Oh, you though we were done with slides after Pratoni, didn’t you? Nah. This is fence 10abc, the Mane ‘n Tail Singerly Slide. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Am I sad to be missing the second running of the MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill presented by Brown Advisory in person? Why do you ask? I’m just sitting here at my computer getting ready to run live updates with my little stuffed horse who sports a Maryland T-shirt propped up next to me that I picked up from the press table last year and I’ve been wearing my media credentials from last year around my house all day. That’s normal, right? I’m fine, I swear. Not sad at all.
Well if you, like me, are house-bound this year for our fall five-star, fear not! We’ll have plenty of fun here together as we gif up a storm on our live updates thread. I highly recommend that you read Tilly’s course preview before the action begins, if you haven’t already, so you can get a better idea of the size and scope of the fences out there on course. Plus, if you want to know why you’ve seen dinosaurs randomly dotted about the grounds while you watched the livestream of the three-star earlier, we have your answers. You can also hear what the rider’s think of the redesigned Ian Stark track here.
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver will be the first out of the start box at 2:02 p.m. Eastern (7:02 p.m. BST/11.02 a.m. Pacific) and if you’re near a computer you can also watch along yourself either via USEF Network if you’re in the U.S. or Canada, or via H&C+ (subscription required) anywhere else. Existing USEF members can use their credentials to log in and watch all phases of competition, or you can sign up to watch free with a USEF Fan account or take 40% OFF an annual USEF Subscriber Membership with promo code Maryland22.
Keep refreshing this page for the latest! If you’re catching up on the action later, start reading from the bottom of the page.
MARS Maryland 5 Star:[Website] [Entries] [Schedule ] [Drawn Order] [3* XC Times] [5* XC Times] [All Ride Times] [USEF Network Live Stream (North America)] [Interactive XC Course Maps] [H&C+ Live Stream (Worldwide)] [Form Guide] [Digital Program] [EN’s Maryland Daily Digest Email] [EN’s Coverage]
4:05 PM: As we look ahead to our post-XC press conference, we have four flags under review: Phillip Dutton (fence 21), Woods Baughman (27), Hannah Sue Hollberg (16C), and Buck Davidson with Carlevo (16C). We’ll have to sit in suspense for a little bit until those are resolved, so you’ll just have to check back later for the full XC report! Thanks for joining us this afternoon!
3:55 PM: Well, that’s it for the XC action — that went by fast, huh? Don’t go anywhere quite yet… we have a couple flag penalties under review to sort out, including for Buck. It disappeared for a while off the live scores, but now the “??” is back for fence 16C. That could change things up at the top, but for now here’s where things stand:
3:54 PM: So close! Carlevo cross the line 2 seconds over time. The added 0.8 penalties bump them to 4th place instead of 3rd.
3:52 PM: It’s a big leap for Carlevo over the crab and then another big leap out over the bank. Buck thinks quick, taking a page out of Doug’s books and makes a squiggly line to the last element to get a better stride to the brush. Will that move cost him too much time?
3:49 PM: Our last few riders are now on course, both out on their second horses of the division. Jennie Brannigan is already almost home aboard FE Lifestyle and Buck Davidson is clear through the first half with Carlevo. Here’s Jennie down the bank complex:
3:46 PM: With the exception of that hairy moment at the Crab Water, that was an incredibly well-planned round from the world number one, Tim Price. They finish about 3 seconds under time which means they’ll be our leaders heading into show jumping tomorrow.
3:44 PM: EEK! “Joker” as he’s known around the barn, slows when he sees the scary blue crab and catches his hind legs a bit, tipping Tim forward to the gasps of the crowd, but Tim sits chilly, gathers himself and has no problem on the way out of the complex.
3:42 PM: He’s a five-star OTTB! Erin and Campground finish clear and inside the time! We learned yesterday that his owner also rides him at Training level and we think that’s just about the coolest thing.
3:40 PM: Here’s a look at Tim through the boathouse water at fence 11. He looks at his clock afterwards, is he feeling down on time?
3:39 PM: Lauren and Paddy finish clear and inside the time. Erin and Campground are clear about two thirds of the way around and Tim is clear through the main arena.
3:34 PM: And now on course, the pair who could steal the lead from Tamie: Tim Price and Coup de Cœur Dudevin have just left the start box. Lauren opts to take the option at 20 and 21, which are the Owl Hole corners that came late on course last year — they’re the first pair we’ve seen to take that option. Jessica Phoenix and Wabbit have finished clear and inside the time and she is THRILLED with her cute little grey horse.
3:32 PM: Erin Kanara and Campground join us on course and are clear about halfway around. Here’s Lauren and Paddy over the Baltimore Barricades. Look at the size of these things. The last element, the brush corner, is where Hannah picked up her flag that’s under review.
3:30 PM: And that’s Harbour Pilot’s last five-star fence! They don’t quite make the time, and they’ll also be under review for a flag at fence 16C, but what an incredible career this horse has had.
3:29 PM: We’ve also got Jessica Phoenix with Wabbit and Lauren Nicolson with Landmark’s Monte Carlo on course and both clear so far. We haven’t seen much fo either of them on the live stream.
3:27 PM: Darn, they’re just a bit slow! Allie and Morswood come home 16 seconds over time, to add 6.4 penalties to their dressage score. That slots them into 6th place currently. Tamie Smith and Danito are still our leaders and Oliver Townend and As Is slot into second. Here’s a peak at scores as they currently stand:
3:25 PM: Down the bank, over the houses, and turning for home. Will they make the time?
3:24 PM: Go Allie, go! They’re clear through the Crab Water.
3:22 PM: Hannah Sue Hollberg and the legendary Harbour Pilot are on course now for this horse’s final upper-level cross country run, as Hannah announced earlier. Allie and Morswood are clear through 16. Oliver and As Is are home double clear.
3:20 PM: Oliver just has this crazy ability to make horses levitate. As Is doesn’t quite get his eye on the fence 21 corner, but Oliver works his magic and somehow flies the horse cleanly through the flags.
3:18 PM: Allie Knowles and Morswood, who now could take over the clubhouse lead, are on course and clear through the main arena!
3:14 PM: Uhh interesting choice, As Is. The horse banks fence 5 as he and Oliver Townend start out on course. Harry and Superstition finished clear and inside the time, which will make their bummer of a dressage score just a bit more bitter.
3:13 PM: A little appreciation for the crowd from Harry as he gallops away from the Crab Water:
3:12 PM: We’ve got two new starters going us on course now: Harry Meade with Superstition and Lillian Heard ad LLC Barnaby. Harry is already on the back half of the course. Lillian is clear through the first third. Doug is home 6 seconds over time.
3:10 PM: Well, that was interesting. Doug had to get creative as Quantum Leap lost a little steam on the up bank out of the Crab Water and makes a squiggly line so that he doesn’t cross his tracks on the way to the brush out.
3:07 PM: Meanwhile … Doug Payne and Quantum Leap have been on course for a bit and they’re clear through 20 and 21 already. Contendro very nearly unseats Woods again at the last house after the Fair Hill drop. The flag there will be also be under review, but the pair is home safely now 2 seconds over time.
3:04 PM: SHOOT. Woods has had a couple of problems up at the top of the course. First, he takes a couple circles with a still strong Contendro as he tries to line up for 21. 20 and 21 are numbered separately, so it won’t be a refusal, but he’ll have used a good bit of time. He then also knocks a flag at 21, which will be under review. And then, UGH, Contendro just runs out to the right of the skinny brush after coming out of the Crab Water. That’ll of course mean they’ll no longer be our leaders.
3:00 PM: OH MY GOD. Contendro is so strong through the coffin and twists his hind end over the last element, VERY nearly unseating Woods. Take a look:
2:59 PM: Weee! Woods has to really work to set up “Contendro” for the Slide and his horse takes a long one at the B element, but they’re easily clear!
2:56 PM: Hayley is home! She gives a fist pump after crossing the finish line. They complete with 20 penalties. Woods is easily clear through the main arena, though C’est la Vie 135 is looking a little wild again!
2:55 PM: Aw man, we receive word that Zach has retired Direct Advance while they were being held. That’s such a disappointment for these first-timers. We hope all is well and they’ll be back to fight another day.
2:52 PM: Hayley is now released from the hold and has resumed her run. Zach is being held before fence 10A. Woods is still be held at the start box. Poor Woods — can’t he have at least one event to go off with out anything weird happening? Zoe and the Mighty Mare KEC Zara have finished clear and 4 seconds under time.
2:50 PM: Ah, looks like we have a hold on course for a minute here while a MIM clipped oxer is repaired — maybe that was the issue for Lisa Marie? But she doesn’t show as having any problems on the live score. Ugh, speaking of problems, or sole rookie pair Zach Brandt and Direct Advance pick up a refusal at 7B in the main arena.
2:48 PM: We’re getting a glimpse now of our leaders, Woods Baughman and C’est la Vie 135 walking toward the start box, getting cheers as they make their way over. Live scores show Zoe and Zara clear and nearing the finish. Lisa Marie Fergusson and Honor Me have finished a nearly a whole minute over time — we’re not sure what happened there!
2:47 PM: Odd — Honor Me jumps far to the left over the Maryland Blue Crab and actually take a flag out on that fence. And — oh no! — Hayley and Dunedin Black Watch have a refusal up on the scoreboard for 10A — that’s the skinny element on top of the Slide.
2:43 PM: Oh hey Lisa Marie! We get a first peek at one of our favorite Canadian pairs finally. They’re clear through those problematic corners. Hayley Frielick and Dunedin Black Watch are on course and clear through the main arena. Zoe and Zara ar clear halfway through the course. Phillip and Z finished 10 seconds under time.
2:39 PM: Looks like Z was a bit squirrelly and took a flag at fence 21, the same corner that Astier had a stop at. They’re score shows a “??” right now, so that’ll be under review. Despite their stop, Astier and Babylon de Gamma finish 1 second under the optimum time. Zoe Crawford and KEC Zara are out on course and over the first couple fences.
2:36 PM: SHOOT! Babylon de Gamma puts in a little extra footwork before the fence 21 corner and sadly comes to a stop. That’s gutting for this pair who traveled so far to be here and were so well-positioned after the dressage.
2:35 PM: Our apologies to Will as we completely lost him out on course, but he’s had a fabulous time out there with DonDante and has clocked our fourth double clear round in the fastest time so far: 11:13. Phillip and Z are clear through fence 14.
2:32 PM: Z is a little excited to get out there on course with Phillip Dutton:
2:30 PM: That’s another double clear! Tamie is THRILLED with her crunchy Cheeto in his first five-star!
2:28 PM: Aha — there’s Tamie! Danito has just made easy work of the bounce out of the MARS Sustainability Bay a.k.a the Crab Water and the skinny brush afterwards. Astier Nicolas and Babylon de Gamma have left the start box and — oh by the way — Buck and Sorocaima finished under time too!
2:27 PM: Tamie and Cheeto Danito are clear so far and approaching the Crab Water — haven’t seen a lot of her on the live stream. Will and DonDante are clear so far as well, about a third around the course.
2:25 PM: Will Coleman and DonDante are out of the start box. Sorocaima is careful coming down the drop after the County Fair Roller Coaster, but makes easy work of the question and they turn for home:
2:22 PM: YES! Our first pair home is also our first pair within the time. Jennie and her five star debutante Thoroughbred finish 8 seconds under the time. Buck is already clear through the Crab Water, though we didn’t get to see him, and Tamie Smith and Danito are on course now as well.
2:21 PM: Jennie is nearing home! She’s clear through the Crab Water and the Fair Hill drop. She’s looking close to the time. Will she make it? Here’s a look at them making easy work through 20 and 21 earlier:
2:17 PM: Oh no… Monster is just looking a bit tired at the top of the course approaching the Maryland Blue Crab Water. He pops up over the drop into the water but runs out of steam on the outbank out of the water and collects a stop at the bounce up. Liz calls it a day there and elects to retire. What a major bummer.
2:15 PM: Buck Davidson and Sorocaima are next out of the box and are on course! Jennie is clear through fence 14. Monster takes out a flag at one of the corners at fence 20 and 21, but we’ll see if that has to be reviewed.
2:14 PM: Jennie is clear through the arena and the next couple fences, though we’re not seeing her much on the livestream. Liz is clear and approaching the corners at the top of the course.
2:12 PM: Liz has made easy work of the next couple big questions at 10ABC and 11ABC. Jennie Brannigan and Twilightslastgleam are now on course too.
2:09 PM: Here’s or first look at the complex in the main arena:
2:08 PM: Liz and “Monster” are clear so far through the first question at the the Oriole Dew Pond, fence 4ab. This will be not just an important round to set the stage for the rest of the riders today, but Liz and Monster sit in 5th place after dressage so it’s also an important round for the standings.
2:06 PM: And they’re off!
2:05 PM: Looks like things are a little late getting started, but we’re standing by!
1:55 PM: As we get set to begin, let’s remind ourselves the current standings:
The top ten at the culmination of dressage in the MARS Maryland CCI5*.
