Welcome to cross country..err..night?..at the Longines Luhmühlen CCI5*, and while it may be nearly 1 a.m. here in California, it’s also nearly go-time on cross country day in Germany, where the first pair will leave the start box at 10:00 a.m. local time, aka 1 a.m. this reporter’s time. For those of you on the East coast, it may be time to rise and grind anyway, so why not follow along with us?
Of course, the absolute best way to take in any cross country (if you can’t be there in person), is to take advantage of the awesome live stream made possibly by H&C. For the small cost of a monthly H&C+ membership (which, by the way, requires no commitment – but is also well worth sticking around for a bit), the live stream will be made available along with the full replays of each phase. Click here to access the H&C live stream.
If you’re without the ability to watch the live stream, though, never fear! I’ll be here providing trusty play-by-play info as we follow along with the action. Refresh this page regularly for more updates.
The optimum time for Mike Etherington-Smith’s track today is 11 minutes, and the course features 31 numbered fences with 45 total jumping efforts. You can view more on the course here.
Notable ride times:
- Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan (11th – 33.8): CLEAR – 3.6 time, 37.4
- Jennie Brannigan and Stella Artois (6th – 31.2): ELIMINATED
- Mollie Summerland and Charley van ter Heiden (1st – 29.0): CLEAR – 0.0 time
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6:05 a.m. ET: Let’s break out a few numbers from the five-star. In total, we saw just 15 of 24 pairs cross the finish line for a 62.5% completion rate; this is just a tick down from 2019’s completion rate of 66.7%. 11 of the completing pairs were free of jumping penalties. Of those, five pairs managed a round clear inside the time: Mollie Summerland and Charly van ter Heiden, Christoph Wahler and Cartajan S, Cathal Daniels and LEB Lias Jewel, Luc Chateau and Troubadour Camphoux, and David Doel and Carneyhaugh Rua. The overnight leaders, Mollie and Charly, were the quickest of the day with a time of 10 minutes 50 seconds. Five pairs opted to retire after trouble on course, and four were eliminated. Two horses fell: Techno (Anna Freskgard) and Faerie Dianimo (Jonelle Price). Two pairs collected frangible pin penalties: Maxime Livio and Vegas due Boursons as well as Michael Jung and fischerWild Wave. As of now, no injuries have been reported to any horses or riders. Fence 13, a brush arrowhead in the water, caused the most trouble with a total of 6 runouts, though most of these came early in the day and the fence would ride better as word traveled back to the warm-up. Problems were mostly scattered throughout Mike Etherington-Smith’s course otherwise.
Don’t forget, the replay of the CCI5* cross country (typically uploaded within a day or two) as well as the upcoming live stream of the CCI4* (which will kick off at 7 a.m. ET) is available with an H&C+ membership! You can view the schedule and sign up here. A major shout is in order to the team at H&C and in particular to Spencer Sturmey, who is commentating remotely from Great Britain due to ongoing travel restrictions from the UK. Nicely done, Spencer!
Tilly will check in with her reports later today after the CCI4* completes. While we won’t have live updates available for the CCI4*, there will be plenty more still to come here on EN, so stay tuned!
5:57 a.m. ET: And that does it for cross country in the CCI5*! It will be Britain’s Mollie Summerland and Charly van ter Heiden who will lead for the very first time in a five-star following cross country, still on their dressage mark of 29.0. They’ll be hotly pursued by Germany’s Christoph Wahler and Cartajan S on a 32.1, followed by Emilie Chandler and Gortfadda Diamond (36.0) and our own Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan in fourth on a 37.4. Cathal Daniels and LEB Lias Jewel round out the top five on a 38.1.
5:56 a.m. ET: And that’s another clear for David as he comes home 28 seconds over the optimum. He should be pleased with the efforts from his horses today!
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5:55 a.m. ET: David gives Shannondale Quest a good bit of encouragement through the coffin at 28 on the replay and is nearly home.
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5:54 a.m ET: That leaves just David Doels left out on course, and he’s clear through fence 28.
5:50 a.m. ET: David Doels comes close to having a flag at the chevron in the water at 13. Meanwhile, Ascona M is looking a little tired but is almost home – rats! Tim is so close but has a very hairy moment at the penultimate fence, nearly coming unseated. After being unable to make it to the B and C elements, Tim has raised his hand – the ultimate, but one of the most difficult, decisions on behalf of the horse. Hats off, Tim.
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5:47 a.m. ET: Cathal Daniels and EB Lias Jewel are home clear inside the time by 8 seconds to remain on their dressage score of 38.1. This pair has done right by Tilly’s label of dark horse to watch today!
5:45 a.m. ET: Tim and Ascona M are through the water at 13 and 14 where he and Ringwood Sky Boy came to grief earlier. Ascona M has quite a few many opinions and looks to still be spooking her way through this track a bit, but they’re making it work.
5:44 a.m. ET: Our last pair of the day, David Doels and Shannondale Quest, are now underway.
5:43 a.m. ET: Cathal Daniels and LEB Lias Jewel just squeeze through the flags:
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5:40 a.m. ET: We’ve got Cathal Daniels and LEB Lias Jewel as well as 2019 winners Tim Price and Ascona M on course with us now. Just one pair will be left to see: David Doel’s third ride, Shannondale Quest.
5:40 a.m. ET: Charley van ter Heiden is looking a bit tired but he’s galloping on and finishes 14 seconds inside the time! Mollie will retain her lead overnight on her dressage score of 29.0. It’s that EN karma! You know, and, like, riding skills and bravery and all that. Check out this dream team:
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5:37 a.m. ET: We’re just getting our first glanced at Jennie and Stella, who heartbreakingly will end their trip very early after a miscommunication through the double frangible corners at 8 in the arena. Both Stella and Jennie appear to be ok, but what a devastating end to the trip for this pair.
5:36 a.m. ET: Mollie and Charly also get away with one:
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5:35 a.m. ET: Michael Jung and fischerWildWave have the frangible pin at the coffin at 28 but still manage to make the finish line some 20+ seconds inside the time, as long Ze Terminator can do. Check out this chilly riding:
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5:33 a.m. ET: Fairly sure I’ve just heard Jennie and Stella Artois announced as Mollie makes her way through the water at 13 and 14 clear.
5:31 a.m. ET: Looks like Maxime had his frangible pin at fence 23, a double of corners. Our overnight leaders Mollie and Charly are clear through the arena. Maxime Livio is home and will be very bummed about the pin but pleased with the efforts of Vegas des Boursons on his CCI5* Debut.
5:30 a.m. ET: Mollie gives Charly some vocal encouragement as he peeks at the in to the first water – one big ballooning jump later they’re clear through.
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5:18 a.m. ET: Maxime Livio has activated a frangible pin at…I’m not 100% sure which fence – I’ll try to confirm! There was no fall.
5:27 a.m. ET: Michael once again reminding us how to ride:
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5:25 a.m. ET: We’ll next see our overnight leaders, Mollie Summerland and Charly van ter Heiden, aka the happiest horse on the planet, aka the travel partner of Tilly and Mollie on their endless adventures en route to Germany, out next, followed by Jennie and Stella Artois.
5:24 a.m. ET: France’s Maxime Livio and Vegas des Bourdons are next away, coming forward on a score of 30.9 in early fifth place. Meanwhile, Michael Ryan is home with Barnahown Corn Hill with 36 seconds of time. Michael Jung is also away with fischerWildWave, on a 30.1, marking the 9-year-old gelding’s CCI5* cross country debut.
5:20 a.m. ET: Looks like Nadine and Valentine FRH had a drive-by at the chevron out of the first water; Nadine elected to retire after this early issue and save her efforts for another day. Meanwhile, Kenki is nearly home having just completed the final combination at fence 30. He’s now home about a minute over optimum. Kenki had to take quite a bit of a feel to set up in front of his fences, which always makes for a slower time.
5:17 a.m. ET: Nadine Marzahl and Valentine FRH have trouble at the first water – waiting to see if we get a replay.
5:16 a.m. ET: Kenki has a runout in the water at fence 18, circling and clear on the re-attempt. Meanwhile, Michael Ryan – wearing a yellow ribbon in honor of Tiggy Hancock – is clear through the arena fences. Leaving the box are Germany’s Nadine Marzahl and Valentine FRH, 12th after dressage on a 34.1.
5:13 a.m. ET: Next up will be Ireland’s Michael Ryan and Barnahown Corn Hill, in 19th after the first phase on a 39.4.
5:11 a.m. ET: Kenki takes a flag at the first water but is clear as he now approaches the arena fences.
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5:09 a.m. ET: And we’re back underway as Kenki Sato and Shanaclough Contadora are out of the box. They come to today in 15th place with a dressage mark of 36.2. A fun fact about Kenki from Tilly’s Form Guide: “Kenki competed at the London 2012 Olympics, taking a short leave of absence from his normal life to take part. That normal life? Training to be a Buddhist priest at the Myōshō-ji temple in the mountain village of Ogawa. His father, Shodo, is the master of the temple, and was an accomplished equestrian himself, just missing out on an Olympic appearance because of the boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics.”
5:08 a.m. ET: Don’t forget, you can follow all of the action today (and watch the replay later if you’re not a nut job like me and up in the middle of the night watching) on H&C+! You can view the live stream schedule and subscribe here.
5:05 a.m. ET: Our next out was to be Japan’s Kenki Sato and Shanaclough Contadora, but it appears we may be on a hold. They’ve just shown Jonelle and Faerie Dianimo’s fall at fence 20, and Jonelle took quite a heavy faceplant. Thankfully, they are both up on their feet now.
5:04 a.m. ET: Sadly, the fence report shows Jonelle and Faerie Dianimo have fallen at fence 20, a table fence. We’ll report once we know more.
5:02 a.m. ET: Jonelle and Faerie Dianimo nip through this downhill question at 17.
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5:01 a.m. ET: Our third clear inside the time is Luc Cheateau and Troubadour Camphoux, coming home two seconds inside the optimum time of 11 minutes even.
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4:59 a.m. ET: Sadly, David’s day comes to an end early with his second ride after a problem at the brush in the water at 13 as well as the B element of 14. Meanwhile, Jonelle and Faerie Dianimo are clear through the arena at 7 and 8.
4:58 a.m. ET: Luc Cheateau and Troubadour Camphoux are clear through the coffin at fence 28.
4:57 a.m. ET: Here’s a fun pair to watch: New Zealand’s Jonelle Price is away with Faerie Dianimo, currently in 10th after dressage on a 32.5. This pair won the whole cake here in 2018.
4:55 a.m. ET: And we have our second clear inside the time as Christoph brings Cartajan S home nine seconds in the time. They’ll remain on their dressage score – and take the provisional clubhouse lead – on a 32.1. Ariel is currently third after her clear effort. Meanwhile, David Doel is back with his second ride, Dunges Don Perignon, calling for the long route at the first water at 5.
4:54 a.m. ET: Christoph and Cartajan S are losing a bit of energy, but they’re clear through the coffin at 28.
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4:51 a.m. ET: 14 seconds over for Samantha Lissington and Ricker Ridge Rui.
4:51 a.m. ET: Christoph Wahler and Catjatan S are having a lovely round, clear through fence 20.
4:50 a.m. ET: Next we’ll see French pair Luc Chateau and Troubadour Camphoux, in 20th after dressage on a 39.8.
4:47 a.m. ET: A look at Emilie and Gortfadda Diamond at the coffin at fence 29, where we earlier saw Anna Freskgard and Techno end their day. This pair has really been cracking on, Emilie low over her horse’s neck and hustling the whole way home. They are home clear with just about 13 seconds of time and look thrilled!
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4:45 a.m. ET: Next out will be Germany’s Christoph Wahler and Carjatan S, on a 32.1 in seventh following dressage.
4:45 a.m. ET: And she’s home! That’s a clear round with 13 seconds of time to put Ariel and Leamore Master Plan onto a 37.4 for the two phases.
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4:44 a.m. ET: Emilie Chandler is having a sparkling round on Gortfadda Diamond as they navigate the angled brushes in the water at fence 18.
4:42 a.m. ET: We’re not seeing much of Ariel on the feed, but she’s shown on live scores as nearly home and clear through fence 29. Come on, girl!
4:41 a.m. ET: A few of these recent riders are really attacking their entrance into the water approaching the chevron brush, whereas some of their predecessors had come in with slightly less gumption and met with trouble.
4:40 a.m. ET: British rider Emilie Chandler and Gortfadda Diamond are clear through the arena questions at 7 and 8. Leaving the start box are New Zealand’s Samantha Lissington and Ricker Ridge Rui, currently in 13th on a 34.9.
4:39 a.m. ET: Our Lithuanian friend Aistis comes home 17 seconds over the time with Commander VG.
4:38 a.m. ET: Here’s our girl! Ariel Grald is the first of the U.S. pairs with Leamore Master Plan and they say “take that” to that pesky brush in the water at 13:
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4:35 a.m. ET: Anna Freskgard and Techno have had a rotational fall at fence 28, a slow-motion fall as Techno took a couple of trot steps right before and couldn’t get both front legs out of the way. Thankfully, they are both shown on the live stream to be up on their feet – a very scary moment. I am not sure if the A element was pinned, but if it was the pin was not activated.
4:32 a.m. ET: Here’s a look at the troublesome brush chevron in the water at fence 13:
4:30 a.m. ET: Aistis Vitkauskas and Commander VG, representing Lithuania, have left the box. Anna Freskgard and Techno have also had a runout at the brush in the water at fence 13. That’s four pairs to have an issue there now.
4:27 a.m. ET: Malin and Monsieur Schnabel have another problem, this time at the angled brushes at fence 18. Meanwhile, Jordy Wilken and Burry Spirit are home with just the one blemish on their day. They’re shown here through fence 30, where Clara ended her day:
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4:26 a.m. ET: A good sight after a tough fall: Clara Loiseau and Wont Wait walking away from their parting of ways.
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4:24 a.m. ET: We now welcome Swedish rider Anna Freskgard and Techno, in 14th after dressage on a 35.2. The fence report is also showing a refusal at the brush in the water at fence 13 for Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Monsieur Schnabel.
4:23 a.m. ET: Bummer! Clara Loiseau and Wont Wait fall victim to the long spot and come to grief at the B element of fence 30, the penultimate fence. They are both on their feet.
4:22 a.m. ET: We’ve had another fall victim to the brush in the water at fence 13 as Jordy and Burry Spirit have a drive-by.
4:19 a.m. ET: Jordy and Burry Spirit are clear through the arena, fences 7 and 8. Next out are Germany’s Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Monsieur Schnaubel, in 9th after dressage on a 32.5.
4:18 a.m. ET: Spencer Sturmey, our commentator on H&C+ today, notes that Tim and Ringwood Sky Boy actually have two run-outs at the wedge in the water.
4:16 a.m. ET: Next to leave the start box are Dutch rider Jordy Wilken and Burry Spirit, currently in 21st on a 40.3. Clara Loiseau is approaching fence 13 after living fairly dangerously at the corners in the arena at fence 8. She’s clear through fence 15 now and Wont Wait is certainly living up to his name – she’ll be looking (hoping?) to get him a bit more rideable by the end of this thing.
4:12 a.m. ET Next out are French pair Clara Loiseau and Wont Wait, who finished third at Pau last year. Sadly, Tim Price and Ringwood Sky Boy have retired after having a drive-by at the wedge in the water at fence 13 – at 18, there’s no sense in pushing for a finish that would no longer have been competitive.
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4:11 a.m. ET David is home, five seconds inside the time provisionally. What a way to kick things off! He should have a great feeling heading to get his on his next horse. Tim and Ringwood Sky Boy are quick and clear through the arena questions at 7 and 8AB.
4:09 a.m. ET Meanwhile, our trailblazer David is still clear and making his way toward the finish. Tim and Ringwood Sky Boy have gone through the first water at 6.
4:08 a.m. ET: Our next out of the box is a familiar pair: New Zealand’s Tim Price and Ringwood Sky Boy, the 2018 Burghley winner, making his 16th CCI5* start this weekend. This pair sits third after dressage on a score of 29.2 and have every cause to threaten the top spots on the board today.
>4:04 a.m. ET: David and Carneyhaugh Rua have a lovely ride through the arena questions at 8…
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…and hail a cab on their way into the second water:
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4:02 a.m. ET: David gives Carneyhaugh Rua a “good lad” through the first water at fence 6. He’s looking to set a keen, forward pace here and the 11-year-old Irish gelding is responding well.
4:00 a.m. ET: And we’re off! This pair has some experience under their belt, and while it’s never an enviable task to be the trailblazer, David should give us a good hint as to what we’re in store for this morning – not to mention, he’ll be giving himself an idea of how well his plan for his next two horses might play out.
3:55 a.m. ET: We’re just about five minutes from the start, and our first combination to see will be Great Britain’s David Doel, who brings forward three rides this weekend, and Carneyhaugh Rua, sitting in 24th on a score of 48.0. Horses will be sent out at about four minute intervals, and we’ve only got 24 pairs to see with the last pair departing at 5:44 a.m. ET / 11:44 a.m. CEST.
From Tilly’s Form Guide about Carneyhaugh Rua:
“Originally produced to CCI2*-S by Reserve World Champion Padraig McCarthy, Carneyhaugh Rua made his five-star debut at Pau last year after a string of solid results at four-star. He’s jumped clear around Saumur CCI4*-L and CCI4*-S sections at Ballindenisk, Haras du Pin and Barocca d’Alva, although his trip down to Portugal in early March was his last international run before that first five-star. At Pau, he had an excellent educational first run, jumping a steady clear on Saturday and a faultless round on Sunday to finish in the top thirty. This time, David will hope to bring down that 42 dressage and step on the gas a bit more across the country, now that he knows his horse can handle it. This could be the week for Carneyhaugh Rua to step up from a boy to a man.”
