Unsure what happened there. Maybe the steward wanted to tell her how obsessed we are with Faerie Dianimo. #justsayin
5:08 a.m. EST: Jonelle has been flagged down at the second to last fence. No info yet.
5:05 a.m. EST: Look at it! Just look at it. This horse is fantastic.
5:05 a.m. EST: Jesse Campbell and Kaapachino are bang on the optimum time!
5:02 a.m. EST:
Somewhat obsessed with Faerie Dianimo’s ears @luhmuehlen2015 — Leslie Threlkeld (@LAThrelkeld) June 20, 2015
5:00 a.m. EST:
A great round for Britain from @willanewton and Newmarket Vasco One, clear in the time #luhmuhlen2015 — Horse & Hound (@horseandhound) June 20, 2015
4:53 a.m. EST: One completes, one retires. Kevin McNab and Fernhill Quality Street are the fifth combination to finish. Lizzie Brown and Henton Attorney General retire after problems at 17.
4:48 a.m. EST:
Claas Hermann Romeike clear with 4.4 time-faults on Cato 60, a great four-star debut #luhmuhlen2015 — Horse & Hound (@horseandhound) June 20, 2015
4:47 a.m. EST: Kevin and Fernhill Quality Street are having some come to Jesus moments setting up for some of these questions. The horse does not want to set up and sit back, and it’s costing them a good amount of time.
4:43 a.m. EST: Kevin McNab and Fernhill Quality Street are looking great so far. In case you were wondering, there are 11 combinations on course. I feel like that’s a lot. Lizzie Brown and Henton Attorney General are on and clear through 5.
4:42 a.m. EST: Claas Hermann Romeike and Cato 60 are having a REALLY good go.
4:40 a.m. EST:
Fernhill Quality Street Kevin McNab (AUS) just started #eventinglive #CCI4 — German Eventing (@luhmuehlen2015) June 20, 2015
4:38 a.m. EST: Strong riding for Germany’s Claas Hermann Romeike and Cato 60.
4:37 a.m. EST: Another has retired: Fraser King and Nadal. The last four horses on course have retired. Fraser’s came after a loss of impulsion at 17B.
4:35 a.m. EST:
@luhmuehlen2015 XC proving tough already — four horses retired so far and several misses. — Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) June 20, 2015
4:32 a.m. EST: Fraser King and Nadal has just picked up 20 at fence 10. Looking game everywhere else so far.
4:31 a.m. EST: And another retires, Kirsty Johnston at Opposition Detective after two refusals at 12B.
4:30 a.m. EST:
Elmo Jankari has retired – three retirements, three jumping clears from the first six out #luhmuhlen2015 — Horse & Hound (@horseandhound) June 20, 2015
4:26 a.m. EST:
GB’s Tom McEwen has withdrawn, next starter is GB’s Kirsty Johnston and Opposition Detective. #luhmuhlen2015 — Horse & Hound (@horseandhound) June 20, 2015
4:20 a.m. EST: Elmo Jankari and Duchess Desiree pick up a 20 at fence 9, as did Victoria Carlerback and Volt at Kallstorp.
4:19 a.m. EST: Just under a minute over time for Julien and Waldano’s second CCI4* completion. A big fist pump as he crosses the finish! 12:06 is the final time.
4:16 a.m. EST: Julien Despontin and Waldano slipped badly coming out of the arena, but they righted themselves in the #saveoftheday so far. Well sat! I would GIF it for you, but you know. Technology hates me.
4:14 a.m. EST:
Michael O’Toole/Greenfort Endeavour clear jumping, 16 sec over time in their first four-star #luhmuhlen2015 @EventingIreland — Horse & Hound (@horseandhound) June 20, 2015
4:12 a.m. EST: Julien Despontin is clear through 12.
4:12 a.m. EST:
Michael Jung goes clear on the cross country @luhmuehlen2015 on Biosthetique-Sam #teamhorseware pic.twitter.com/enbW0Inv1s — Horseware (@Horseware) June 20, 2015
4:05 a.m. EST: Michael and Sam are home in 10:54, well inside the time as usual. Just another day at the office. Our third starters, Annabel Wigley (NZL) and Frog Rock, have retired after two refusals at fence 5A. Overnight leaders Julien Despontin and Waldano are on course! Can they keep up their incredible weekend?
4:01 a.m. EST: Michael and Sam make quick work of the arena, basically bang on the time so far too. Michael O’Toole is clear through 11.
3:59 a.m. EST: Michael Jung is just ridiculous. Not human. Hasn’t put even a hair wrong so far on course. He’s clear through 15.
3:58 a.m. EST: Ireland’s Michael O’Toole and Green Fort Endeavor are now on course.
3:57 a.m. EST: Sorry my GIFs are apparently not working. Working on it. #technicaldifficulty
La Biostheetique-Sam FBW Michael Jung (GER) clear thru 8ab #eventinglive #CCI4 — German Eventing (@luhmuehlen2015) June 20, 2015
3:54 a.m. EST: And we’re off! Michael and Sam are on their way. 
3:51 a.m. EST: Michael and Sam look like they’re out for an afternoon gallop, not warming up for a four-star. No big deal.
3:48 a.m. EST: Hey, someone is awake! Maybe.
Good luck to everyone @luhmuehlen2015 ! Can’t wait for the up dates @NZEventing @eventingnation @horseandhound @USEventing — HBEventing (@HBEventing) June 20, 2015
3:47 a.m. EST: Here is your overnight top 10 following dressage:
