Enjoy this video preview of the Boekelo cross-country course sent to us by our friends Mike and Patricia Ryan. Mike is competing Annestown Emperor as part of the Irish team and Patricia is riding Tullineaskey Hi Ho at Boekelo this weekend.
I spoke with Michael Pollard briefly who told me that right now the footing is looking good on the cross-country course but there is rain predicted for Saturday morning. Leigh Mesher described the footing as Florida-like with the sand and grass absorbing the water. Apparently the ground is best in the woods where the trees block the rain, but footing where the course runs through harvested corn fields is dirt and a bit slick. Major thanks to Leigh for the updates and photos all weekend. With 110 horses running over the ground, it will be interesting to see how it holds up throughout the day.
Here are a few course photos from Leigh:
USA!
The first combination
There are about 5 different options at the first water. According to Leigh the straight route is this skinny brush off a tight right turn, 3 forward strides to a big ditch, 3 strides to a large drop in to the water and then 4 strides out of an off set skinny to the left. The log on the right in the back is an option. If you land discombobulated off the drop, pull out and circle back into the water up a bank 1 stride to the log roll.
Grolsch Beer is the main sponsor of Boekelo so every single jump has a pub and viewing area for spectators and sponsors. The good news is that if you fall off the pub is just a short walk away.
Boekelo Links: [USEF Friday Presser, Boyd’s Friday Recap]
Go eventing.
