Délicieux with garlic and butter. Photo via CrossCountry App.
Bonjour mes amis eventing. We’re comin’ at ya from the final 5* of the year (boo 👻) with all the fun and frolics from the French offering live on cross country day at Les 5 Étoiles de Pau.
So far there’s been plentiful talk about the weather – promising to be wet – and reminiscing of years gone by when rubber boots were more appropriate than shoes even with the biggest studs out on cross country. Alas, the only thing to be done when it’s raining is to let it rain, and so we will continue with proceedings accordingly, zip up our waterproof coats to the very top, and get on with the job at hand. Unless of course you’re enjoying our outdoor sport from indoors, living vicariously via this live blog. Whatever the weather, we’re here for it.
We know that Saturday’s a day when the leaderboard tends to get shook up like a Boggle cube, but before the shaking commences, here’s a look at the podium as things stand following the dressage phase:
1️⃣ 🇬🇧 Top of the class between the white boards was Emily King and Valmy Biats who laid it all down and then some in the dressage ring to sit on a score of 24.5, 1.2 penalties ahead of the rest of the field – in cross country terms, that’s three seconds.
2️⃣ 🇳🇿 Chasing the top spot is Tim Price and Jarillo who made light work of the test for a score of 25.7.
3️⃣ 🇫🇷 Rounding out the podium placings after the first phase is Sebastien Cavaillon and Elipso de la Vigne who made their mark on the competition with a score of 28.1.
🇺🇸 Best of the US is Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl who sit in equal 5th place on a score of 28.9.
You’ll find the full scoreboard right here.
In a water tower town… Photo via CrossCountry App.
Alongside the galloping and jumping action, the track promises to throw up a veritable smorgasbord of treats. If you’re watching on Pau TV (with one eye firmly locked onto the live blog – and a finger on your refresh button), might I suggest a friendly round of décor bingo, if you will? It sure is spooksville out there with a festive and frankly strange bunch of stuff to spot: a bit chilly for it, to be honest, but who’s up for ice-cream? More appropriate for the season there’s a Jack o’lantern in a goblet lurking with a mean red-eyed arachnid while a full-on skeleton reclines in the fence, and looking ahead, a Nutcracker’s on jump judge duty and a sled’s ready to sleigh. For the animal offering this year: prancing ponies on poles; delicious, if you’re into that kinda thing, l’escargot; a flock of curious-looking sheep; a horned dairy cow; the head of a duck; a bear and some bugs, and swans on the sand. Oh Pau, please never ever change.
Welcoming competitors to fence 25, a bear behind. Photo via CrossCountry App.
The bingo live blog will begin when the first horse and rider leave the start box, so while we wait for starter’s orders, some links for your perusal:
▶️ Catch up with Tilly’s reports on what went down in the dressage: [Thursday] [Friday]
▶️ For all the deets you need to know, including schedules, fast facts, how to watch and so much more, check out EN’s Ultimate Guide.
▶️ Have a gander at what the horses and riders will be facing out on course today – fences and festivities – courtesy of CrossCountry App.
▶️ As you know, here at EN we are never happier than when we’re befriending the owls and up with the larks to deliver the goods to you, fellow eventing nerds. You’ll find all of our Pau shenanigans here.
With all that said, 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 counting down to kick off… Jonelle Price will get the day going with the first of her three rides, previous Pau winner Grappa Nera – they’re due to go at noon CET / 6am ET.
Baguettes at the ready – Allez eventing!
Les Etoiles de Pau: Website | Entries + Live Scoring | Live Stream | EN’s Coverage
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7:21am
NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: 🇬🇧 Sam Ecroyd and Mr Big Ears
Dressage Score: 34.1
Place: 28
Behold, the awesomely named Mr Big Ears. He’s got his tail swishing as he gallops over the first couple of fences. He lands a bit flat over the broken bridge at 4 but Sam’s in balance and they continue on. They’re a little sticky through the water at 9 but Sam makes it happen. They get a nice jump through the picture frame at 10 and then come back through the water at 11 on an excellent line and get a smooth ride up the step and over the brush. Big pat for Mr Big Ears from Sam.
Oh, but then the horse gets too low over the white gate on the mound at 13 and down it comes. 11 penalties for them there. He gets a nice jump over the hedge on the racecourse at 14 and then they’re good through the double of log piles at 15. Sam’s having to work hard with this horse, using all his experience to support the gelding.
Noor’s horse seems to have picked up as they make a very neat job through the coffin complex at 17, he looks to be listening to her more now.
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7:17am
NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: 🇲🇦 Noor Slaoui and Cash In Hand
Dressage Score: 35.9
Place: 39
This pair are looking for their first 5* completion – and history-making for Morocco. The horse is very brave at the start of their round and looks totally up for the job. They’re brilliant through the first water at 9 and the crowd clap them along as they come back round to go back through at 11 but sadly, things don’t come up for them. They make it up the step for the a element but can’t make it for the brush shoulder at b. They come back round and the crowd are really supportive. They continue on.
It’s a bit sticky over the white gate on the mound at 13 and the horse seems to have fallen behind her leg a little as they head out towards the racecourse.
Willa crosses the finish line after giving her horse a really superb ride, building his confidence the whole way round. Clear jumping, 28 seconds over the time.
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7:12am
NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: 🇳🇿 Caroline Powell and High Time
Dressage Score: 34.6
Place: 33
Caroline’s bagged the two British big Bs with other horses and is looking for a big result with this one after rerouting from Burghley. The gelding looks keen at the start of their round and they’re very tidy over the white gate on the mound at 13.
But then, oh dear. We see High Time trotting round without Caroline on board. We didn’t catch it on the live feed but they appear to have parted ways at the steeplechase fence on the racecourse at 14. Total bummer for Caroline.
Hallie has crossed the line on a 5* debutant that looks very much within himself. What a peach of a ride she had round there. Clear jumping, 32 seconds over the time.
We catch up with Willa taking a beautiful line through the cubes at 20ab and then absolutely flying over the ditch and brush at 21. Willa gives him time at the white plank at 22 and then comes round for the water complex at 23. Willa’s really clear with her steering through there, helping the horse to pick his way between the flags. Willa swings out in the water at 25 to get a nice line for her horse to the corner in the water. She’s really riding this horse empathetically, so nice to see.
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7:02am
NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: 🇺🇸 Hallie Koon and Kapriccio
Dressage Score: 31.4
Place: 13
First up for the US, this gelding was 5th at Luhmühlen on his 5* debut, so Hallie’ll be looking to capitalize on that great experience this week. This smart gelding shows his fancy footwork at the broken bridge at 4, cleverly patting his way over there. Hallie means business, for sure. They’re smooth as butter through the water at 11, up the step and over the brush shoulder. They head out onto the racecourse and take the hedge at 14 at a gallop. Beautiful.
Sofia’s horse looks to be relishing her time out there. She’s got her ears pricked and is really jumping brilliantly.
We haven’t seen much of Willa, sorry, but the live scores are showing her as being clear through fence 17.
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7:06am
NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: 🇬🇧 Willa Newton and Hartacker
Dressage Score: 33.4
Place: 20
This horse is a former Izzy Taylor ride and has experience abounding as he makes the step up to 5* with Willa, coming to Pau off the back of a second place at the 4*-L at Scone in Scotland.
Hallie swings out to make the line through the double of cubes at 20. They’re really traveling forwards and make such a picture of a partnership in action. Hallie’s really brave over the big ditch and brush at 21, he’s a little behind her leg but she pushes on and they fly it. They take a tight line through the water complex at 23. Hallie’s confident to the big drop at 24a and the horse launches off there and they locks straight onto the arrowhead at b and there’s not a smidge of doubt there.
Sofia’s mare looks great as she finishes up her round, really seeming to have enjoyed her time out on the track. Clear jumping, 24 seconds over the time.
We’re hearing that Julie was delighted and that her dream of doing a 5* has come true. All the feels.
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6:59am
NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: 🇸🇪 Sofia Sjöborg and Bryjamolga VH Marienshof Z
Dressage Score: 39.7
Place: 47
This mare may be making her 5* debut, but she’s got World Championships and Olympic Games experience under her cinch. We pick her up at the water at 11 and they make a really neat turn after the step to take the brush shoulder on the way out at b. Very accomplished. Sofia sees a great stride through the double of log piles at 15ab, very neat and tidy. So far so good for them.
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6:49am
NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: 🇫🇷 Julie Bilquez and Brin d’Or des Sources
Dressage Score: 43
Place: 48
This pair are rookies at the level but there’ll be support aplenty from the French crowd to carry them along the track.
Oh, after a keen start they run into a moment at the first water at 9. They get a sticky jump over the skinny at b and then Julie has to use all of her core strength to stay aboard. She manages but they drive by the triple brush in the water. It didn’t look like they presented but a 20 comes up on the scoreboard. I’ll keep an eye on that. They pick their way through an alternate route and continue on.
Julie rides brilliantly at the cubes at 20 when the horse squirrels between the a and b elements and she straightens things up and heads through the flags. Nice job. There’s more superb riding at the big drop at 24 and some vocal encouragement to make it over the arrowhead at b. The French crowd are really behind this pair, not just because they’re French but because they really are showing a picture of a partnership. It’s a bit muddly from horse and rider but they’re both trying for one another and are making things happen. Nice to see and it looks so fun. The horse is jumping magnificently and Julie is grinning. She’s delighted as she crosses the line. Superb scenes. Total joy. 20 jumping and 47 seconds over the time, but that’s academic, they had an absolute blast out there together.
Update on Heidi’s penalties. She didn’t present at the b element of 24 and the penalties have been taken away, so she’s not eliminated. It seems they’re putting the penalties on for potential presentation and then reassessing as required. They’ve now completed with 40 jumping (9b and 24a) and 2 minutes 31 over the time.
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6:43am
NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: 🇫🇷 Benjamin Massey and Figaro Fonroy
Dressage Score: 33.9
Place: 24=
OK, so we’re about to have two French starters. The home crowd will be beside themselves. ALLEZ!
Wow, he takes the two related angled brushes at 7 and 8 in true French style on two strides, showing huge scope there. But then their day sadly ends early at the water, at 9b, the skinny triple brush on the way in. The horse just didn’t seem to see it and they stop. Benjamin opts to walk home. That fence proving to be influential so far today.
Meanwhile Bubby’s through the finish line with her pal Cola, 11 frangible penalties and 39 seconds over.
Oh dear, we’re having a bit of a time of it. Heidi’s horse doesn’t fancy the drop at 24a. She’s got no choice but to turn and reapproach. She growls, “C’mon” and the horse tentatively goes off, but there’s 20 penalties there for that. She comes round and looks to take the alternate route and continue on but the live scoreboard is showing her as having approached the b element of the straight route and they’ve been given penalties there and are showing as eliminated. I’ll update you as I know more.
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6:39am
NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: 🇬🇧 Heidi Coy and MGH Jessica
Dressage Score: 34.9
Place: 30=
This mare’s making her 5* debut but has picked up plenty of experience at the 4* level on her way to the top. We don’t see it on the live feed but the scoreboard’s showing them as having had a 20 at 9b, the skinny triple brush in the first water. They continue on though.
Bubby and Cola are very confident down the drop at 24 and navigate the approach to the arrowhead at the b element neatly. But then the frangible device goes at 25b again. 11 penalties added for that.
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6:31am
NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: 🇬🇧 Bubby Upton and Cola
Dressage Score: 32.3
Place: 15
Bubby’s here with two rides – first up is long-time pal, Cola. Bubby’s head down and meaning business as she sets off on course. He fairly flies off the broken bridge at 4 and Bubby has to have her hunting seat to hand. That’s cross country riding for you.
Sebastien’s horse takes on the huge ditch and brush at 21, the French crowd carrying them round. The horse is a rookie at the level and showing it at times, but Sebastien’s supporting him. They come off the big drop at 24 confidently but then they slip on the road crossing before the brush arrowhead at b and Sebastien really has to use his balance to keep everyone on their feet. They squeak over but then there’s a big moment at the water at 25 and surely a save of the day. Man this guy’s got a core of steel. It’s all very squirrelly but they pick their way through and are looking for home. Yikes, but phew. They’ve had frangible penalties at 25b. The crowd’s clapping and cheering as they come through the main arena and cross the line, with 20 jumping penalties, 11 for the frangible device and one minute and 6 seconds over the time.
Just to fill you in on some scores: Stephen and Hisco jumped clear, one minute and 2 seconds over the time.
Felix has also crossed the line with Freida, clear jumping with 28 seconds of time.
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6:27am
NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: 🇫🇷 Sebastien Cavaillon and Hashtag de la Vigne
Dressage Score: 34
Place: 26=
First up for France, expect wild support for this pair.
Oh, sadly things don’t go to plan for them. They have a miss at the skinny triple brush into the water at 9b and canter on past. They come back round though and continue on. Things look to be back on track as they jump through the picture frame at 10 to the claps from the crowd and then there’s cheers as they make a really neat line up the step out of the water at 11a and then on over the angled brush shoulder at 11b.
We catch up with Felix at the double of cubes at 20, getting a really beautiful shot through there. Felix opts for the longer route at the water complex at 25, eating up some time with all the turning but ensuring a smooth ride.
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6:21am
NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: 🇨🇭 Felix Vogg and Frieda
Dressage Score: 35.7
Place: 37
Felix is a two-time 5* champ but this is Frieda’s first outing at the level. Frieda looks up for it as she gallops out of the box and over the first couple of fences, she’s got her ears pricked and is really traveling and eating up the ground at the early stages of the course. Felix makes a really economical line to the brush shoulder after the step out of the water at 11, very smooth.
We rejoin Stephen as he clears the coffin complex at 17. The horse is careful over the oxer at 19. They’re not going for the time but the horse is really listening and has his ears pricked. He makes a lovely shape over the fences, a really great jump on this one. He has a tiny peek at the big ditch at 21 but flies on over. They come back to trot before coming off the big drop at 24a and then slid down the hill a little and Stephen does a great job of balancing the horse before the brush arrowhead at the b element. The horse stumbles a little on landing after the wide table at 26 but Stephen’s in balance and they gallop on towards home.
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6:17am
NEW COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: 🇬🇧 Stephen Heal and Hisco
Dressage Score: 34.8
Place: 34
This gelding’s lightly run and is making his 5* debut this week. We pick them up over the two angled brushes at 7 and 8, looking nicely together and like the horse is really listening to him. They’re very neat through the water at 9 and get a really lovely jump through the picture frame at 10. The horse puts in a clever little trot stride at the bottom of the big mound at 13 before cantering on up and popping the white gate on top at 13. They head on out to the racecourse and have a really fun jump over the hedge at 14. This horse really seems to be loving it out there.
Tim really has to ride through the big combination at 28, showing his horse the route through there. Impressive riding, of course. He comes into the main arena and over the swans at 30ab and then through the flags, 39 seconds over the time and having broken the frangible device at 25C, the open corner at the final water.
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6:14am
THIRD COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: 🇬🇧 Izzy Taylor and Barrington Alice
Dressage Score: 33
Place: 17
Another rider with three in the field, Izzy brings forward her 5* debutant and joint-youngest horse in the field first.
Sadly Izzy’s round ends early when she picks up two refusals at 9b, the skinny triple brush going into the first water.
We pick Tim up as he’s nearing the end of his round, at the water complex at 25 and Garcon looks to be enjoying his first trip round a 5*.
We’re hearing from Jonelle that she had a fabulous ride (we concur) but that her other two rides are very different.
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6:13am
SECOND COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: 🇳🇿 Tim Price and Garcon
Dressage Score: 35.2
Place: 35=
Chasing Jonelle round the track, Tim’s got three rides today. First up is 5* debutant, Garcon. Sadly we don’t see Tim on the live feed as it was focused on Jonelle as trailblazer but the live scoreboard is showing him as clear through fence 23. I’ll update you if/when we see him.
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6am
FIRST COMBINATION OUT ON COURSE: 🇳🇿 Jonelle Price and Grappa Nera
Dressage Score: 36
Place: 40
There’s no better trailblazer than multiple 5* winner Jonelle with previous Pau winner Grappa Nera, or Grape as she’s known to her pals. Let’s do this thang.
Grape gets a pat as Jonelle prepares to come into the box and away they go! The crowd at the first fence are in fine voice as a cheer goes up as cross country day gets underway. They come up to the new broken bridge fence at 4 and fly off the end, not even noticing the big ditch there. They opt for the left hand side of the related fence at 5 and then take the spooky wall at 6 well over to the right to set up for the pair of angled brushes at 7 and 8 and then a rollback turn to the first water complex at 9, which they splash through neatly.
They head back to the water for 11AB, making a beautiful line up the step and over the brush shoulder, which is on an acute angle. Total pro job, of course. She brings the mare back for the white gate on the big mound at 13 and then it’s pedal to the mettle as they head on out to the racecourse and fly the hedge at 14.
Grape is totally eating up this course. They come to the coffin complex at 17 and Grape’s pulling a little. She puts in a massive jump over the ditch at B and then is very neat over the skinny brush at the C element. So far so very, very good.
There’s claps and cheers from the crowd as she gallops towards the double of cubes at 20 – “C’mon Jonelle!”. They get a lovely line through the combination there and then keep the gallop going for the big ditch and brush at 21 before having to come right back for the white plank at 22. Their line through the water complex at 23 is *chef’s kiss”.
The live feed is focusing on Jonelle as trailblazer for now as she nears the end of the course. They’ve really made the track look super smooth. The claps continue from the appreciative crowd who’re out in force to support the sport today.
They come to the tricky combination at 28 and Grape really shows off her scope over through there before they gallop on into the main arena for the final combination at 30 over the two swans. They’re a little over the time as they come round to the finale and they finish up 16 seconds over the time. What a start to cross country day!
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