The finish flags beckon. Photo by Sally Spickard.
The eventing competition over in Aachen is well underway with both dressage and show jumping having taken place yesterday, meaning we’re in for one heck of a finale this morning as the international field take on course designer Giuseppe della Chiesa’s inaugural cross country offering.
Not only are the competitors duking it out for individual glory, but there’s team standings at stake too.
Here’s a look at how the leaderboards are looking as we head into the final phase of the competition:
1️⃣ 🇳🇿 Top of the class *with a clear show jumping round* is none other than will-he-won’t-he-oh-boy-how-many Vitali, who proved what Tim Price has been telling us along along when he left all the poles in the cups to hold onto his lead after dressage. They’re on a score of 27.3, just 1.8 penalties (4 seconds) ahead of the rest of the field.
2️⃣ 🇬🇧 Hot on their heels in second is Bubby Upton with her 18-year-old pal Cannavaro, who came back to the big time with a bang, posting a sub-30 dressage score and adding nothing over the colored poles to sit on 29.1.
3️⃣ 🇬🇧 A two-second smidge behind Bubby is teammate Tom McEwen and this year’s Kentucky 5* fifth-placer Brookfield Quality. They remain on their dressage score of 28.9.
🇺🇸 Best of the US is Boyd Martin, who’s going Commando 3 in Aachen with his exciting Kentucky 5* runner-up. They’re in 10th, still on their dressage score of 33.8.
You’ll find the full individual leaderboard right here.
As far as the team competition stands, this is how things are looking:
1️⃣ 🇬🇧 Great Britain 91.2
2️⃣ 🇳🇿 New Zealand 94.4
3️⃣ 🇩🇪 Germany 101.1
4️⃣ 🇺🇲 USA 107.6
You’ll find the full team leaderboard right here.
It all kicks off today at 9:55am CEST / 3:55am ET when the US team will get their cross country campaign underway with pathfinders Caroline Pamukcu and HSS Blake. Huge shout out to any US eventing superfans who’ve peeled themselves from their slumber to follow along this morning – we salute you 🫡
While we’re waiting for the first countdown of the day, here are some links for your perusal:
▶️ [Dressage Report]
▶️ [Show Jumping Report]
▶️ [Cross Country Preview]
Before get down to business, a little ‘refresher’ on the no. 1 rule of following EN’s classic live blog: refresh, refresh, refresh – and all will be revealed.
If you’re catching up with this later and are the type to like things in order, scroll ⬇️ and read ⬆️. If going backwards is more your jam, have at it.
We’re double-booted over in Germany, with both Tilly and Sally living it large at Aachen and bringing you all the inside info. You’ll find all of EN’s Aachen crazy right here. Want even more eventing? Sally’s all over our Instagram channel @goeventing – check out her backstage antics here.
Will Tim take the title from the front or can the Kiwi be toppled? We’ll know in approximately 3 hours’ time when the current leader takes to the course as last to go.
Have a great ride and go eventing!
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CHIO Aachen: [Website] [Program/Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]
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And that’s over and out from Aachen.
Excitement at the end, bad luck for Britain, but really popular winners in Tim Price and Vitali, who looks delighted with himself, looking round at his fans as he’s led away and cooled down. It’s a Kiwi win all round 🥝
It was success for the States too with a silver in the team competition 🥈
Here’s a look at the leaderboard following what’s been a fab day of sport:
1️⃣ 🇳🇿 Leading the pack is Tim Price and Vitali who stormed round the track landing on a score of 30.5 and taking the win for himself and his team.
2️⃣ 🇬🇧 Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality sure showed their quality and finish on a score of 33.8.
3️⃣ 🇬🇧 Rounding out the top 3 is Gemma Stevens and Flash Cooley who had a great round to end up on a score of 36.
4️⃣ 🇺🇸 Best of the US and just off the podium is Will Coleman and Off The Record who delivered the second-fastest round of the day to cross the line just 2 seconds over and finish up just a squeak off third on a score of 36.4.
You’ll find the full leaderboard right here.
In terms of the team competition:
1️⃣ 🇳🇿 New Zealand – 108.5
2️⃣ 🇺🇸 USA – 117.2
3️⃣ 🇬🇧 Great Britain – 134.1
You’ll find the full leaderboard right here.
Keep it locked onto the website for EN’s classic full report – coming soon.
Thanks for coming along for the live blog ride ENers, until next time, go eventing!
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🇳🇿 Tim Price and Vitali (Team)
OK, Tim’s going for the win, both individually and for the Kiwi team.
He’s down on the clock as we catch up with him coming towards the corners at 18ab. He takes not a single chance there, clearly making the line happen. The crowd is really loud as he comes into the stadium with the clock still green. It’s green as he steps out of the water and goes red over the penultimate fence. He drives through the keyhole and he’s done it. 8 seconds over, 3.2 time.
TIM PRICE AND VITALI HAVE WON AACHEN.
NEW ZEALAND HAS WON AACHEN.
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🇳🇿 FINAL COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Tim Price and Vitali (Team)
Score: 27.3
Place: 1
Here we go… Will Tim hang on to his lead and win the whole dang thing? We’ll know very soon…
I’ll pick up with Tim once we see him…
We’re back with Bubby and seeing a problem. She scoots out of the side of the skinny at 13c. That’s a 20. Britain are out of the mix. They continue on to complete their round and jump well through the corners at 18ab. She comes into the stadium and the clock is racking up. The horse is jumping really well at the end of the course. Bubby must be so disappointed. She shakes her head as she crosses the line, but is clearly delighted with her horse’s efforts and points to him for the applause from the crowd. 20 jumping penalties, 15.2 time.
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🇬🇧 PENULTIMATE COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Bubby Upton and Cannavaro (Team)
Score: 29.1
Place: 2
We’re down to the penultimate combination of the day.
We see Bubby set out of the start box looking to mean business. This lovely 18-year-old has got his ears pricked and looks up for this. We see them make nothing of the hollow at 7ab.
We catch up with Tom as he comes to the SAP combination at 16abc. Tom works hard through there, leaving nothing to chance and holding his line clearly with his right rein, but there’s no question about it. Very smooth. He’s great through the corners at 18ab. He’s got 30 seconds left on the clock as he drives with his elbows on his way into the stadium. He flies the steeplechase at 19 and get a great step out of the water. He pushes for the last and stops the clock 9 seconds over, 3.6 time penalties. They go into the lead as things stand.
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🇬🇧 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality (Team)
Score: 30.2
Place: 3
Tom is very neat and tidy through the hollow combination at 7ab. The horse looks well up for this and it all seems very easy. He’s quick as he comes for the water at 9abc. No worries there for them.
J flies over the SAP House at 15 and looks to be in a great rhythm. He’s careful down the hill after 16a and so very, very straight through the tractors at b and c. Beautiful. We rejoin him in a very noisy and excited stadium. He clears the fences in there to the German cheers and they cross the line 20 seconds over, 8 time penalties.
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🇩🇪 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Jérôme Robiné and Black Ice (Team)
Score: 31.3
Place: 4
Oh! Laura’s had a 20 at 9b, the Rolex corner in the water. They just slid out to the side there. They’ll become the drop score for Britain now and Gemma Steven’s score will count. That’s a shame. The live stream isn’t showing them, sadly, but there’s a question mark on the live scoreboard at 12c, back in the water. It’s gone pink showing a missed flag. I’ll update you as things are confirmed. They finish up with 20 jumping penalties, 15 for the flag and 20 time.
The live stream’s focusing on the German rider on course, Jérôme, who I’m going to refer to a ‘J’ as I just can’t type those accents quick enough, sorry. He’s having a great round and is clear through the coffin comination at 13abc.
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🇬🇧 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Laura Collett and Dacapo (Team)
Score: 31.9
Place: 5
We’re into the top 5 now.
We’re not seeing Laura at the start of her round, sorry.
Libussa seems to have got things back together as we see her through the combination at 13abc. No worries with the skinny there. She comes round to the combination at 16abc and take the straight route through there. Really balanced and accurate, very nice. They’re good over the corner combination at 18ab and the stadium is already applauding as they come in. They splash through the water and scramble up the step slightly. They’re through the keyhole to a big cheer. 20 to add for that early run out and 22.4 time.
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🇩🇪 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Libussa Lübbeke and Caramia 34 (Team)
Score: 32.3
Place: 6
Oops, we see Libussa picking up an early 20 at 7b. They just don’t have the stride there and the horse stops. That’ll have an impact on the team competition, which I’ll update you on as soon as humanly possible.
Clarke’s got a question mark over the flag at 18a but really, they look fine and yes, it’s now been taken off. He finishes up with 8.4 time penalties in what seems to have been a great round, although we didn’t really see a whole lot of it.
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🇳🇿 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Clarke Johnstone and Rocket Man (Team)
Score: 32.4
Place: 7
We see Clarke through the water at 9abc looking really good.
We join Padraig over the house at 15. They look to be going really nicely. They’re good over the log at 16a but then it all goes wrong through the tractors. The horse goes right towards the biggest part of the brush, Padraig steers left but it’s too much and they drive straight by the c element. That’s another 20 for them to add to the earlier one. They continue on. They finish up 1 minute 10 over, 28 time penalties and those two refusals adding another 40. That’s not really a true reflection of the round as a whole, to be honest. There was a lot to like with this horse and lots more to come from him, for sure.
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🇮🇪 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Padraig McCarthy and MGH Zabaione (Team)
Score: 33
Place: 8
Oh dear, we pick up Padraig as he has a drive by at 7b. They have to navigate the driving obstacles as they come back round, but they’re clear the second time of asking and continue on their way.
Gemma looks to be having a fab round as we briefly catch sight of her through the water at 12. She’s motoring on as she comes round to the SAP combination. They’re quick over the log and down the steep drop then straight as a die through the tractors at 16bc. She’s motoring on. She comes to the corners at 18ab and there’s no doubt there. Gemma’s crouching low as she comes into the stadium with 30 seconds still left on the clock. She’s pushing. She flies the steeplechase at 19 and then takes a little pull just to be safe. The clock’s still green as she jumps the penultimate fence. It’s red now, they’re through the last and over the line. 7 seconds over, 2.8 time penalties. She goes ahead of Will.
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🇬🇧 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Gemma Stevens and Flash Cooley (Team)
Score: 33.2
Place: 9
We see Gemma get off to a very quick start before we join Boyd out on course…
They’re absolutely flying. They hop the house at 15 and then come round for the tractor combination. They’re clean over the log at the a element but then things are a bit dicey through the tractors at b and c. The horse stays really close to the bigger brush part and Boyd is rubbed through it. He holds the line but he’s looking back and down. He’s lost a stirrup. It takes him a hot minute to get it back. Agh, that’ll have wasted some time. We see him come into the stadium with the clock still green. It’s green as he steps out of the water. Now it’s red. Through the keyhole, over the line, 8 seconds over, 3.2 time penalties. He goes into second as things stand, behind Will Coleman.
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🇺🇸 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Boyd Martin and Commando 3 (Team)
Score: 33.8
Place: 10
We don’t see Boyd start his round, sorry. I’ll pick up with him once we get eyes on.
Caroline has a better time through the SAP combination at 16abc, the horse has obviously lost no confidence after that mishap in the water. We see them come into the stadium and hop the steeplechase at 19. They’re still green on the clock as they splash through the water. It turns red just before the penultimate fence and they fly the last. 12 seconds over, 4.8 time penalties.
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🇬🇧 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Caroline Harris and D. Day (Individual)
Score: 34.3
Place: 11
D. Day’s poking his nose forward as he comes to the first couple of fences as if to say, let me at ’em. So cute. Yikes, we see a real moment in the water at 12c. The horse drops down on the fence and scrambles over. Caroline’s pitched out of the tack. What a brilliant recovery there. They continue on.
We rejoin Karin at the SAP fences at 16abc. They’re around 20 seconds down on the clock but go straight through there neatly enough. Karin powers on away from that fence, really opening the horse up to try and claim back some of that time. There’s a little wiggle through the corner combination at 18ab and then they push on for the stadium. She sets up for the table at 20 and then splash through the water. They’re careful over the penultimate and then through the keyhole and over the line. Karin’s delighted with her horse. She takes an unofficial lap of honor with this special horse. Eight major championships, multiple Aachen performances. What a star.
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🇧🇪 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Karin Donckers and Fletcha van’t Verahof (Individual)
Score: 34.3
Place: 12
We’re going in reverse order now. Buckle up…
We see Karin go very neatly through the Turkish Airlines combination at 7ab and then get an absolute flier over the big CAMPUS ditch at 8. They navigate the first water at 9abc, taking the flag at b but no worries there for them. They’re brave over the two big logs at 10 and 11, navigating the ups and downs of the bumps there before coming back to go through the water for a second time. She sits back for the drop in and then takes a very smooth curving line through the b and c elements at 12. All good so far for them.
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🇨🇭 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Felix Vogg and Frieda (Team)
Score: 37.2
Place: 21
We see Felix have a real moment coming into the big log at 10. He obviously feels Frieda backing off and he pushes on. They make it over without issue but that was a bit heart in mouth. They continue on and we see them pop very neatly and easily through the tractor combination at 16bc. Things seem to have got back on track for them. We see them through the stadium at the end of their round and the horse looks confident and full of run. They finish 26 seconds over, 10.4 time penalties.
We catch up with Andrew at the tractor combination at 16abc. They’re very neat over the log and down the hill and then straight as you like through the tractors. They push on along the track. Andrew brings him back to set up for the corner combination at 18ab and all looks to be well but then the horse just dips out at the shoulder and they pick up a 20. They come back around and activate the frangible device. Andrew’s shaking his head as he gallops away and ends up going off route slightly before righting things and coming into the stadium. That’s a shame because the round was going really well. They finish with 20 jumping, 11 for the frangible device. We don’t have a time for them just yet, sorry.
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🇦🇺 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Andrew Cooper and Sharvalley Thunder (Team)
Score: 34.9
Place: 15
We see Andrew through the water at 9abc and they’re very neat and confident through there. He makes his way back around to go through again for 12abc and they’re equally neat the second time of asking.
Phillip’s a little down on the clock as he goes through the corners at 18ab on his way into the stadium. He’s neat and tidy through the stadium questions and completes 22 seconds over, 8.8 penalties.
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🇺🇸 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Phillip Dutton and Denim (Individual)
Score: 36
Place: 17
Phillip loses his shades as he sets off on track, throwing them off to the side. The sun does look to have gone in at Aachen. We see him through the hollow at 7ab and they look really good through there. Phillip’s riding as an individual this time around with Denim, having gone earlier for the team with Possante. Denim takes a look down the drop at 12a but there’s no trouble there and they’re quick through the b and c elements. They’re quick through the combination at 13, almost not even registering the ditch in the middle of there. They come round to the SAP combination at 16abc and are neat over the log at the top of the hill. It’s all very calm and smooth through the tractors, really straightforward through there for this pair.
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🇸🇪 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Frida Anderson and Stonehavens Baby Blue (Individual)
Score: 55.3
Place: 43
Well sadly we’re not going to see much of Frida’s course. The horse doesn’t quite make the jump over the table at 7a and they take a tumble. The horse is straight up and Frida too. The vets and medics will be there checking them both out but all looked to be well.
Oh dear, we catch up with Ryuzo as he has a problem at the corner at 12c in the water. Ryuzo does really well to stay on as he’s tipped right out of the tack. He rights himself and they continue on, it came up as a 20 but has been changed to a flag question. They take on the straight route through the tractors at 16bc and look good as they continue on. We rejoin them as they finish with 18 time penalties and that 15 for the flag which will be under review.
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🇯🇵 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Ryuzo Kitajima and Be My Daisy (Individual)
Score: 43.8
Place: 35
We see Ryuzo get his round underway. The horse looks keen and is jumping well at the start of the course.
We join Sammi at the SAP combination at 16. They’re dead straight through there and very, very quickly away. They’re around 15 seconds down on the time at this point. Sam brings the horse back for the combination at 18ab, taking no chances there. They come into the stadium and hurdle the steeplechase at 19. Ah. The frangible device at 22 goes as they drop into the water. That’s so frustrating in what was a great round. They continue on to complete and finish with 6 time penalties and 11 for the frangible device.
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🇳🇿 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Samantha Lissington and Lord Seekönig (Team)
Score: 34.7
Place: 14
We catch up with Robin at the SAP House at 14 as he makes his way round to the combination at 16. Robin has to work hard for the line through the tractors at 16bc but the horse listens and gets a big pat as they gallop away. They come around to the corners at 18 and they look to be good but then the horse just ducks out of the b element. That’s a shame as they were looking to be a real challenge for the time. That was a shame for them. They continue on and clear the stadium fences really nicely. They cross the line 20 seconds over, 8 time penalties, and that 20 for the late refusal at 18b.
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🇨🇭 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Robin Godel and Global DHI (Team)
Score: 39.5
Place: 29
Stephane’s horse is really cute as he makes his way through the straight route at 16abc. His ears are flicking back and to as if to say, this one? OK. He’s really jumping nicely. They’re quite down on the clock as they come into the stadium but the horse jumps well through the questions in there and they cross the line with 12.4 time penalties. A nice round overall for them with lots of positives to take forward for the horse’s career. He looks pleased with himself as he trots off course.
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🇫🇷 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Stephane Landois and Gainsbourg de Bedon (Team)
Score: 43.7
Place: 34
We see Stephane fly over the CAMPUS Ditch at 8 before we head back to Kevin’s round. We rejoin them as they take a big jump over the log at 12a into the water, but the horse looks to be listening to Stephane and building confidence as he goes.
We catch up with Kevin as he gallops past the hospitality on his way to the the SAP House at 15. The horse has his ears pricked right through the flags as they easily go straight through the tractors at b and c. That was really nice through there. There’s a question mark on the live scoreboard at the first of the corners at 18, which we didn’t see, but we do see them cross the line 22 seconds over, 8.8 time penalties.
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🇦🇺 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Kevin McNabb and Faro Imp (Team)
Score: 52.1
Place: 40
Sarah’s really quick as she clears the SAP House at 15 before the tractor combination. She’s neat over the log at 16a and steady down the hill. She goes straight through the tractors at b and c, making nothing of that straight route. The clock turns red for them just before they enter the stadium. Sarah hunts the steeplechase at 19, sitting well back, and they they’re quick through the water. They take a flier over the table and then they’re through the keyhole and over the line 41 seconds over the time, 16.4 time penalites.
Update to Jonelle Price’s score – the flag penalties have been taken away.
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🇮🇪 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Sarah Ennis and Dourough Ferro Class Act (Team)
Score: 48.8
Place: 39
We catch up with Sarah at the water for the second time for 12abc. She’s tipped forward a little down the drop but is quickly back up and sailing through the b and c elements.
Will’s just a couple of seconds down on the time as we join him on his way to the corner combinations at 18ab. No worries at all for them there. They’re quick and smooth and galloping towards home. He might just make it. He’s got 25 seconds as he clears the steeplechase at 19 and then comes through the water and over the step. They’re close. They clear the last as the clock turns red. A superb showing from them. 2 seconds over, 0.8 penalties. So close, but so, so good.
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🇺🇸 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Will Coleman and Off The Record (Team)
Score: 35.6
Place: 16
‘Timmy’ powers out of the start box and towards the first fence before the live stream cuts back to Lara.
Lara’s looking quick and confident as she comes through the water for the second time. The horse drifts a little over the corner at 12c and takes the flag. We see them come round to the SAP combination a 16abc and oh no. They were going really well and Lara had a good go at the straight route but there’s a fair bit of squirrelling back and to between the two tractors and they pick up a 20 at the b element. They continue on but there’s more trouble at the corner combination at 18ab. They activate the frangible device at the a element and then pick up a 20 at the b element. It looks like she puts her hand up but then we see her in the stadium and crossing the finish line. That’s disappointing for Lara but there will have been a lot of learning going on for the horse and he didn’t seem to have lost any confidence despite having some troubles. Education for the future, that’s what it’s all about. That’s 40 jumping, plus 11 for the frangible device and 20.8 time penalties.
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🇧🇪 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Kiarado d’Arville (Individual)
Score: 37.7
Place: 24
We seem them go very neatly through the hollow at 7ab. The horse looks to be up for the test today. They get a lovely curving line through the first water at 9 in front of the big German crowd.
We catch up with Jessie as she comes to the SAP complex at 15 and 16abc. They get a flier over the house at 15 and then pop the hanging log for 16a. Jessie holds the line through the two tractors and they’re neat through there. They look to be a bit down on the time at this point. We rejoin them as they come through the stadium and cross the line 27 seconds over, 10.8 time penalties.
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🇨🇦 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Jessica Phoenix and Freedom GS (Individual)
Score: 39
Place: 27
Jessie is very neat and confident through the hollow at 7ab. The horse has a big look at the ditch at 8 but takes it on. They gallop on along the track.
Jonelle’s still quick as she comes round to the SAP combination at 16abc. She brings Hiarado back but they’re still fast and straight through there. Very impressive. They are great through the arena but there’s a flag question showing on the live scoreboard for the corner at 18a. They cross the line 17 seconds over, 6.8 time.
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🇳🇿 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Jonelle Price and Hiarado (Individual)
Score: 34.5
Place: 13
We see Jonelle over the big log at 10. Hiarado is really keen and quick as she gallops on round to go back through the water at 12abc. She drops in and then makes nothing of the duck at b. They get a smooth curving line round to the corner at c and continue on their way. They look to be going really well.
We catch up with Nicolai and Timmo on their way to the corners at 18ab. They’re showing as clear on the live scoreboard but we sadly haven’t seen much of this lovely horse. There’s a cheer as he gallops into the stadium. Timmo’s running on nicely and is really jumping well at the end of the track. He gets a great show through the keyhole. 19 seconds over, 7.6 time penalties. Timmo looks very well as he trots off course.
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🇩🇪 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Nicolai Aldinger and Timmo (Individual)
Score: 39.6
Place: 30
Calvin’s showing as having a question mark on the live scoreboard at 7b. We see him take the longer route at 16abc and they’re actually neat and tidy through there. He made the loopy line look quite economical and smooth. Things have calmed down as they come through the corner combination at 18ab very nicely and then they come into the stadium. The horse looks to have grown in confidence as he’s continued round the course. They’re good over the table at the penultimate fence and then through the keyhole. A better finish to the round for them, which is good to see. They finish 40 seconds over, 16 time penalties.
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🇩🇪 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Calvin Böckmann and Altir de la Cense (Team)
Score: 36.5
Place: 18
Eek, Calvin has a moment at 7ab. The horse has a look at the table at a, they make it over and have a bit of an untidy jump at the b element. They continue on and then we pick them up banking the duck in the water at 9c. A little breath needed for this pair, perhaps.
Artist is bar far the quickest of the day as we see him and Monica make a fab job of the tractor combination at 16. He’s flying and jumping and loving it all. He flies through the finish the fastest of the day, just 1 second over. What a delight to see a Thoroughbred galloping like he does. Just 0.4 of a penalty to add for them.
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🇳🇿 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Monica Spencer and Artist (Team)
Score: 36.8
Place: 19
Monica’s fast as she sets off on her round. We see her make a great job through the water at 9abc. They gallop away quickly and make the loop round over the two logs at 10 and 11 before coming back to the water. Artist has got his thoroughbred on and looks really quick.
Meanwhile Philip’s flown through the finish line 16 seconds over, 6.4 time penalties. He looks to have had a great round although we didn’t really get to see a lot of it, sorry.
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🇨🇭 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Philip Ryan and Amansara (Team)
Score: 37.5
Place: 23
We see Philip through the Rolex complex at 9 through the first water. They’re neat and tidy through there and gallop away really quick.
We join Morgane as she flies over the SAP house at 15 and then comes round for the straight route through the combination at 16. The horse looks to lean through his shoulder between the tractors but Morgane’s got her eye on the ball and they glide on through. She takes on the steeplechase at 19 from her stride and they’re actually quick on the clock. The cross the line 21 seconds over, 8.4 time penalties.
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🇫🇷 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Morgane Euriat and Fixin de Conde (Team)
Score: 44.9
Place: 36
We see Morgane through the fist water at 9. They don’t look to be super quick but all’s good through there for them.
Bill’s still quick when we pick him back up at the water at 14 and they come into the combination at 16 very confidently. Straight through there for them, no questions at all. Super. They’re still flying and they head on to the final stages of the course. The clock goes red just as they’re in the stadium. They waste not a second over the questions in there at the end of what’s been a really great round and finish 19 seconds over, 7.4 time penalties.
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🇦🇺 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Bill Levett and Sligo Candy Cane (Team)
Score: 41
Place: 33
Bill’s gelding looks very keen as we see him through the water at 9abc. He’s fast and light on his feet and is really taking this track on. He was speedy in the show jumping yesterday and looks to be delivering more of the same today.
We catch up with Georgie as she splashes through the water before galloping on along to the SAP combination at 16. She’s straight and smooth through the tractors, really good through there. We see her come into the stadium and cross the line 41 seconds over the time, 16.2 time penalties.
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🇮🇪 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Georgie Goss and Kojak (Team)
Score: 45.7
Place: 38
Phillip doesn’t look to be motoring when we pick him up on his way to the water at 9abc. He gets a good shot through the combination there and heads on his way round the loop before coming back to the same water. Will he go straight through the SAP complex? Yes. Smooth, straight and clear through 16abc. He’s actually looking good on the clock despite not looking to be chasing it. Possante is ears pricked and jumping really nicely. They get a great shot through the corners at 18ab and then Phillip does put his foot down. They gallop into the stadium and fly the steeplechase at 19. They’re the quickest so far. The water is neat. They’re round the corner to the keyhole. Phillip takes a long one. They’re over the line. 14 seconds over – fastest so far – 5.6 time penalties.
Antonia has crossed the finish line having added 18.4 time penalties to her score.
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🇺🇸 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Phillip Dutton and Possante (Team)
Score: 38.2
Place: 26
Phillip is the first of the counting scores for the US as things stand. We don’t get to see him at the start of his round though, sticking instead with the German rider…
Antonia looks to be having a great ride. There’s home crowd cheers for them as they head on round the track. They take the loopy long route at 16abc, adding quite a few seconds, but they’re smooth and clear through there.
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🇩🇪 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Antonia Baumgart and Ris de Talm (Individual)
Score: 45.1
Place: 37
Antonia gets off to a great start and the horse looks to be keen for the job. He’s jumping neatly at the start of the course and they’re wasting no time as they take on the first water at 9abc. They loop on back to go through the water again for 12abc. All good for them thus far.
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🇩🇪 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Pauline Knorr and Aevolet M-A-F (Individual)
Score: 52.6
Place: 41
The live scoreboard is showing Pauline as clear through 12abc. We catch up with her as she goes with the German route at the combination at 16abc, looping around to each fence rather than heading straight through there. They come around into the stadium and the horse looks to be getting strong. Pauline asks him to come back for the table but he just catches it and she’s propelled out of the plate. Oh, that’s so frustrating so very close to home. The horse trots off to the finish and Pauline is soon up on her feet.
We join Nina as she makes her way round the driving obstacles on her way to the SAP fences at 15 and 16. She opts for the same longer route as Anna through there. It is considerable longer but definitely a safer line, although the ones we’ve seen go straight through there have made a really good job of it.
Oh no. They have troubles at the corner at 18. The horse seems to leave a leg and Nina tumbles out the side door. The frangible device breaks for safety. Nina’s quickly up and walking off leading her horse. What a shame so close to home.
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🇩🇪 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Nina Schultes and Grand Prix iWest (Individual)
Score: 37.8
Place: 25
Nina is the first of the individuals we’ll see today. We’ll hopefully pick her back up later but she’s showing as clear through fence 12abc.
We stay with Anna and get to hear the German cheers as they motor around the track. Anna’s having a peach of a ride this morning. They’re up on the clock compared to the others we’ve seen but Anna chooses to take a longer route through the SAP combination at 16abc. It’s certainly a much safer line but takes up quite a few seconds. The clock’s still green as they come into the stadium and fly the steeplechase. The horse looks like he doesn’t want this to end just yet. They’re quick around the questions through the water and over the finale 20 seconds down on the clock, 9.6 time penalties.
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🇩🇪 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Anna Siemer and FRH Butts Avondale (Team)
Score: 37.2
Place: 22
We get to see home crowd favorite Anna at the start of the course. They horse is so good through the hollow at 7, really smooth. This is a really experienced pairing and it sure shows. He’s locked right onto the flags through the water at 9 and really shows us all how it’s done. He jumps really big over the log at 10. He looks fab.
Melody’s showing as clear through to fence 15 on the live scoreboard as we see her splash through the water and over the SAP House at 15. Sadly we only rejoin her at the very end of the course. They finish 21 seconds over, 8.4 time penalties.
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🇨🇭 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Melody Johner and Erin (Team)
Score: 54.3
Place: 42
We catch up with Luc at the SAP complex at 15 and 16abc. They’re showing as clear so far on the live scoreboard. They make a great job of the line through the two tractors at 16ab, really tight. Luc’s pushing on as he comes to the corner combination at 18 before coming into the stadium. Ooo, the horse is looking out and pointing his nose a little, but Luc’s on it and encourages him back on the line to the second of the corners. That was a bit chancy. They’re back together as they take on the fences in the stadium. They make nothing of the questions in there and complete with 14 time penalties.
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🇫🇷 NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Luc Chateau and Cocorico de l’Ebat (Team)
Score: 40
Place: 31
It looks like we’re going to see the second half of each round so I’ll catch up with the new starter once we get to see them properly.
We join Sammi as she makes her way to the SAP complex at 15 and 16abc. The horse looks to be loving his time out there on course. He drifts a little into the first tractor at b but Sammi keeps him on his line and they make nothing of that line. She pushes on for the stadium and the last few fences. They steady up for the first corner at 18 and then curve round to the b element before racing into the stadium. They’re still green on the clock as they take the steeplechase at 19 and then it turns red right before the water. They come on round to the finale and finish 19 seconds over, 7.6 time penalties.
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🇦🇺 THIRD COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Samantha Birch and Finduss PFB (Team)
Score: 39.2
Place: 28
We don’t get to see the start of Sammi’s round but she’s showing as clear through to fence 14 on the live scoreboard.
Ian’s neat through the coffin complex at 13abc then gallops past the hospitality down to the water, splashing through before taking the SAP House at 15. The horse has really settled into this round and is looking very impressive. He’s straight as a die through the two tractors at 16 b and c – so good. He powers away from there trying to catch up a few seconds. He’s quicker than Caroline but doesn’t look like he’s going to make it. He’s going quick though. He gallops into the stadium and flies the steeplechase at 19. They’re giving it everything and are very fast through the water. He’s round to the keyhole finale and wastes no time. 23 seconds over, 9.2 time penalties. A superb round from them.
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🇮🇪 SECOND COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Ian Cassells and Millridge Atlantis (Team)
Score: 37.1
Place: 20
Hoping for the luck of the Irish, Ian’s round gets off to a quick start and they make nothing of the first few fences and fly through the first combination at 7ab and head on to the water at 9. The horse is fighting a little, really keen for the job, but he’s jumping brilliantly.
He gallops on back around to the water for the second time and looks to be having a great ride.
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🇺🇸 FIRST COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: Caroline Pamukcu and HSS Blake (Team)
Score: 40.6
Place: 32
Caroline is away for the US! Blake looks up for it as he clears the first few fences and gallops off along the track.
She brings him back to set up for the Turkish Airlines complex at 7 and they make that look really simple. They get a flier over the CAMPUS Ditch at 8 and then come to the first water at 9. They get a great shot through the water, over the brush and then through the corner before taking on the duck for the c element. All good so far for this pair.
It’s a perfect day for cross country at Aachen and the course looks beautiful.
They come back round to the water for 12abc, dropping in neatly and then taking on another duck at b. They’re neat over the corner for c and then continue on. They’re tidy through the rail ditch skinny combination at 13 and then splash through another water before taking the SAP house out of their stride.
Blake does look to be enjoying his round, and looks a tad strong at times. Caroline’s getting him back for the fences though. They’re a bit squirrelly into the SAP combination at 16 and take the flag at the first tractor at b. She straightens him up though and they look to have been clear there. They are down on the clock at this point.
They gallop into the stadium to finish up their round. They have a great shot over the steeplechase fence at 19 and then set up for the gate into the water at 22 before stepping up out. They come around to the key hole for the finale and cross the finish line. 45 seconds over the time for 18 time penalties but a smooth round on the whole.
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