After the bad news that Buck had to withdraw this morning because his collarbone still wasn’t completely healed, it was the general consensus among the riders, certainly the top 3 who came to the Press Conference at the end of the Day, that Andrew Nicholson would blaze a trail and make the course look deceptively easy. His campaign on Calicoe Joe came to a premature end at the Coffin Fence 9, and this was definitely a sign of things to come. The course was held for about ten minutes while the crew worked on replacing the frangible pin, and then with it breaking again later when Clark Montgomery looked to knock it quite gently, what is the answer? Safety first says in the pictures above the frangible pins did their job, but in Clark’s case had he gone clear, and been penalised I think he would rightfully have felt hard done by.
Becky Holder had a tough day – Courageous Comet was going beautifully, to huge applause, until he belted the rail on top of the Normandy Bank. Becky sat amazingly to stay on, and re-routed to circle back to the corner, but I think the near miss had shaken both of them and this time they weren’t quite so lucky. Can’t Fire Me, her second ride was heart-breakingly, pulled up at the 28th fence for blood on his knee, and retired there while he looked to be going well. I wonder if he’d been a chestnut horse if he might have made it to the finish.
Marilyn Little-Meredith rode two clear cross country rounds today – will this be enough to prove that she’s an eventing force to be reckoned with?
Click below for much more…
Phillip piloted both his Fernhill horses round clear too – Fernhill Eagle just looked to improve the whole way round and grow in confidence under Phillip’s unruffled riding.
Jess Hampf looked fantastic, just as great as she did when flying round at The Fork but she maintained her form all the way to the finish; her fellow Canadian Peter Barry on Kilrodan Abbot also looked terrific. The Canadians may not have come in quantity to Rolex this year, but they did bring quality.
Jane Sleeper and UN, victims of the coffin but otherwise good
Will Faudree and Andromaque, another one to stop at the Coffin
Doug Payne said he was thrilled with Running Order despite his glance off at the coffin, and he certainly looked good out in the back field where I saw him.
There will be many hearts hitting the ground tonight with heavy thuds, and I imagine Sharon’s will be one of them. She and Rafferty’s Rules looked spectacular to me, so I was surprised and disappointed to hear they had retired at the double of brushes near the end. I was also nearby when Laine Ashker’s Anthony Patch inexplicably just didn’t really jump high enough over the double of corners and came down onto his knees, leaving her no chance of staying on. I walked back with her for a little way until her day caught up, and she was very brave, gracious and bewildered. “I don’t really know what happened there, I’m not sure what I did wrong. I’m fine, just heartbroken more than anything else, and I’m glad Al’s ok”
Will Coleman and Twizzel were wonderful to watch.
Holly Hudspeth and Last Monarch looked good through the Sunken Road, but retired shortly after at the Head of the Lake
Tullibards Hawkwind looked tired even by the Sunken Road which is only about halfway I think, but Jordan Linstedt took a lot of long routes, and nursed him home with a clear round.
Boyd Martin rode Remington like a man possessed, in a good way!
Kate Hicks and Belmont move up the order with a solid round
Lucy Wiegesma and Grannvetka Prince were going really well until a fall at the Normandy Bank
Emily Beshear and Here’s to You survived a sticky moment at the coffin to finish well
Pepper Anne and Oliver Townend started very strong and quick, and looked super, but Oliver was riding elbows and heels to the angled tables at the end and she looked very tired, so I wasn’t that surprised but still disappointed when I heard he retired at the double of brushes 3 from home after 2 stops.
Jock Paget sticks like glue, Clifton Promise is very honest, and together with sheer grit and determination they get the job done at the Coffin, and come home clear to lie in 3rd place overnight.
Similarly Sara Kozumplik is delighted to survive a sticky moment at the coffin with Manolo Blahnik – huge pat!
Barb Crabo and Eveready dig deep and get round
Loughan Glen jumping out of the coffin after the frangible pin broke jumping in.
Kate Brown and Mojito looked really impressive – their partnership shone through and she rode with maturity
Well sat, Andrew Hoy!
and then he coolly sat up, patted his horse, told him, “good boy”, and carried on!
Andrew Nicholson and Qwanza – pure class
Karen O’Connor and Mr Medicott jump out of the second water at 8.
Becky Holder and Can’t Fire Me, over the trakehner at 7
By the time Karen O’Connor got to the Keeper’s Brush she had a bloody nose or lip, not sure which, but I’m sure she didn’t even notice, and luckily they don’t pull riders up for safety reasons!
Marilyn Little-Meredith and RF Demeter
Becky Holder and Can’t Fire Me
Boyd Martin and The Flying Frenchman
Boyd’s game face! Otis pecked on landing and there was a collective gasp of horror around me, but luckily he sat like a limpet, Otis picked his head up, and they both carried on. Thousands breathed a massive sigh of relief! Everyone stayed right until the very end, probably just to see Boyd go, he is incredibly popular, with good reason, but today he proved once again that he can deliver when it matters, consistently.
Tomorrow will be an exciting show-jumping finale, there is less than a rail between the top three and I’m too crap at maths to figure out the rest but it’s close. An enormous thank you to our tireless leader EN John who has done a bloody amazing job these last three days bringing Rolex to you virtually, and me! Thank you for joining him on the live blogs, and all the rest of the ridiculousness we bring you, and for being a part of our Nation, and please visit us again soon and often. Go Eventing!
