Wellington Eventing Showcase Cross Country Live Updates

By on Feb 4, 2017 12:56 pm -
Winner winner! Photo by Jenni Autry. Winner winner! Photo by Jenni Autry.

We’re just about to begin the final phase of the $100,000 Land Rover Wellington Eventing Showcase! Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous are in the lead on a two-phase score of 24.9, but Boyd Martin and Welcome Shadow are hot on their heels with a 26.5. Boyd mentioned in yesterday’s press conference that Capt. Mark Phillips’ course is tougher than the last two years and time will be a considerable factor. Boyd is looking to make it three in a row for Showcase wins, so we expect to see him really go for it on the cross country.

Allison Springer and Arthur are within striking distance on a third place 27.2 with Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border close by in fourth on a 28.0. Marilyn’s second ride RF Demeter moved up from ninth after dressage to fifth with a double-clear show jumping round and currently sits on a 29.4.

There are 23 jumping efforts with an optimum time of 3 minutes, 59 seconds. The course looks beautiful (check out our virtual course walk here) and of course we’re all anxious to see the horses jump a fence within the VIP tent on the way to the finish line. We’ll be updating this page continuously throughout the cross country phase so keep refreshing for the latest results and information.

Wellington Links: Entries, XC Order of Go, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, Live Stream, EN’s Instagram

Here are the top ten after cross country at the 2017 Wellington Eventing Showcase. Stay tuned for a full report!

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1:04 p.m. EST: Here we go! The Master himself, Mark Todd is away on Sara Kozumplik Murphy’s L’Alazane.

1:09 p.m. EST: Toddy ducked on his way into the VIP tent (the horse is 17.2 and Toddy’s is 6’3″!) but they are safely home with 9.2 time penalties. “I had a great ride. It’s always a little nervous going out on a strange horse,” he said. “She started off a little looky but she got going and gave me a great ride.”

1:11 p.m. EST: Savannah Fulton and Captain Jack are on course. They have a two-phase score of 53.3.

1:12 p.m. EST: Captain Jack tips the top of fence 6 and nearly unseats Savannah but she did a masterful job of getting back in the tack while Captain Jack stood quiet. Well done!

1:16 p.m. EST: Clear and 33.6 time and all smiles from “Woodge” Fulton as she crosses the finish with Captain Jack. Check out this recovery!! Miss Stickability!

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1:18 p.m. EST: Elisa Wallace and Simply Priceless are on course. Elisa said after four rails down in showjumping that Johnny had been a bit “on the muscle” and he’s looking pretty enthusiastic to be on cross country now! Elisa is working hard and making it happen.

1:21 p.m. EST: Clear round with just a few time penalties (3.6) for Elisa and Johnny. “He’s was ready to go. He’s such a good cross country horse so I knew I could take some risks here and there. I just love him!”

1:22 p.m. EST: South Paw glances off the corner at 7 but Joe Meyer (NZL) gets him clear over it on the second attempt.

1:23 p.m. EST: Another duck left at the corner at 12 for South Paw. They’re carrying two refusals and taking the conservative route at the water.

1:25 p.m. EST: Sadly another glance off to the left for Joe Meyer and South Paw at 21. Joe gets him over at the second attempt but then pulls up.

1:26 p.m. EST: Kylie Lyman and Da Vinci Code are on course. Da Vinci Code looking very keen over the first few fences but you can’t miss Kylie’s grin! They’re having a cracking round so far.

1:29 p.m. EST: Kylie and Da Vinci Code are across the finish clear with 14 time penalties. “He was fantastic…he saved my butt at the last corner there but he locked on and figured out how to make it happen!”

1:33 p.m. EST: Erin Sylvester and Mettraise are clear with 7.2 time to take the lead for the moment.

1:35 p.m. EST: Dan Jocelyn (NZL) being very economical on course with Dukes Up.

1:37 p.m. EST: Dan Jocelyn now on a 49.2 with a clear round and 6.8 time. “I’m very pleased to be back here, it’s a lovely event. Horse gave me a great ride, Alex (O’Neal) did a great job preparing him.”

1:39 p.m. EST: Ryan Wood’s Powell may not look like he’s galloping very fast but his massive stride covers a lot of ground!

1:42 p.m. EST: Nearly a minute over the optimum but a lovely steady round from Ryan and Powell. “He felt great, I just cruised him around. The rails in show jumping put us out of contention so we just had a nice walk in the park!”

1:48 p.m. EST: William Fox-Pitt (GBR) gives RF Quarterman a superb ride. They were really motoring in the beginning but picked up a 5.6 time. They still take the provisional lead. “It’s amazing to be here, it’s such a brilliant showcase for our sport and exactly what we all need…I’m so grateful to Marilyn for letting me ride this lovely horse. He’s brilliant jumping. I was a bit to slow but…nevermind…He’s beautifully trained. I’m just steering and having fun.”

1:50 p.m. EST: Angela Bowles and Novelle unfortunately carry 40 jumping jumping penalties from two runouts….and they’ve had a third disobedience now which sadly means elimination.

#wellingtonshowcase #eventingsunnyfl Posted by Megan Woods on Saturday, February 4, 2017

1:54 p.m. EST: Kylie Lyman is on course with her second horse, Lup the Loop.

1:58 p.m. EST: Kylie is unseated over the corner out of the water at 14. Horse and rider are okay though.

1:59 p.m. EST: Jennie Cambalda and her longtime partner Cambalda are on course. Great to see these two back on an Advanced course!

2:03 p.m. EST: An absolutely smashing round for Jennie and “Ping.” Clear with the fastest round of the day so far adding just 3.2 time. “He’s a funny horse he’s really careful. Nice to have him back out and getting him in front of the leg out there.”

2:07 p.m. EST: Clip Clop hits the brakes to pick up 20 penalties at the jump into water at fence 13. They don’t get the line quite right at the corner at 17 for another hard stop. Joe puts his hand up and calls it a day.

2:09 p.m. EST: Colleen Rutledge is on course with Escot 6. This horse is an absolute jumping machine and such a joy to watch go around.

2:13 p.m. EST: A clear round and 4 time penalties to move into second place behind Jennie and Cambalda after a cracking round. Colleen said after her round that Escot 6 doesn’t cover a ton of ground in his gallop but he can turn quickly to make up the time. “Rode really well. He’s such a good catty horse and and turn on a dime that it makes this stuff so much fun.”

2:18 p.m. EST: Erin Sylvester and Paddy the Caddy get a bit close to the Rolex log at 5 and make a lucky save.

2:21 p.m. EST: Paddy the Caddy getting pats all the way out of the ring as they finish clear with 10.8 time penalties. “He tried his way around. I’m really happy with him.”

2:25 p.m. EST: Ryan Wood hails a cab down over the drop into the ring, finishing clear with Fernhill Classic with 15.6 time penalties to add. “If you were a real tough guy you would have gone no hands,” Dom Schramm teased him at the finish.

2:29 p.m. EST: Buck Davidson and Carlevo clear with 11.6 time. They move into fourth place in the clubhouse. “I was really happy, he couldn’t have been better.”

Colleen Rutledge and Escot 6 expertly through the VIP tent at the #EventingShowcase A video posted by U.S. Eventing Association (@useventing) on

2:31 p.m. EST: Angela Bowles finishes clear with 6 time penalties with her second ride, Bliss III. “She’s amazing. I’ve only competed her a couple times, this is my first Advanced on her. She’s just magic.”

2:34 p.m. EST: William Fox-Pitt is clear with his second ride, Steady Eddie, an experienced four-star horse of Boyd’s. They move into second with 3.2 time, matching Jenni and Cambalda for the fastest round. “I’ve had a brilliant few days with him, of course brilliantly trained by Boyd.”

2:42 p.m. EST: Sara Kozumplik-Murphy jumping with room to spare with Rubens D’Ysieux. “Some horse! He’s a horse that my friend Mikki Kuchta produced beautifuly and I’m so in awe I get the chance to ride a horse like this.”

2:44 p.m. EST: Marilyn Little and RF Demeter fall at the corner at 17. Demi trotted off and Marilyn is sitting up. Very unfortunate fall for this pair. We are currently on a hold.

2:50 p.m. EST: We’re back under way with Jenni Brannigan and Ibella.

2:53 p.m. EST: Jenni and Ibella finish clear, representing #TeamLeeLee on their quarter marks. Ibella threw in some extra jumping efforts on and off the mound. They pick up 9.6 time and move into the top ten. “She’s a lovely horse. I’ve loved her from the start but she’s always been a feisty girl. She’s really started to step up to the plate.”

2:55 p.m. EST: It’s a tight turn to the corner at 17 and Holly Payne-Caravella and Never Outfoxed end up jumping the wide side of the corner. They have to circle to recover but they’re back under way.

2:57 p.m. EST: Unfortunately Holly and Never Outfoxed are technically eliminated for jumping outside the flag at the corner.

2:58 p.m. EST: Holly’s brother Doug Payne is on course now with Vandiver. They are tenth after the first two phases.

2:59 p.m. EST: Doug takes a different route than anyone else up onto the mound. Maybe they managed to save a bit of time? This horse has a huge stride and could possibly be one of the faster rounds.

3:00 p.m. EST: “Sneaky lines!” Jimmie Schramm comments at the finish. Doug rode fast and took some chances but they are the first to finish within the optimum time!

3:03 p.m. EST: The live scores are showing two-phase leaders Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous have withdrawn from cross country.

3:05 p.m. EST: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night are clear with 6.4 time penalties! “Blackie was on fire. It’s tough take this first horse for his first run of the year here, but he was honest and amazing.”

3:07 p.m. EST: Buck and Petite Flower were flying but he has to circle in front of the corner at 17. He’s got some time to make up now but they are really motoring.

3:09 p.m. EST: Buck and Petite Flower make the time despite that extra circle! They are guaranteed fourth position at least. “This is made for her, she’s an awesome jumper, super fast, couldn’t be happier.”

3:14 p.m. EST: Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border have a superb round. 9.2 time drops them down just a couple places. “I’ve had some issues in the past with straightness and honesty and he couldn’t be better.”

3:15 p.m. EST: We’re down to the last two horses. Allison Springer and her very experienced partner Arthur are on course. They are another to have a glance off at the corner at 17 when they just couldn’t quite make that tight turn.

3:17 p.m. EST: Allison Springer: “He was actually great. That combination I should have taken more time. it was my fault he was awesome and really I was trying to go for it.”

3:19 p.m. EST: Boyd Martin is going for it with Welcome Shadow! Can he make it a third Showcase win in a row?

3:20 p.m. EST: Boyd and Welcome Shadow turn and burn. They don’t make the time but they are fast enough for the win, so that’s three wins in three appearances on three different horses at the Showcase for Boyd!

3:21 p.m. EST: Boyd Martin: “She’s a fantastic horse…to win an event of this caliber is just phenomenal. She’s a funny horse. She’s not the fastest horse or the biggest mover or the biggest jumper but she’s by far the biggest trier. I’m learning with event horses that that’s the biggest consideration…The Showcase is fantastic. How lucky we are to being eventers in this era.”