Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

We’re almost wrapped up here at MARS Great Meadow International, but we still have the exciting finale of the premier CCI4*S before we go home. Show jumping proved to be not quite as influential as some courses from years’ past, but nonetheless we expect some movement on the leaderboard to finish out the day.

Will overnight leaders Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous hang on to take the win? Or will another pair steal the crown? The optimum time for David O’Connor’s 4*S track today will be 6 minutes 45 seconds, and you can view the course map here. Refresh this page periodically to see the latest updates from the final division of #MARSGMI!

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2:52 pm ET: Sinead reports that the GJ has approved the score and Liz will take home the win! Stay tuned for Shelby’s full report and beautiful photos from Shannon Brinkman. Many thanks to the top tier organizing team, the commentators, volunteers, riders, grooms, and the team at Horse & Country TV for a wonderful weekend of eventing! It sure was nice to feel a little normal for just a little bit. Thanks for hanging out with me!

2:50 pm ET: “I was very happy with Off the Record,” Will says to Karen. “He’s still building himself back up, but I thought he had a good weekend.”

2:49 pm ET: Here’s the flag in question, according to the live stream. Seems fairly clear to me..

2:45 pm ET: Sinead says there is a little bit of controversy over a flag right now. Stay tuned while we get final word on this. The jump in question is fence 17, the MARS Sustainability Bay final water question.

2:45 pm ET: “I was under a lot of pressure being last to go…He’s a champion and he fought for me,” Liz says of the real trier Deniro Z. She says she felt the pressure of going last and that she didn’t give Deniro the best ride to some of the last questions, but that he really dug deep and tried for her. “I’m going to own a couple of those little ones that could’ve been better, but sometimes you gotta win and it’s a little bit ugly!” A gritty performance, well done Liz!

2:40 pm ET: Here’s your final top 5 from an awesome day of cross country at #MARSGMI! Liz Halliday Sharp takes the win (in her first trip to Great Meadow, no less), Will Coleman in second, Erin Kanara in third.

2:39 pm ET: Shows how much I know – I stand corrected! That’s a double clear and a WIN for Liz Halliday Sharp and Deniro Z! A final score of 24.2. Well done!

2:38 pm ET: I think Will’s going to take the win here, Deniro looks like he might grab more than 4 seconds of time.

2:37 pm ET: A nice shot of Liz through the Salamander Coffin Complex:

2:36 pm ET: Deniro Z catches his left leg on the Beverly Feed Table at 14 but they recover nicely.

2:34 pm ET: Liz and Deniro Z show off their speed through the arena:

2:33 pm ET: Our final pair and potential winners Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z are on course!

2:31 pm ET: Phillip sees his stride several strides out:

2:31 pm ET: A look at the jump into the final water at 17, MARS Sustainability Bay:

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2:30 pm ET: Clayton Fredericks has pulled up FE Coldplay, who looked to be tiring a bit. We’re also joined by Phillip with his final ride and the penultimate of the day, Fernhill Singapore.

2:29 pm ET: A sharp ride through the Buckeye Brushes for Holly and Candy King:

2:27 pm ET: FE Coldplay climbs over the out of the water at 13 and kicks on. Holly Jacks Smither has a great ride through the Eventing Nation Trakehner question.

2:26 pm ET: Clayton Fredericks and FE Coldplay are clear through the big downhill question at 12. Joining us are Holly Jacks Smither and Candy King.

2:25 pm ET: Charlotte Collier and Clifford M are clear through the final water with lots of encouragement. A big “Good boy!” on the out of the last water. Sinead counsels that this pair could carry a bit more balance and speed to make things smoother.

2:24 pm ET: JM Durr and the very genuine looking Tilikum cap off a great weekend with a clear round!

2:22 pm ET: This will truly come down to the wire, as Liz Halliday-Sharp is our last to go today with Deniro Z. She is the only pair remaining who could take the win from Will Coleman and Off the Record. She will have 4 seconds of time on hand.

2:21 pm ET: Jennie wasn’t quite fast enough to hang on to that top spot, collecting 5.6 time to finish on a 30.8 but still within the top 5 right now.

2:20 pm ET: Now on course are Charlotte Collier and Clifford M, decked out in their traditional pink. Jennie has finished – was it enough to be on top?

2:19 pm ET: Jennie Brannigan and Stella Artois are clear through the final water. JM Durr and Tilikum are clear through the brushes at 9.

2:16 pm ET: A nice ride through the Salamander Coffin Complex with Mik’s Master C. Jennie Brannigan and Stella Artois are going for it and clear through the Buckeye Brush question at 9.

2:14 pm ET: Will Coleman and Off the Record are clear inside the time! He’ll finish on a 25.9, leaving just Liz Halliday-Sharp (Deniro Z) and Jennie Brannigan (Stella Artois) left as possible winners.

2:12 pm ET: Now joining us on course are Maya Black and Miks Master C.

2:09 pm ET: Will Coleman and Off the Record, one pair that could take the win, are certainly not wasting any time:

2:05 pm ET: Here’s a look at the pairs still to come who still have a shot at the win:

2:03 pm ET: Woods will move into provisional second right now with 4.4 time added. They’ll finish on a final score of 30.2. Woods is a very exciting rider for the future, you’ll want to remember that name.

2:02 pm ET: Woods through the final combination:

2:00 pm ET: Allison finishes with Business Ben, who definitely wishes this was a long format, with 6.8 time penalties. We’re also now joined by Will Faudree with his final ride, Caeleste.

1:57 pm ET: A good reminder from Sinead that discussions in terms of balance should happen with enough time to then allow the fence to happen. Also, Lauren Nicholson has withdrawn Landmark’s Monte Carlo.

1:56 pm ET: On course now are Woods Baughman and C’est La Vie 135, currently on a score of 25.8 and one of the pairs who could steal the win today.

1:56 pm ET: Business Ben burns off some steam up the hill on the way to fence 12.

1:53 pm ET: We’re back underway with Allison Springer and Business Ben.

1:50 pm ET: Many thanks as always to the crew who keep our events running smoothly! These are unsung heroes – please find a crew member and volunteer to thank at your local event this weekend!

1:49 pm ET: We’re on a hold right now for fence repair.

1:48 pm ET: Phillip and Z come home with 3.6 time penalties to finish their weekend on a final score of 31.5.

1:47 pm ET: After a good start, Liz Halliday-Sharp and Flash Cooley sadly part ways at the B element of the Buckeye Angled Brushes at 9. It looked like a bit of a green moment for Flash Cooley, who didn’t fully lock on to the B and slid out. Liz was on her feet right away. Bummer!

1:43 pm ET: Phillip has worked hard with Z, who struggled with rideability for the first season of their partnership, and this round is looking much smoother than those earlier rides. Z is described as having the heart of a lion out on cross country. At Kentucky last year, Phillip experimented by taking Z into a quieter warm-up rather than taking on the busy main warm-up before cross country to avoid getting him too worked up ahead of the start.

1:42 pm ET: Sinead points out that Z is “the first horse as brave is Phillip is” – he’s a bold one!

1:41 pm ET: Right out of rhythm at the Attwood Sheep Shed for Katherine Brown and Victor Z 54:

1:40 pm ET: Clear with time for fan favorite Kevin Keane and Sportsfield Candy.

1:36 pm ET: Ah, bummer! Jennie comes off of Bliss III at the final combination, Annie’s Angled Cabins, after the horse just couldn’t make the second jump work. Jennie was on her feet immediately.

1:35 pm ET: Jennie Brannigan goes to her stick to make the final water work. This water has ridden a little long all day; the commentators and Ariel all agree that the jump in has some horses landing a bit flatter footed than perhaps riders may have anticipated.

1:33 pm ET: Ariel comments that coming into the water at 13 quieter actually paid off and allowed for a neater turn to the out, where ordinarily a nice bold jump into the water is what you’re going for.

1:31 pm ET: Leah and AP Prime finish with 18.4 time; the OTTB gelding that she purchased for $800 finished looking full of run.

1:30 pm ET: Ariel Grald joins the booth after her lovely double clear round. She says coaches Bobby Costello and Erik Duvander have been working with her on really letting the big Irish Leamore Master Plan go and cover the ground more. That practice certainly paid off today.

1:29 pm ET: 7 pairs remain who could conceivably take home the win this weekend. Stay tuned!

1:27 pm ET: Lovely gallop on CharmKing, piloted this weekend by Lillian Heard for Holly Payne Caravella.

1:25 pm ET: AP Prime always makes Advanced fences look like a Prelim round. Through the Eventing Nation Trakehner here:

1:22 pm ET: Arielle Aharoni and Dutch Times have a runout at the first Buckeye Angled Brush at 9. Joining us now are Leah Lang Gluscic and AP Prime.

1:21 pm ET: Good riding from Alyssa Phillips and Oskar at the out of the water at 13:

1:18 pm ET: Well sat for Missy Miller and a big pat on the out for Quinn at the VT Marion duPont EMC water:

1:17 pm ET: A lovely shot over the big Buckeye Brush Table for Missy Miller and Quinn:

1:13 pm ET: By the way, I owe everyone who I’ve missed mentioning on this thread (a lot) an apology. The intervals today mean there is a lot of action happening at once, so it’s a lot to keep up with! Live scores are being updated in real time here.

1:10 pm ET: “The horse didn’t even burn a calorie!” – Karen O’Connor after watching this ride through the Buckeye Angled Brushes at 9ABC by Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way:

1:09 pm ET: Emily Hamel posted on social media that Corvett started to tie up on the way back from show jumping this morning, so she has sadly withdrawn. Feel better soon, Barry!

1:05 pm ET: Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan finish double clear, the third of the day! They’ll finish their weekend on their dressage score of 35.3.

1:00 pm ET: Leamore Master Plan and Vermiculus show off their gallops:

12:59 pm ET: Erin Kanara brings Paddy the Caddy home just four seconds over the time. Vermiculus takes a little stutter step into the water with Lauren Nicholson at 13 but finishes the rest of the question well.

12:57 pm ET: Caitlin Silliman and Ally KGO have completed.

12:55 pm ET: A nice ride through the brushes at 9 for Erin and Paddy the Caddy:

12:55 pm ET: A stop at the coffin for Caitlin Silliman and Ally KGO. They’re clear on the second attempt.

12:54 pm ET: Erin Kanara is having to have some early discussions with Paddy the Caddy, who seems more interested in going fast than listening to half-halts early on. I feel you, buddy.

12:52 pm ET: Karen emphasizes the importance of practicing riding at speed. She says she can think of no reason not to practice that today with the ground as good as it is.

12:52 pm ET: A fly-by at the Buckeye Angled Brushes at 9ABC for Ally KGO and Caitlin Silliman.

12:50 pm ET: Mia Braundel sits chilly into the water with Cashmere:

12:47 pm ET: Kim and Cooley Cross Border are home clear but just a little too slow to take home the win today. It’s still a win for Kim, however, who has worked endlessly hard with Crossy through the years.

12:45 pm ET: Karen gives Kim some vocal encouragement after the coffin. She and Cooley Cross Border are clear through the final water as well as Annie’s Angled Cabins, the final combination.

12:43 pm ET: The gamble pays off for Phillip who turns in the second double clear of the day. Kim got herself outside of the gallop lane and had to make an abrupt circle but she’s back on track. She has about 20 seconds of time in hand to take the lead, so we’ll see how the rest plays out for her. She certainly isn’t hanging around.

12:40 pm ET: “Crossy” takes a second to understand the angled brush at 6AB but Kim shows her experience and allows for an extra stride to get it done. Meanwhile, Phillip is taking some risks aboard “Socs” with a few flyer spots later down on the course.

12:39 pm ET: Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border are on course! They could take over the lead with a clear, quick round.

12:36 pm ET: Phillip Dutton joins us now on the first ride of his own for this division, Sea of Clouds. Hannah Sue and Lukeswell are home clear after a great ride through Annie’s Angled Cabins, named for the late and beloved Ann Haller.

12:34 pm ET: A great shot through the Eventing Nation Trakehner combination for Kaelen Speck and Sweet Rebellion:

12:31 pm ET: Hannah Sue and Lukeswell show us that sharp right turn back from fence 2 to 3, which takes you away from the hub of activity.

12:29 pm ET: Whitney Mahloch and Military Mind have a stop at the coffin and have retired.

12:27 pm ET: Whitney Mahloch and Military Mind fall victim to this course’s fence 3 with a stop.

12:26 pm ET: A lovely ride through both the Salamander Coffin Complex as well as the final water at the MARS Sustainability Bay for Jennie Brannigan and the quick-footed Twilightslastgleam. This one can gallop!

12:21 pm ET: A great shot over the C element at 12 for Annie Goodwin and Federman B:

12:21 pm ET: Buck Davidson has withdrawn Errol Gobey.

12:17 pm ET: Will Coleman and TKS Cooley get a great shot over the Buckeye Brush Table at 9A:

12:17 pm ET: Holly Jacks Smither has withdrawn More Inspiration.

12:15 pm ET: Liz Halliday-Sharp gives Cooley Quicksilver some vocal encouragement through the final water as he reaches for the B and C elements.

12:14 pm ET: Our first double clear of the day! The first one in two years, in fact! This turned in by Ema Klugman and Bendigo, who had a positively smooth round.

12:11 pm ET: A tad sticky through the angled brushes at 9 for Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver.

12:08 pm ET: Lauren is giving us a lesson in quiet and effective riding here. The best riders don’t distract with their bodies and even when they get in trouble find the most effective position to accomplish the job.

12:06 pm ET: Lauren Kieffer and Paramount Importance survive a buckled landing at the table at 9. Well sat by Lauren and they recover nicely to take the angled brushes.

12:03 pm ET: Phillip is back with Boyd’s Rio partner, Blackfoot Mystery. These two show off their relaxed experience on the long pull up the hill:

12:01 pm ET: Marilyn Little finishes her weekend on a score of 28.2. At this point it’s very much still anyone’s game should they come home faster. Colleen turns in the quickest with just two seconds of time added. “Good man!” to “CR” over the last.

12:00 pm ET: Covert Rights gets a great big “GOOD BOY!” from Colleen who can always be heard encouraging her horses around every course.

11:58 am ET: Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous are home clear with a time of about 7:17. That should open the door for Kim Severson to step into the lead with a faster round. Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights are enjoying a quick footed round.

11:53 am ET: Lynn Symansky comments on the value of a horse that has a strong base of fitness. With this season being shortened the way it has, many riders haven’t done as much intensive fitness work as they would in a full season. So a horse with a stronger foundation of fitness will always serve you well in the long run.

11:52 am ET: We’re now joined by overnight leaders Marilyn Little and a keen looking RF Scandalous.

11:50 am ET: LCC Barnaby hunts the Bull Run Lincoln Logs at 7 like a timber horse:

11:48 am ET: Emily Beshear and Olney Uncle Sam have a drive-by at the first Buckeye Angled Brush at 9ABC and have retired. We’re joined on course by LCC Barnaby and Lillian Heard. I could watch this horse run cross country all day long.

11:45 am ET: Victoria Garland and FE Capricino have a small problem at the rails going into 12ABC but are clear on second attempt. She had a great run through the angled brushes at 9 and gave her horse big pats up the hill:

11:43 am ET: Hannah Sue turns in a ride about 9 seconds over with Harbour Pilot. Here’s her ride through the final combination at 20AB:

11:40 am ET: Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot are having a great run; a few discussions with “William” have him looking super rideable on the second half of the course. Meanwhile, a lovely ride through the 6AB combination for Tim Bourke and Quality Time:

11:35 am ET: I Bella grinds to a halt in front of the brush out of the water at 13. They’re clear on the representation.

11:33 am ET: Don Dante shows off that gallop with Will Coleman:

11:33 am ET: CCI3*S winner Lynn Symansky joins Sinead and Karen in the booth, telling us that the course rode super this morning but that the ground was a bit holding from yesterday’s rain.

11:31 am ET: Will Faudree makes a quick decision to change his line to the B element of the water at 13 and is clear through there with Pfun.

11:30 am ET: Phillip Dutton and Luke 140 are home clear with 10.4 time, a time of 7 minutes 11 seconds. We’re also joined by the two Wills, Coleman and Faudree, aboard Don Dante and Pfun, respectively.

11:29 am ET: Liz Halliday Sharp and the very experienced Fernhill By Night tackle the steep drop at 12:

11:24 am ET: Phillip and Luke 140 are off to a lovely start with efficient use of land and terrain. Karen warns that this angled brush combination, the Buckeye Brush Table and Angled Brush, won’t ride as easy as he makes it look:

11:20 am ET: I’m seeing Phillip Dutton and Luke 140, a Boyd Martin ride, circling the box so we may have a withdrawal or at least a delay of Buck and Copper Beach.

11:17 am ET: Welcome to the premier class finale of the weekend! We’re just getting set to start and waiting for the final adjustments to be made. Our first away will be Buck Davidson and Copper Beach, an experienced pair currently on a score of 35.7. Just 6.5 penalties separate the top 10, so we should be in for an exciting finish here.

Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Top of the morning to ya! I’m about three coffees in from my very early West coast alarm today, so pardon any additional excitement I may show during today’s cross country action. We’re in for some spectacular eventing today with the conclusion of the CCI3*S and CCI4*S here at MARS Great Meadow International. You’ll want to refresh this page periodically, as I’ll be adding live updates as the day unfolds.

In the CCI3*S class, we saw some gritty riding around yesterday’s Chris Barnard show jumping class. It’s due to be a hot, muggy morning in Virginia, and David O’Connor surely has some tricks up his sleeve to challenge riders around his tracks today.

You can reference a map of the CCI3*S track here. The optimum time for this course is 6 minutes and 27 seconds.

Our pathfinders this morning will once again be Marley Stone Burke and LVS Dassett Charisma, who lowered one rail yesterday to remain in the top 20 on a score of 39.1. Our overnight leaders Lynn Symansky and RF Cool Play will go out of the box closer to 11 am ET. We should be seeing horses sent out of the box on quicker intervals than originally scheduled to make room for an earlier finish so that we can beat some of that nasty heat and humidity.

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10:57 am ET: And that’s a wrap for the CCI3*S! Lynn Symansky and RF Cool Play are your winners and we have another all lady leaderboard to add! Here’s your final top 5. We’ll be back with a new live thread for the finale of the CCI4*S in just a short bit!

10:51 am ET: Allison Springer and Crystal Crescent Moon activate the frangible pin at the Piedmont Equine Open Oxer at 4. A great time to remind you that the USEA Frangible Fence Fund can still use your support!

10:49 am ET: Elizabeth Teufer turns in the third double clear of the day with Belongs to Teufer. Maya Black and Maks Mojo C have a disagreement at 6AB but they’re clear and showing off a lovely gallop.

10:45 am ET: A strong shot over this Brook Ledge Open Oxer for Elizabeth Bortuzzo and Belongs to Teufer:

10:45 am ET: Karen points out the importance of not allowing your foot to get behind your knee. “The horse will overpower you” at that point, so knowing how to keep your feet in front and slip the reins is an important skill and reaction to build for an event rider.

10:43 am ET: Kurt Martin and Compromise Elsewhere have unfortunately parted ways at fence 19. They both look to be fine, but still a bummer. Meanwhile, Amanda Beale Clement gives Carlson 119 a big pat after this gritty ride through 6AB:

10:41 am ET: And there’s your winner! Lynn Symansky and RF Cool Play turn in an absolute masterclass of technique and fitness to take home the CCI3*S win with a time of 6 minutes 42 seconds. They’ll finish their weekend on a 30.5.

10:38 am ET: Our second double clear of the day is turned in by Anna Loschiavo and Spartacus Q!

10:37 am ET: A lovely demonstration of riding out of rhythm from Lynn and RF Cool Play, owned by the Donner Syndicate.

10:35 am ET: Anna Loschiavo and Spartacus Q as well as Maddie McElduff and Spring Easy both have great clear rounds.

10:32 am ET: Buck gives Sorocaima big pats after the last. What a cool newer ride for him! We’ll be keeping an eye on this one. 13.2 time penalties added to this exciting 9 year old’s weekend. Now out of the box with 19 seconds in hand are our leaders Lynn Symansky and RF Cool Play.

10:29 am ET: Buck and the leggy Thoroughbred Sorocaima get a great shot over the Brook Ledge Open Oxer at 11.

10:26 am ET: Meg Pellegrini and RF Eloquence remain our sole double clear of the day. Emma Keaton and PS Duty Calls leave a leg at the log out of the final water at Sustainability Bay but they stay on their feet.

10:20 am ET: Kimberly Steinbach and Kosmo K take a flag at the Buckeye Brush Corners but they’re clear and pulling away up the hill.

10:18 am ET: Calli Lipping and Wild Affair are home clear with 7.6 time penalties. Gabby Dickerson and Journeyman get up and around the square Buckeye Brush Table at 8.

10:15 am ET: Liz Halliday Sharp and Cooley Be Cool take the clubhouse lead for now with two time penalties added and a provisional score of 32.2.

10:14 am ET: A problem at the oxer at 4 and at the Eventing Nation Trakehner for Heather Bush and Skyfall 007. They’ll retire for today and come back for another go next time.

10:12 am ET: Alex Reed turns in the second quickest of the day with a time of 6 minutes and 34 seconds aboard On Broadway.

10:10 am ET: Sinead makes a great point that every time we don’t meet a fence on rhythm, it takes away from both time and fitness. Rhythm is the basis of every good, effective cross country ride. Meanwhile, Liz Halliday Sharp shows off some speed with Cooley Be Cool.

10:08 am ET: Save of the day! Alex Reed keeps her head after a strong jump into the water at 13.

10:05 am ET: Horses are looking a little tired after the long pull uphill leading to the final part of the course. The terrain at Great Meadow is superb but does require tactful riding to come home with enough in the tank.

10:02 am ET: Lisa Barry and Rosie’s Aventadora show us a view of the third fence. Looking at the map, it looks like at fence three you make a sharper right turn to go away from the barns and warm-up. Perhaps this could explain some funky happenings at this fence.

9:58 am ET: Dang! Looks like Bradley Champagne has also parted ways from Wallaroo W also at the third fence. Sinead explains that after the first two fences, you turn back around to three and perhaps a nappy or herd bound horse might have some distraction here. Annie Goodwin and Mettraise almost have the course to themselves at this point, showing some grit here:

9:56 am ET: Mike Pendleton has pulled up The Fonz Himself at fence 19 the USEA Foundation FTF Table. The horse had begun to look tired a couple fences before, so this looks to be the right decision for the horse. Unfortunately it looks like Benita Strini has had a fall from Superstorm Sandy at fence 3. It sounds like the horse tried to glance off and Benita landed on her feet. Bummer for both.

9:53 am ET: Sinead talks about how fun it is to have a horse that really digs in on a good uphill gallop – The Fonz Himself demonstrates what this looks like:

9:50 am ET: Nicole Aden and Truckee Bash git ‘er done at the Eventing Nation Trakehner. This turn from the trakehner to the brush is a bit blind so we’ve seen a few scrappy rides here.

9:48 am ET: Tim Bourke is giving the young Quality Obsession a lovely, educational go here at Great Meadow.

9:47 am ET: Meg Pellegrini and RF Eloquence are our first double clear of the day! She is inside by two seconds to show us the time is possible!

9:43 am ET: Colleen Rutledge and Confidence Game remain our closest to the optimum time with her time of 6 minutes 36 seconds.

9:40 am ET: Sydney Hagaman carries 60 penalties to finish. Meg Pellegrini and RF Eloquence are out on course with us and having a cracking go so far.

9:37 am ET: Looks like Sydney is carrying two stops now. We’re also joined by Cindy Anderson Blank and Windchase Phoenix Star.

9:35 am ET: Daisy Trayford and Ermintrude go home with 14.0 time. Sydney Hagaman and Charmeur have had a runout – not sure where. Unfortunately it sounds like Phillip and Fernhill PickPocket parted ways at the last. Phillip is on his feet.

9:34 am ET: Phillip and Fernhill PickPocket are feeling themselves out there today:

9:30 am ET: Dana Cooke and FE Glamour have a runout at the Salamander Coffin Complex at 17.

9:27 am ET: 5.6 time penalties for Skyeler Voss and Argyle. Dana Cooke and FE Glamour keep their eye on the prize while navigating a little spook:

9:24 am ET: Another problem on course for Barrett and Whole Nine Yards, this time at the same brush corners that caught out Lauren Sumner. Clear on the second attempt. Natalia Neneman had a cracking round aboard Electric Lux – still waiting on her time.

9:23 am ET: Barrett Phillips has a problem at the brush after the Eventing Nation Trakehner at 6AB but they are clear on the second attempt.

9:22 am ET: A great shot to the Brookledge Open Oxer at 11 for Skyeler Voss and the lovely Thoroughbred Argyle.

9:20 am ET: Bummer. Lauren Sumner and Crossfire have two runouts at the Buckeye Brush Corners at 9AB. A third runout sadly sees them eliminated. In other news, it looks like Will Coleman has withdrawn third placed Chin Tonic.

9:19 am ET: A lovely quiet ride through the final water for Will and MTF Cooley Classic.

9:16 am ET: A couple keen gallops from Will Coleman’s MTF Cooley Classic and Lillian’s Dassett Olympus. Lillian came home with 15.6 time penalties.

9:15 am ET: 8.8 time penalties for Mike Pendleton and Bonito. Lillian Heard is having a lovely go aboard Dassett Olympus. Natalia Nenemen and Will Coleman are all also on course. A lot to keep up with here!

9:14 am ET: Sinead talks about using the natural lay of the ground to build a young horse’s confidence. Letting them gallop and find their balance downhill and not pushing them past their balance uphill are ways to naturally induce confidence.

9:10 am ET: A quicker round for Colleen and Confidence Game, finishing with 3.6 time – a time of 6:36, nine seconds over.

9:10 am ET: 10.8 time for our pathfinders Marley Stone Bourke. Only two pairs in this division made the time last year – Marley was traveling pretty well so we’ll see who can get home inside the time today.

9:08 am ET: Hey, that’s our jump! Mike Pendleton and Bonito make quick work of the Eventing Nation Trakehner combination at fence 6.

9:07 am ET: Colleen sees a great shot on Confidence Game:

9:03 am ET: Marley and LVS Dassett Charisma are having a cracking round so far. Huge shout out to the ring crew and volunteers for breaking down show jumping quick enough to clear the way for horses to gallop through!

9:00 am ET: Our first pair is all set to head into the box! Marley Stone Bourke and LVS Dassett Charisma will be our pathfinders. Both CCI3*S and CCI4*S will be run in numerical order.

Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

After a thrilling show jumping contest and a hefty delay caused by Mother Nature for our CCI3*S riders at MARS Great Meadow International, it’s time to see the premier class of the weekend battle it out on Chris Barnard’s testing track. The time allowed will be 83 seconds with 12 numbered fences consisting of 15 jumping efforts.

Some changes have been made to the schedule in light of the nearly three hour weather delay we experienced this afternoon. Now, the first half (34 horses total) of the CCI4*S will show jump this evening, with the second half jumping at 7:30 am ET tomorrow. David O’Connor says he expects cross country to still begin around the same time (I will confirm final times ASAP), which means we should see the first horse out on course around 12 noon ET. An updated Order of Go can be found here.

As usual, you can follow the action live with a Horse & Country TV+ subscription and/or refresh this page periodically for the latest.

Great Meadow International: [Website] [Schedule] [Live Stream] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Order of Go] [Live Scores]

8:43 am ET: A beautiful clear for Deniro Z to add nothing to his dressage score of 24.2. This will make for an lady led leaderboard, with the top four spots belonging to women heading into cross country. 16 seconds separate the top 10, so we’re surely in for a thrilling finale starting at 11:15 am. The field will run in reverse order for even more excitement. I’ll be back with you for CCI3*S cross country at 9 am ET!

8:41 am ET: One thing that bears the mark of Phillip’s extensive experience is how much of the arena he uses to settle his notoriously forward and sometimes sensitive horses. For as quickly as the questions seem to come up on Chris Barnard’s track, Phillip still finds the time to settle each ride in between fences. A good reminder to take a breath and take stock of where you’re at – the fences don’t have to come in a big blur! A clear round should move Fernhill Singapore up. Last in will be Liz Halliday Sharp and Deniro Z. I’m a big fan of this one!

8:40 am ET: Three down and 1.6 time for a score of 45.8 for Holly and Candy King. We’ll see Phillip back in with Fernhill Singapore, sitting on a dressage score of 27.4.

8:37 am ET: One down for Clayton Fredericks and FE Coldplay to give them a score of 30.6 heading into cross country later today. Next in will be Holly Jacks Smither and her second ride in this division, Candy King. They bring in a score of 32.2.

8:35 am ET: Charlotte and Clifford get a little close down the diagonal gymnastic type line, but they make it work and turn in a clear round.

8:33 am ET: A clear round for JM Durr and the real trier Tilikum. Next we will see Charlotte Collier and Clifford M. This pair should be a speedy one to watch on cross country later. They’ll come in with a score of 36.5.

8:30 am ET: Jennie adds another clear round to her books for the weekend with Stella Artois. This will move her into third place! Next up, John Michael Durr and Tilikum on a score of 35.5.

8:29 am ET: I believe I heard Brian O’Connor mention a time fault for Maya but I could be wrong. She was otherwise clear. Next in will be Jennie Brannigan and Stella Artois on a score of 25.2.

8:27 am ET: Bummer! That pesky second vertical in the treble comes down for Off the Record to drop them out of the second spot. That shuffles Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border up into second on their score of 22.1. Next in will be Maya Black and Miks Master C on a score of 28.1.

8:26 am ET: Second placed Will Coleman and Off the Record take the ring next. They’re right behind Marilyn on a score of 21.9.

8:25 am ET: Landmark Monte Carlo motors around and has two rails down.

8:23 am ET: Sinead talks about the fine line between getting the horse out in front of the leg without letting them run past you and lose balance. A rail down for Caroline and Danger Mouse will drop them down a bit. Lauren Nicholson and Landmark’s Monte Carlo are the next in. This will be a fun pair to watch on cross country. They bring in a score of 30.4.

8:20 am ET: Two rails down for Fylicia Barr and Galloway Sunrise. The triple combination is riding a bit tougher today, with the middle rail rubbing and/or coming down quite often this morning. Next in will be Caroline Martin with Danger Mouse on a score of 28.8.

8:18 am ET: Will Faudree and the super mare Caeleste will add no penalties to their dressage score of 32.9. Next in will be Fylicia Barr with Galloway Sunrise, winners of the Jersey Fresh CCI4*L last year.

8:17 am ET: A great clear for the super jumper C’est La Vie 135!

8:15 am ET: Next in will be Fair Hill CCI3*L winners Woods Baughman and C’est La Vie 135 on a 25.8.

8:14 am ET: Business Ben gets a bit fresh and strong with Allison to lower a few rails. This is one that perhaps would have benefitted from running cross country first.

8:13 am ET: Allison Springer and Business Ben are next forward on a score of 31.1.

8:12 am ET: Cute jumper, this Flash Cooley horse. Reminds me of a Ferrari. A clear round for this pair!

8:11 am ET: A nice clear for Phillip and Z. Next will be Liz Halliday Sharp with Flash Cooley, on a score of 30.8.

8:09 am ET: One down and a second of time to add for a score of 40.3 for Katherine Brown and Victor Z 54. Next in will be Phillip Dutton and Z on a score of 27.9.

8:06 am ET: A clear round for Kevin and Sportsfield Candy!

8:04 am ET: Jennie Brannigan and Alyssa Phillips’ Bliss III add no penalties to their dressage score of 27.9. We’ll see Kevin Keane with Sportsfield Candy in the ring next looking to bolster their dressage score of 31.1.

8:01 am ET: I love that “slingshot” effect around a turn when the rider sees a nice forward stride – it makes for a great jump. Lillian is another with a forward style of riding that really serves her well on cross country. A lovely clear for CharmKing to add nothing to the dressage score of 29.8.

7:59 am ET: Leah Lang Gluscic and her veteran partner, AP Prime, look like a million bucks this year. They’ve been chipping away with some help from Karen O’Connor, and the off-track Thoroughbred just continues to look better. Just a single bummer of a rail down and I believe some time to add to their dressage score of 36.7. Next in we’ll see Lillian Heard, piloting Holly Payne Caravella’s CharmKing.

7:57 am ET: Sinead tells us the cool story of Arielle Aharoni and Dutch Times; Arielle’s mother, Chris, purchased the horse as a three year old when she didn’t have the budget to buy something “made”. Chris, Sinead, and Tik Maynard all had a hand in producing the horse through the levels, and now Arielle has the ability to continue to progress as a young rider. Great team effort! One down for this super pair.

7:55 am ET: Clear for Alyssa and her super jumper Oskar. Next in will be Arielle Aharoni and Dutch Times on a score of 36.4.

7:52 am ET: Missy Miller and Quinn add two rails to their dressage score of 38.8 for a two phase score of 46.8. Next in we will see Alyssa Phillips and Oskar, coming forward with a dressage score of 30.7.

7:51 am ET: Emily Hamel and her unique jumper Corvett are our next in. This horse has a very exuberant jumping style that often jumps the pair right out of the camera frame, but they’re super fun to watch. They add one rail to their score of 37.0.

Boing!

7:48 am ET: Karen talks about the importance and value of producing young horses correctly that can go on to be successful with other riders. She references Daniel Clasing as one such rider who has the ability to produce horses with the right mouth and right brain to be finished by others. Daniel is in the ring now with MW Gangster’s Game, on a score of 27.0; they’ll add one rail for a two phase score of 31.0.

7:47 am ET: Just one rail down, the red and black vertical at fence 4 that had a few weird issues yesterday, for Sydney and Early Review C. It looked like perhaps the horses weren’t quite reading it right.

7:45 am ET: Two down for Jules and Cooley O. We’ll see Sydney Solomon and Early Review C in next with a score of 43.5.

7:43 am ET: One down with one second of time for a score of 41.2. Next in will be Jules Batters and Cooley O on a score of 33.1.

7:41 am ET: Our first clear of the morning for Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan! They’ll remain on their dressage score of 35.3. We’ll see Lauren Lambert and Fantastique next in on a score of 36.8.

7:40 am ET: These first few rides have seen a few more poles on the ground than yesterday. Could be the fog, could be the course’s “easier” reputation from yesterday, could be the early morning…any number of factors. Next in we’ll see Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan. As an FYI, Emily Beshear and Deal With It have withdrawn.

7:37 am ET: One down for Vermiculus to drop them down a hair for a 29.6 heading into cross country later on. Next in will be, out of order, Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way, coming in on a score of 38.0.

7:35 am ET: Two down for Victoria. Next in will be Lauren Kieffer and the Anglo Arabian Vermiculus, on a score of 25.6, currently in sixth. Check out the fog during Victoria’s ride:

7:33 am ET: It’s very foggy this morning! We’re getting ready for the start with our first horse on course. We’ll get started a bit out of order with Victoria Garland and FE Capricino, coming forward on a score of 41.1.

7:19 am ET:

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Last day at Great Meadows.

A post shared by Terry Bentley (@bentley001) on Aug 23, 2020 at 3:42am PDT

8/23 7:13 am ET: Good morning, all! Here’s a look at the remaining order of go for this morning’s show jumping finisher:

7:31 pm ET: Here’s an updated look at division start times tomorrow:

Updated start times for #MARSGMI tomorrow:
7:30 am ET: CCI4* SJ (2nd half)
9 am ET: CCI3*S XC
11:15 am ET: CCI4*S XC

— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) August 22, 2020

7:20 pm ET: That’s a wrap on the first part of CCI4*S show jumping! Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous will safely hold their lead, but the majority of the top 10 still remains to be seen after tomorrow morning’s finish. Then we’ll move ahead to cross country at approximately 11:15 am ET. I will work on confirming an updated timetable and update our links accordingly. I’ll also continue updates on the CCI4*S show jumping on this same thread beginning at 7:30 am ET tomorrow. Thanks for tuning in!

7:18 pm ET: Like the badass that she is, Erin finishes the second half of her course without her right stirrup, adding another clear to Paddy the Caddy’s outstanding record.

7:15 pm ET: Our last pair to see this evening will be veteran campaigners Erin Kanara and Paddy the Caddy. They bring forward a 26.5 which places them inside the top 10 after dressage.

7:13 pm ET: Ally KGO puts in an athletic stretch over the oxer at three and then has an unfortunate stop at the vertical at fence four. Karen and Sinead surmised that perhaps the mare spooked herself a bit with the big effort at three. This has been a lovely horse for Caitlin to produce, we’ll certainly see much more from this pair. They’ll go forward to tomorrow with a score of 43.9.

7:09 pm ET: Alyssa Peterson and R-Perfect Storm have the last rail down for a heartbreaker. They’ll go forward on a score of 48.8 with two down. Next in will be Mia Braundel and Cashmere, who lower 4 rails for a two phase score of 60.7. Our penultimate pair of the day are Caitlin Silliman and Ally KGO.

7:07 pm ET: A lovely clear from Kim and “Crossy”! We love seeing this pair back in action this year.

7:06 pm ET: Next in will be Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border coming in on a score of 22.1 in third place overnight.

7:05 pm ET: A nice shot in to the diagonal line for Kaelen:

7:03 pm ET: A handful of rails and a stop for Whitney and Military Mind. They’ll look ahead for some redemption tomorrow! Next in will be Kaelen Speck with Sweet Rebellion on a score of 34.8.

7:00 pm ET: Sinead points out that there definitely could be a strong advantage to the fact that these horses are jumping fresh, ahead of cross country. With a more gymnastic feeling track full of related distances and combinations, it could easily take much more out of horses coming in to this phase last. Of course, some horses are also less rideable when they haven’t exorcised their demons on cross country yet.

7:00 pm ET: Phillip Dutton and Sea Of Clouds add nothing to their dressage score of 32.4 with a confident clear round. Next in will be Whitney Mahloch and Military Mind bringing forward their dressage score of 32.2.

6:58 pm ET: No penalties added for this keen pair!

6:55 pm ET: Jennie and Twighlightslastgleam rub the second element of the triple and the last fence, but they’re home clear to add nothing to their 33.3 dressage score. That’s 17 clear rounds so far with 9 more riders to see this evening. Next we’ll see Lucienne Elms and Diamond Duette on a score of 36.1.

6:53 pm ET: One rail down for Lauren Nicholson and Paramount Importance. Next in are Jennie Brannigan and Twilightslastgleam, a horse she’s produced since his younger years. This one has a gallop you’ll want to watch tomorrow!

6:50 pm ET: Buck demonstrates what’s known as the “driving rein” with Errol Gobey, which helps provide some additional elasticity in the elbow. This pair turns in yet another clear! Now we’ll see Lauren Nicholson with Paramount Importance, coming in on a dressage score of 32.7.

6:48 pm ET: Karen walks us through the diagonal line on this track which features an oxer on the in and the out and a two-stride in the middle. Challenging and intimidating to see, but riding overall quite well. A lovely clear added from Annie and Federman B. That’s our 16th double clear of the day! For comparison, last year’s CCI4*S had 12 double clear rounds in total. Next in will be Buck Davidson returning with Errol Gobey on a 34.5.

6:47 pm ET: Will and TKS Cooley will add no penalties to their dressage score of 35.2 with a clear round. Now in will be Annie Goodwin and Federman B on a score of 36.6.

6:46 pm ET: Nothing can stop me I’m all the way up…

Will Coleman and TKS Cooley.

6:45 pm ET: Another clear for Hannah Sue and Lukeswell! That’s a total of four double clear rounds today for Hannah Sue, well done!

6:42 pm ET: Two rails down for Holly and “Morris” for a two day score of 44.4. Next in will be Hannah Sue Burnett on a quick turnaround with the very talented Lukeswell bringing forward a score of 33.6.

6:41 pm ET: Next in will be Canadian pair Holly Jacks Smither and More Inspiration. Fun fact, Holly also dabbles in boxing as her second sport of choice!

6:40 pm ET: Big fan of this horse’s pleasant expression. Liz and Cooley Quicksilver will be no worse than eighth going into tomorrow’s finale with nothing added.

6:49 pm ET: A clear round for Ema and Bendigo! Next in are Liz Halliday-Sharp with Cooley Quicksilver on a score of 26.1.

6:37 pm ET: Nothing added to Blackfoot Mystery’s dressage score of 30.2 with Phillip. Next in will be Ema Klugman and Bendigo on a score of 41.8.

6:35 pm ET: Mallory Hogan and Clarissa Purisima get the biggest cheer of the day so far with a clear round! A 40.4 will be their score heading into cross country. Next in are Phillip with Boyd’s Rio’s partner, Blackfoot Mystery.

6:33 pm ET: Colleen Rutledge is thrilled with a clear round with 1.2 time aboard Covert Rights. This horse’s show jumping career has had some ups and downs, and this round should be a great boost for this pair. They’ll go forward with 29.7.

6:32 pm ET: Marilyn and “Kitty” add another clear to their resume to retain their lead heading into tomorrow’s finale.

6:31 pm ET: A great quote from Sinead: “The horses don’t mind what decision you make, as long as you make the decision.”

6:27 pm ET: One down and one second over the time allowed for a two day score of 41.9 for Lillian and LCC Barnaby. Next in will be overnight leaders Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous. They do not have a rail in hand on their dressage score of 21.8. Will Coleman and Off the Record sit in second breathing down their necks on a 21.9.

6:26 pm ET: Another clear! Emily and Olney Uncle Sam make quick work of Chris Barnard’s track to add no penalties. We’ll now see Lillian Heard and one of my personal favorite cross country horses, LCC Barnaby.

6:24 pm ET: Yet another clear laid down by Tim Bourke and Quality Time to add nothing to their dressage of 38.3. Now in are Emily Beshear with Olney Uncle Sam who bring a score of 34.1 to the show jumping. We’ve skipped Lucienne Elms and Mistralou in the order of go.

6:23 pm ET: Like a fine wine, “William” and Hannah Sue Burnett just keep solidifying their partnership. A masterclass and a little bit of 17 year old play at the end!

6:20 pm ET: Jennie Brannigan and I Bella add another clear to the pile to remain on their dressage score of 40.1. Next in will be Hannah Sue Burnett and her veteran partner, Harbour Pilot, coming in on a 26.8.

6:18 pm ET Another clear, this one for Will and Don Dante.

6:15 pm ET: Clear inside the time for Will and Jennifer Mosing’s Pfun, who is such a nice classic jumper. Lovely! Next up are Will Coleman and Don Dante on a score of 40.8.

6:13 pm ET: Another strong clear from Liz and “Blackie” as we now move to Will Faudree and Pfun on a score of 35.0. The time allowed has been adjusted to 81 seconds (originally 83).

6:12 pm ET: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night are our next pair in, on a score of 31.7.

6:11 pm ET: A masterful ride for Phillip and Luke. Sorry, Boyd, I don’t think your horse has much scope to spare…

6:09 pm ET: One down for Buck and “Sean” for an overnight score of 35.7. Next in will be Phillip Dutton filling in for Boyd Martin aboard Luke 140. This pair has a score of 28.0 forward.

6:08 pm ET: And we are getting set to get underway! Getting us started are Buck Davidson and Copper Beach, coming forward on a score of 31.7.

6:01 pm ET: Looks like we’re just wrapping up a final drag and hopefully we’ll get started soon.

Spotted: a very familiar face! Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Well, EN, it has been a hot dumpster fire minute since I’ve last done a live update for an event, and let me tell you how excited I am to be back in action. We’re getting ready to kick off the live action from MARS Great Meadow International in The Plains, VA, starting with the CCI3*-S riders in the show jumping ring at 12:20 pm ET / 9:20 am PT.

You can follow along with a Horse & Country TV+ subscription (which, as a bonus, will also be streaming action from Burgham in the UK this weekend) – click here to see the schedule and learn more. If you’re able to, I highly recommend tuning in to the livestream at some point this weekend. We have the privilege of Karen O’Connor and Sinead Maynard in the commentary booth, and there is always so much to learn from this duo simply by listening to their observations. In the meantime, or if you’re otherwise occupied, you can reference this post for the latest action. Please refresh this page periodically, as new updates will appear at the top.

A big shout-out to organizing team David O’Connor, Darrin Mollett, Max Corcoran, Steven Symansky, Karen O’Connor, Punkin Lee, and Donna Devadas for the skills it took to coordinate the sixth running of #MARSGMI. With so many event cancelations and changes in 2020, this team has had to pivot in more ways than one to accommodate the demand for a place to compete. Hats off to you, team!

Our show jumping courses this weekend are designed by Chris Barnard. We’ll be updating you on both the CCI3*S as well as the 10-horse field of the CCI3*L right here for you. Click here to catch up on the dressage report from the CCI4*S and CCI3*S. Here’s a look at the course riders will be tackling:

Great Meadow International: [Website] [Schedule] [Live Stream] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Order of Go] [Live Scores]

5:31 pm ET: Thanks for hanging in there with us today! We’ll be back in about 20 minutes with the first half of the CCI4*S show jumping. Here is your final CCI3*L leaderboard:

5:29 pm ET: And she’s done it! A wonderful win for Sharon White and Claus 63 on a final score of 31.1!

5:23 pm ET: Fun story, I once competed against Ben Noonan. When he was about 1/3 of the size he is now, in a Starter division back home in Area IV. Now, Ben is 6’2″ and a monster of a rider and it’s been such a thrill to watch him grow and develop under the O’Connor system. Ben and Keep Kitty have one mistake for a rail down and will finish on at least third place with a 35.2. Now, will see see Sharon White and Claus 63 take home the win?

5:23 pm ET: A clear for Kimmy and Bishop – sorry to keep focusing on this jump but I mean…

5:20 pm ET: Bummer, Katherine and Carnaby lower two of the finishing triple, but a lovely round to watch overall. Next in will be Kimmy Cecere and Bishop de Selah.

5:19 pm ET: Rebecca and Fernhill Fortitude will finish their weekend on a score of 42.7 with two rails down. Next in we’ll see Katherine Brown and the 7 year old Carnaby. This pair brings forward a score of 34.2 in fourth place.

5:16 pm ET: A lovely jumping effort from Fidelius 35. One rail added to their score for a finishing score of 39.7. Karen and Sinead both agree that this is one they’d like to take a spin on. Now in the ring are Rebecca Brown and former Jenny Caras ride Fernhill Fortitude.

5:14 pm ET: A nice clear and an improvement on this horse’s record for Alex and I Spye. Next in are Charlotte Collier and Fidelius 35 on a 35.7.

5:12 pm ET: A finishing score of 63.1 with one rail down for Jorgen and Northern Quest Lady’s Man. Next up will be Alex Baugh and I Spye on a score of 39.9.

5:10 pm ET: Two rails down for Melanie Smith and Shakedown Street to finish their weekend on a 70.1. Now in the ring are Jorgen Olijslager and Northern Quest Lady’s Man.

5:08 pm ET: We’re going to stick with you here for the CCI3*L, which should be kicking off soon. We’ll see 9 horses in this field – here’s a look at standings following yesterday’s cross country:

5:01 pm ET: David O’Connor joined the commentary booth to run through the decision making process during the thunderstorm delay today. Heat and humidity played a factor – David says the organizing team wanted to prioritize getting finished as early as possible tomorrow. Therefore, the decision to run half of the CCI4*S tonight was made in an effort to get cross country started around the same time as originally scheduled. The intervals between riders will also be reduced on cross country. Many thanks to the organizers, riders, grooms, officials, and volunteers for their hard work and flexibility!

5:00 pm ET: That will do it for the CCI3*S! Here’s a look at your top 10 following cross country:

4:58 pm ET: Just the very last down for Allison and the exuberant Crystal Crescent Moon. A 36.7 for this pair to head into cross country.

4:57 pm ET: One down for Maya and Maks Mojo C for an overnight score of 37.3. Our last to see in this division will be Allison Springer and Crystal Crescent Moon on a score of 32.7.

4:53 pm ET: Samantha Tinney and Glenbrook Cooley live a little dangerously at the vertical at 5 but kick on down for a good rider over the big, square liverpool. 12 jumping and some time for this pair for a two day score of 47.9. Next in we’ll see Maya Black and Majs Mojo C on a score of 33.3.

4:51 pm ET: Elizabeth Bortuzzo and Belongs to Teufer putter to a stop in front of an early vertical and have three rails down. Bummer, they’ll be looking for redemption tomorrow.

4:50 pm ET: One down for Amanda Beale Clement and Carlson 119. This will drop them down on a score of 34.9, but this was one of the loveliest and most flowing rides of the day.

4:47 pm: Sorocaima takes a couple of rubs through the treble at the end, but he and Buck turn in a clear round to remain on a 33.3. Not bad for the poor guy, who had his face kicked in not even a month ago. Cheers, Buck!

4:45 pm: A lovely clear turned in from Kurt Martin and Compromise Elsewhere who will take their dressage score of 33.7 into cross country. Next up, Buck Davidson and Sorocaima.

4:44 pm ET: And we have a new leader! Lynn and “Coolio” will take the overnight lead, rain delays be damned, adding nothing to their dressage score of 24.5.

4:40 pm ET: We now will see Lynn Symansky and her 2019 Pan American Games partner RF Cool Play, who have a chance to take the provisional lead with a clear round.

4:39 pm ET: Karen talks a lot about the shape of the horse over the fence and the importance of giving them the ability to jump correctly. A tactful ride from Anna to finish with two rails and four seconds of time.

4:38 pm ET: Next up will be Anna Loschiavo and Spartacus Q on a score of 36.3.

4:36 pm ET: Another veteran five-star campaigner, Spring Easy (formerly piloted by Caroline Martin) is now in with Maddie McElduff. They’re on a first day score of 38.2.

4:35 pm ET: One down for Katie and Yarrow to bring them to a two day score of 35.9. The related distances that Chris Barnard has set up has kept riders on their toes, but the time seems to be achievable without needing to go pedal to the metal.

4:33 pm ET: Next up will be Katie Lichten and Yarrow bringing forward a score of 31.9.

4:31 pm ET Emma Keahon and PS Duty Calls swim a bit through the oxer at 7. It’s tough to get going again after a lengthy break. A big jump and great recovery on the re-attempt.

4:29 pm ET: We are back underway! Gabby Dickerson and Journeyman were our first in and now we see Kimberly Steinbach and Kosmo K, who lowered one pole for a score of 43.1. As an update to the schedule, we’ll see the rest of the CCI3*S and the CCI3*L finale, followed by the first half of the CCI4*S. The remaining CCI4*S horses will show jump tomorrow morning at 7:30 am ET.

4:24 pm ET: Ok, we have an update! Great Meadow has just posted a new update on its Facebook page saying that we’ll resume show jumping at 4:30 pm ET to finish out the CCI3*S, jump the CCI3*L riders, and then see 34 of the CCI4*S horses. No word yet on the finalized schedule for tomorrow with this adjustment.

3:51 pm ET: Thanks for hanging in there with us! Here’s the most recent check on the radar. Everything on Great Meadow’s social media indicates no updates on an ETA for resuming competition.

Screenshot via Weather.com.

3:18 pm ET: An updated look at the radar:

Screenshot via Weather.com.

2:56 pm ET: Rain shots are some of my favorites:

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Morning Glory SE didn’t mind show jumping in a downpour 🌧. Erin Kanara was one of the last to go in the CCI3*-S before the weather delay. #MARSGMI

A post shared by U.S. Eventing Association (@useventing) on Aug 22, 2020 at 11:54am PDT

2:53 pm ET: Looks like we might be waiting for this next band to pass through:

Screenshot via Weather.com.

2:47 pm ET: Well… just kidding. Looks like we’re going to stick in a relay delay until further notice.

2:43 pm ET: We should be getting close to starting back up again. Our first to see after the delay will be Gabby Dickerson and Journeyman, bringing forward a score of 33.1 and currently in 16th place.

2:25 pm ET: Looks like we’ll be getting back underway at 2:45 pm ET!

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Show jumping will resume at 2:45 PM EST!

A post shared by Great Meadow International (@greatmeadowinternational) on Aug 22, 2020 at 11:18am PDT

2:15 pm ET Hats off to this commentating dream team, Karen O’Connor and Sinead Maynard!

1:58 pm ET: Let’s chat on Twitter! What’s your best advice for getting stuck in a delay while you’re in warm-up? Join the convo on this Twitter thread:

Alright EN, while we’re waiting out the lightning at #MARSGMI, let’s hear your best advice (we’re also game for awkward or embarrassing stories…) for rain delays in the warm-up! ⛈️

— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) August 22, 2020

1:56 pm ET: A quick look at the lovely weather we’re having today…

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Well the cloud cover stayed, in the wrong sort of way 😭😭

A post shared by Fitness Eventing (@fitnesseventing) on Aug 22, 2020 at 10:41am PDT

1:34 pm ET: Here’s a look at the remaining Order of Go for the CCI3*S while we wait out the lightning:

1:30 pm ET Fist bumps for Calli, who had to hang on for dear life in the slop but she and Wild Affair make a great effort. They have 5 rails down and now there will be a lightning hold for the time being while we wait for the worst of this storm to pass.

1:28 pm ET: 12 jumping penalties for Calli Lipping and Wild Affair. Next in, Heather Bush and Skyfall 007 on a score of 38.4.

1:26 pm ET: A classy round from Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Be Cool. They’ll turn in the seventh clear of the day to remain on a score of 30.2. Our clear rounds today have so far come from: Bradley Champagne and Wallaroo W, Natalia Neneman and Electric Lux, Lillian Heard and Dassett Olympus, Erin Kanara and Morning Glory SE, Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Be Cool, Sydney Hagaman and Charmeur, and Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Pick Pocket.

1:23 pm ET: I’ve always really loved Erin Kanara’s forward style of riding. Her horses seem to operate very much in front of the leg and you can always expect a nice, foward round from her rides. A clear round for Erin and Morning Glory SE for a 30.9 overnight.

1:21 pm ET The rain is really coming down now! A nice round from Alex Reed and On Broadway, with two down for an overnight score of 39.4.

1:18 pm ET: Karen O’Connor talks about the importance of finding “the root of the problem” when you have an issue, whether it be on course or at home. Don’t just rely on heavier bits; rather, spend some time seeking out the root problem. Remember: every issue is likely symptomatic of a hole or something else missing elsewhere.

1:16 pm ET: Our fourth clear from Bradley and Wallaroo W! Bradley does a wonderful job with this big, rangy horse, who has quite an unorthodox jumping style but plenty of scope to burn.

1:14 pm ET One down for Benita Strini and Superstorm Sandy for a two phase score of 36.5. A lovely rainy round! Next in, Bradley Champagne and Wallaroo W, bringing forward a score of 34.6.

1:11 pm ET Katie Lichten and Sapphire Blue B turn in a great ride in the rain. I saw one rail fall – apologies as scores have fallen a bit behind so I may not be the most accurate at the moment!

1:09 pm ET: Annie Goodwin and former Erin Kanara ride Mettraise bear the misfortune of going in right as the rain starts pelting. Three down for this pair

1:05 pm ET: The Fonz Himself shows off some quick footwork to leave this vertical rail up midway through with Mike Pendleton. They do have one down but an otherwise workmanlike round for a score of 32.9. We’re starting to get some heavier rain now.

1:04 pm ET: Nicole Aden and Truckee Bash have three down.

1:00 pm ET: Karen O’Connor points out that there were just 10 clear rounds in the 2019 running of the CCI3*S here. Will we beat that number today? We have two clear rounds so far with plenty of pairs left to give it a whirl.

12:59 pm ET: One down and a lucky rub for Tim Bourke and Quality Obsession. This gives the pair a 43.6 to take into tomorrow’s cross country.

12:57 pm ET: A single down for West coast transplants Meg Pellegrini RF Eloquence for a 36.6 two-phase score.

12:55 pm ET: One down for overnight leaders Will Coleman and Chin Tonic. This will put them on a score of 27.9. This will move Phillip and Fernhill Pick Pocket up and leave Lynn Symansky and RF Cool Play in defense of the lead.

12:51 pm ET: A couple of rails midway through for Cindy Anderson-Blank and Windchase Phoenix Star will put this pair on a score of 38.7.

12:50 pm ET: Sydney Hagaman and Charmeur have a lovely round for the fourth clear of the day. This pair will be no worse than fourth going into cross country tomorrow on a score of 28.1.

How to ride a liverpool, demonstrated by Sydney Hagaman.

12:48 pm ET: Phillip wastes no time and turns in our third clear of the day.

12:46 pm ET: Daisy Trayford and Ermintrude have two down. Next in is third placed Phillip Dutton with Fernhill Pick Pocket, coming in on a score of 26.0.

12:44 pm ET: Lots of Thoroughbreds this weekend! Barrett Phillips and Whole Nine Yards have three down for a two day score of 53.7. Dana Cooke and FE Glamour have two down for a 47.2.

12:39 pm ET Skyeler shows her experience with Argyle, who wanted to take a look at some of the banners on the rail, settling in for just one rail down to finish strong.

12:37 pm ET: Lauren Sumner and Crossfire leave a few rails on the ground and will look for a redeeming cross country tomorrow. Next in we’ll see Skyeler Voss and Argyle.

12:34 pm ET Natalia Neneman and Electric Lux turn in a super round with no penalties. A great example of how to ride a forward, sensitive horse without interfering.

12:41 pm ET: Lots of Thoroughbreds to be seen this weekend! Barrett Phillips and Whole Nine Yards have three down for a two day score of 53.7.

12:32 pm ET: Lillian and Dassett Olympus turn in the first clear round of the CCI3*S! Lovely ride!

12:30 pm ET: Mike Pendleton and the very enthusiastic jumping Bonito also have two down. Now in are Lillian Heard and Dassett Olympus.

12:28 pm ET: Two down for Colleen and Confidence Game. Chris Barnard’s tough but fair courses have a great reputation for testing riders, and we’ve seen plenty of those lessons learned already today. But, this Thoroughbred stallion of Colleen’s certainly isn’t lacking in scope:

12:25 pm ET: Two down for Will and his first ride for this division. We’ll see him back on overnight leader Chin Tonic a bit later on. Next in are Colleen Rutledge and a keen looking Confidence Game.

12:23 pm ET: Just one down for Marley and LVS Dassett Charisma. They’ll take a 39.1 into tomorrow’s cross country. Next up, we have Will Coleman jumping out of order with MTF Cooley Classic. This pair brings forward a score of 34.4.

12:21 pm ET: And we are underway! Our first pair to see is Marley Stone Bourke and LVS Dassett Charisma, coming forward in 26th place on a dressage score of 35.1.