William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk skipped around the course to put the pressure on Allison
It’s lunch break at Rolex and time to reflect on a crazy morning of cross-country. 30 pairs started out on the Rolex 2012 cross-country Saturday morning. Of those starters, 10 pairs finished the course clear, 7 finished with a stop, and 13 were eliminated or retired. For most riders, the focus quickly turned from going clear to getting their horses back on track and confident after a problem. Some rose to the challenge and some didn’t. Although there were a ton of issues on course, the course rode safely this morning and despite numerous falls everyone was up quickly and walked away. One theme of the course that I noticed was that horses appeared to be unseating their riders over the jumps and at the landings in combinations. The first thing I thought about the course the first time I walked it was that the jumps in the combinations looked really big for elements of combinations. The coffin at 9ABC rode incredibly tough this morning–all three elements of that complex caused numerous problems. There were just three double-clear rides of the morning: Erin Sylvester and No Boundaries, 2nd placed William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk, and Will Coleman with Twizzel.
[Live Rolex Scores, Faults by Fence]
An interview with William after his ride, courtesy of Josh Walker, Frankie Thieriot, EEI, Rolex, and the USEA:
Here’s how it all played out…
With Buck Davidson withdrawing both of his horses this morning, Andrew Nicholson was the first out on course with Calico Joe. Andrew is such a great XC rider I think most people expected to get the day off to a good start. Andrew Nicholson jumped well early but soon had an issue at the coffin, breaking a frangible pin and retiring after a stop. The course was put on a 25 minute hold to repair the broken frangible pins.
Karen and Veronica were held at the start box during the wait. Karen did a great job keeping Veronica relaxed but still warmed up, and she wisely took Veronica back the warmup to keep the mare fresh. However, Karen was eliminated early on course when she lost her stirrups after a huge jump into the steep landing of 5AB. Veronica was a good girl to keep going through the combination but Karen took rumble at the next jump, 5C in the water. Karen was up quickly but that cold dip into the water is one of the most miserable feelings. Karen’s fall was the first of a few early falls caused by stickiness on the landing side of an element.
Next out on course was Becky Holder and Courageous Comet. The veteran pair has had so much success here at Rolex that I expected great things from their round. Comet looked spectacular all around the course up until the Normandy Bank when he appeared to stick after the jump up the bank a bit and Becky was tipped forward over the log resting on top of the bank. They circled around to jump the corner option after the bank, but Comet stopped and Becky popped off over the front of the jump. Becky was up quickly and looked fine.
At this point I think everyone–riders, fans, officials, everyone–must have been shocked to watch Andrew, Karen, and Becky all have problems. But then Marilyn Little-Meredith stepped up and put together a really quality clear round with RF Rovano Rex. It was gritty performance from MLM and she straight up saved the day for Rovano Rex a couple of times. It was anything but a ride where the horse did all of the work. They finished with 4.4 time penalties.
Next out, James Allison and Parker picked up 20 at the coffin and then retired after a runout at the corner at the sunken road, which is a really tough element that caused several issues this morning.
Jolie Wentworth and Good Knight also had runout at coffin. They picked up two more runouts elsewhere to get eliminated with their day ending at the Normandy Bank.
Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Eagle had some green moments but finished a very educational round with just 0.8 time faults. Phillip had a big pat for Fernhill Eagle after the round and he should be really proud of that horse today for doing so well at his first 4*. At this point, that was the second clear round of the day.
Michael Pollard and Wonderful Will suffered runout at coffin. Michael fought so hard around the course, using his really good balance on the cross-country to get through some tough moments and finish. Michael is in great position with his later ride Icarus (in 7th) and will have an advantage having seen the entire course once before. Michael was assed 20 more penalties for circling before the slanted brush combination at the end of the course.
Kristi Nunnink and R-Star acquired a runout at the corner out of the sunken road–that element is a really tough test. R-Star didn’t look brilliant today, but Kristi rode really really well to guide her around and a completion. They finished with 20 jumping and 40 time.
High Society and Jessica Hampf of Canada finished a great round with just time faults and jumped themselves right into the middle of Canada’s Olympic picture.
Will Faudree and Andromaque has a stop at the ditch (9B) in the coffin. Will put things back together and got Andromaque looking strong and confident in just a few fences–accomplishing that took some great riding by Will. They finished with just 12 time faults despite the stop.
Jane Sleeper and UN picked up an early 20 penalties on course at the coffin. Jane rode really smoothly after that and they completed the course looking better and better.
Laine Ashker fell at the second element of the double corners with Anthony Patch. It looked like Al might have stepped on her after the fall, but she sat up quickly and was soon up and patting her horse. They had a strong ride going up to that point.
Katie Ruppel fell from Sir Donovan at the trakehner at 7. There was no pause on course and Katie was fine. Donald and Katie are normally a great XC pair–they just can’t catch a break here at Rolex.
Amidst all of this craziness, Erin Sylvester and No Boundaries put down a brilliant round and finished full of run. Erin rode like a seasoned veteran around that entire course. Erin delivered the first double-clear of the day and I couldn’t have been more impressed with her riding.
Pam Fisher and the stallion Sea Lion had a stop at the rail into the coffin (9A). They elected to retire at that complex after another stop.
Doug Payne and Running order had a glance off at the chevron out of the coffin (9C). As you can imagine from all of the issues, that coffin requires a perfect ride to get through it clear. Doug dug deep and did a great job to finish the course for a good education for Running Order.
Holly Payne and Madeline also picked up a stop at 9C. They suffered another stop at the corner out of the sunken road. Holly rode with strength and determination but her ride ended at the HOTL when Madeline had a stop at the brush out.
Peter Barry and Kilrodan Abbot made the course look like a training level XC course. Kilrodan Abbot was so honest, as always, and Peter guided him through the course really smoothly. They finished with just two time penalties. I keep telling people this is one of the best horses in the world, and I’ll just keep saying it. He’s not the flashiest of horses, but he is the most honest–watch that replay and tell me you wouldn’t want to ride that horse. Peter gave Canada their second clear ride of the day at that point and also took a step right into the middle of discussion for the Olympics.
Rafferty’s Rules and Sharon White are a pair that I was really cheering for this weekend. Sharon rode absolutely brilliantly around the course until they picked up a stop and retired at 26. Rafferty’s Rules had a big rub in the infield and then stopped at a single fence at 26. Sharon showed her horsemanship by pulling up and they walked back tot he barn.
Kadi Eykamp and Double Rivers Dillon parted company at 9A, the jump into the coffin. Kadi fell but she was quickly up as Dillon galloped off.
Fortune finally smiled on Will Coleman and Twizzel and they finished as the second double-clear. Twizzel looked tired at the finish, but Will rode that course beautifully and they both stepped up to the occasion.
Holly Hudspeth and Last Monarch trotted 5C in the water and made it look easy. They were having a solid but not great round until they had two sticky jumps into the Head of the Lake. Holly showed her horsemanship and retired there despite not having any faults. They will be back to fight another day.
Jordan Linstedt and Tullibard’s Hawkwind cantered their way around the course in what looked like a forward show jumping pace. Jordan gave her horse the ride she felt he needed and good for her. I can’t say I have ever seen anyone ride Rolex at that pace, but there are many ways to skin the cat and she looked good over the jumps despite the lack of speed. They had a lot of time penalties but they finished clear and that’s a lot more than most can say. They finished with 42 time penalties.
Shigatzi and Diana Burnett were yet another pair to suffer defeat at the hands of the coffin. They stopped at 9A coming into the coffin. They had another stop at the alternate route and retired there.
Boyd Martin and Remington finished with a quality clear round. Remington looked a little tired at the end and I think 4* distance is a bit of a stretch for Remi to finish clear, but Boyd used all of his brilliance to get him around with 7.2 time faults. Boyd was as tired as I have ever seen him in the box after that ride.
Heather Morris and Slate River worked hard to get around the course. They jumped through the flag at the corner after the Normandy bank and then galloped on. 10 seconds later the announcer said they were charged with a runout and they had to gallop back up to jump it again after almost reaching the next fence. They finished with those 20 penalties and some time.
Madeline Blackman and Gordonstown had a refusal at the double corners (14B) but finished the course successfully after that.
Belmont and Kate Hicks were 14th after the dressage and they had a brilliant ride as Rolex rookies finishing with 22.8 time penalties. Kate wins the biggest smile of the morning award.
William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk were the last to ride before lunch and they made the course look like a walk in the park. William used all of his considerable skill and although it looked like William was barely working they were up on the clock throughout the course. That was an incredible professional round and puts all of the pressure on Allison and Arthur this afternoon.
I’m expecting better results from the afternoon rides as information on the best way to ride the course filters back to the barns and as the riders with two horses get their second look at the course.
Our EN live blog resumes at 1:30PM ET. Go eventing.
