The Fork CIC3* Cross Country Course Preview

Fence 15 - Rocky River Crossing

The Fork is the traditional final run before Kentucky for the vast majority of riders based in the U.S., and as a result, it’s always a tense morning on Saturday in Norwood, North Carolina. This year, course designer Tremaine Cooper has added a new loop on the far end of the CIC3* course, incorporating both a re-vamped coffin and bringing back the sunken road in quick succession to up the level of intensity in this section of the course.

That feeling of questions coming up quickly one after the other is meant to simulate what the riders prepping for Rolex will face in just three weeks’ time, and Tremaine kindly gave EN a tour of the course to show firsthand how he’s softened the beginning of the course to compensate for that new far loop. But there’s still plenty of work to do the whole way around, and this course historically shakes up the leaderboard and leaves riders with homework to do before Kentucky.

The first four fences are open, galloping jumps to help horses and riders settle into a rhythm, with the first question coming at fence 5, the Carolina Farm Credit Curve. Riders can go right or left at the corner at B, with the combination working nicely as a straight five strides on the left or a slightly bending six strides on the right. While not super technical, it’s a question that will get horses and riders on their toes for the challenges to come.

The next question comes at the coffin at fence 8, which has been branded the Land Rover Leap and sports a new look this year. Tremaine did add an option at the C element this year, and while it will certainly eat up a lot of time on the clock, it does provide a back-up plan for riders who run into trouble at the triple brush arrowhead at the direct route; there’s really not a good way to re-present to that fence following a runout.

Riders will then enter the new loop of the course, which features freshly laid turf Tremaine said he will be closely monitoring throughout the day — especially if more rain falls overnight — followed by a new gate at fence 10, which features a MIM clip, and the return of the sunken road at fence 11, the Uwharrie Bank Hollow.

Next riders will splash through the first water at fence 13, which simply features a table in the water, before jumping the same angled ditch and brush that appeared on course last year and staring down what is easily the most difficult combination on course, the second water at fence 15, the Rocky River Crossing.

This is by far causing the most chatter in the barns, and it’s easy to see why. When you stand directly in front of the big, airy log at the jump in, it doesn’t seem very doable, with a brush corner in the water sitting at a sharp turn to the right, followed by a triple brush arrowhead as the out element at C.

“It’s one of those things were you stand at A and you don’t see it — there’s no in — and then you start to walk it, and all of a sudden it opens up when you’re in the water, and I think the horses will really read it,” Tremaine said. “You need to keep planning all the way through and ride them all separately.”

If riders jump in straight over the log and wait to turn, it’s a steady five strides to the corner, followed by a straightforward three strides to the arrowhead. There is a line there, but this water is almost certainly going to cause drama tomorrow. There is a black flag option at the B element, so riders do have a backup plan if they run into trouble at the corner in the water.

Next is a gallop around the back loop of the course, which features the same tables and cheese wedge combination we usually see here, followed by the mound complex, which debuted last year and has a different look this year. Last year, riders jumped in over a hayrack, through a keyhole on the top of the mound and out over an angled brush.

This year, horses and riders will jump that angled brush as the in, followed by a sizable log on the top of the mound, with three strides taking them down the mound to a narrow, angled log. The angled log at the C element has a good ground line, as well as a small log sitting upright at the front right to encourage riders to curve their line a bit.

“It’s different in that the keyhole kept you exactly in one spot, whereas this is quite a wide log. If you’re a foot or two to the left, it will change your distance to C,” Tremaine said. “The log has a nice ground line, so even if you get in quite close, they’ll be fine. You might have to do a little bit more to work for it, though. You won’t have the same ride over this for every horse, which will make it interesting.”

From there it’s a straight shot home, with just a handful of fences standing between the riders and the finish line. With the front of the course softened this year and a new technical loop added on the far end, it’s tough to say exactly how time will shake out. The top 25 percent of the CIC3* will jump in reverse order, so it will definitely be an exciting finale here at The Fork.

Thank you to Selena O’Hanlon for sharing her photos of the course, and thank you to Tremaine for his time in giving EN an exclusive look at this year’s CIC3* course. The CIC* will tackle the course first in the morning at 8:30 a.m., followed by the CIC3* at about 10 a.m. You can follow along live with our updates here on EN and listen live on PRO Tour Radio at this link. Be sure to click here to catch up on all our coverage from The Fork.

Go Eventing.

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