We’re just about set to kick off CCI4* cross country at Luhmühlen, and Mike Etherington-Smith certainly has plenty up his sleeve to test the riders today.
Cross country has concluded for the CIC3*, where we saw Hannah Sue Burnett and Ms. Jacqueline Mars’ RF Demeter go into 24th place with 4.8 time added across the country. You can read Wylie’s full report on the CIC3* here.
Our U.S. contingent is currently vying for competitive spots on the leaderboard and we’re looking forward to cheering them on this morning. Refresh this page for the latest, and you can also tune in to watch live on FEI TV. You can also take a look at EN’s cross country course preview here. Optimum time for the CCI4* today is 11:11 — make a wish, everyone!
U.S. cross country ride times:
Sharon White and Cooley On Show: CLEAR with 2.8 time
Katherine Coleman and Longwood: CLEAR with 2.4 time
Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous: CLEAR with 6.4 time
Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot: CLEAR inside the time
Will Coleman and Obos O’Reilly: CLEAR inside the time
11:15 a.m.: Update! Marilyn Little’s 50 penalties for missing a flag have been removed, which puts her on a score of 44.8 and into ninth place overnight behind Hannah Sue Burnett. That means that the U.S. went 6 for 6 in clear rounds today, including Hannah Sue Burnett’s ride on RF Demeter in the CIC3*.
10:45 a.m.:
10:37 a.m.: Here is your top five following cross country. Hannah Sue Burnett is the top placed American in 8th place, followed by Will Coleman and OBOS O’Reilly in 11th, Sharon White and Cooley On Show in 20th, Katherine Coleman and Longwood in 26th and Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous in 39th. We will keep our eyes out for the 50 penalties being taken away, but as of now they are still standing. Stay tuned for Wylie’s full report!
10:36 a.m.: He didn’t quite catch Hannah Sue but Andreas Dibowski holds onto sixth place with a sub-11 minute time today.
10:34 a.m.: Andreas Dibowski is giving Hannah Sue a run for her money, coming through the arena just over 8 minutes on the clock.
10:32 a.m.:
10:31 a.m.: Our final pair is on course, Caroline Powell and Sinatra Frank Baby. Love that name.
10:30 a.m.:
10:26 a.m.: Looking to defend their 6th place position following dressage, Andreas Dibowski and FRH Butts Avedon are away.
10:25 a.m.: Andrew Nicholson pilots Teseo home in 10:59, the second rider besides Hannah Sue to come home under 11 minutes. This will be one to watch for Andrew!
10:21 a.m.: Frankie hangs a leg with Peter Flarup at 7 — this is the second time we’ve seen this, at least in the shots we have seen at this fence — and Peter pulls on his sticky britches and makes the save for the B element.
10:19 a.m.: Flora Harris gives Bayano some verbal encouragement at the final water. This horse has been a pleasure to watch on course today.
10:16 a.m. As of right now, Marilyn Little’s 50 penalties for missing the flag are still showing.
10:14 a.m.: We’re getting towards the end of cross country for the day and now we will see Andrew Nicholson and Teseo, an 11-year-old Spanish gelding contesting his first CCI4*.
10:13 a.m.: Bettina Hoy will maintain her lead with a clear round inside the time aboard Designer 10. Just as a reminder, Bettina is also leading the CIC3* with Seigneur Medicott. It will be quite the finale tomorrow!
10:09 a.m.: And that’s another clear inside the time, this time for Will and Oboe! Well done, gentlemen and what a banner day for our U.S. riders. Meanwhile, Bettina Hoy is still riding her guts out to chase that clock on Designer 10. They’re clear through the arena and the following arrowhead brush at 24.
10:08 a.m.: Coming to the final at 10 minutes on the clock are Will and OBOS O’Reilly who still look full of run.
10:07 a.m.:
10:07 a.m.: Will is clear and just three from home!
10:05 a.m.: We just caught a shot of Will and OBOS O’Reilly through the water at 18/19 looking keen! Go boys go!
10:04 a.m.: Whew! Designer 10 hangs a leg at 9A, pitching Bettina up the neck but she hangs on and makes it work for the B. Stickability!
10:03 a.m.: Biarritz goes to his knees in the arena and Camilla Kruger pulls him up. He looked sound walking off, a good decision to save her horse for the next go round. Will is clear through the water at 18/19.
10:02 a.m.: Will is clear through 12. And our leaders are now on course! Bettina Hoy and Designer 10 need to go quick to maintain their lead.
10:00 a.m.: ICYMI, Will received the Land Rover Ride of the Day at Rolex in 2015, so we know that both horse and rider are more than capable of putting in a clear round inside the time.
9:58 a.m.: Away and over the first three are Will Coleman and OBOS O’Reilly! This pair earned a 48.1 in the dressage.
9:56 a.m.: Zimbabwe Olympian Camilla Kruger is clear through the first water aboard Biarritz.
9:53 a.m.: Will Coleman and OBOS O’Reilly will be the next out of the box. Overnight leaders Bettina Hoy and Designer 10 will follow Will.
9:53 a.m.:
9:52 a.m.:
9:52 a.m. Maxime Livio and Opium de Verrieres are on course and clear through the first two combinations.
9:51 a.m.:
9:50 a.m.:
9:50 a.m.: Karen O’Connor is now joining the commentary party!
9:48 a.m.: Damn! Astier Nicolas becomes the first fall of the day, parting ways from Molakai at the water at 19. Molokai slammed on the brakes at the brush at the final element, pitching Astier out the front door and depositing him onto the brush. Bummer.
9:44 a.m.:
9:43 a.m.: Hannah Sue and Harbour Pilot’s time of 10:45 is by far the quickest turn of foot we’ve seen all day. And deservedly so, Hannah meant business on the back side of every fence. Gritty cross country riding at its finest.
9:42 a.m.
9:40 a.m.: “She could stop and have a picnic and still make the time,” says John Kyle as Hannah Sue comes to the last. She is inside the time and adds nothing to her dressage score of 44.5! Hannah will be positively over the moon with both of her rides today (she also went clear on RF Demeter in the CIC3*).
9:39 a.m. Hannah Sue Burnett is clocking one of the quicker paces of the day as she carefully negotiates the final water.
9:37 a.m.: Julia finishes easily under the time, meaning Bettina has just 2 seconds of time in hand. Hannah Sue is riding positively and clear through 24.
9:36 a.m.: Hannah Sue Burnett is all clear through the water at 18/19.
9:35 a.m.: Samourai du Thot is jumping superb at the final water for Julia Krajewski. This pair was second after dressage and will look to put the pressure on Bettina Hoy for the lead.
9:34 a.m.: Clear through 13 for Hannah Sue, who looks strong, landing and kicking on, on the shots we’ve seen so far.
9:32 a.m. Clear through the first combination at 8 for Hannah Sue and Harbour Pilot.
9:30 a.m.: Hannah Sue is away and over the first three rhythm fences.
9:29 a.m.: Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot should be away!
9:29 a.m.:
9:28 a.m.:
9:20 a.m.:
9:18 a.m.: Just two away from our penultimate American pair, Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot.
9:17 a.m.:
9:12 a.m.: To catch up, Jim Newsam retired Magennis after two refusals at the first water. Harry Meade and Away Cruising are the third pair to make it home on the optimum of 11:11. That makes nine double clears so far.
9:11 a.m.: Now THAT is dedication!
9:09 a.m.: Live feed is frozen again.
9:04 a.m.: 50 penalties has popped up for the arrowhead flag for Marilyn. It was not clear on the replay, and I would venture a guess that she will be appealing this decision. She is home clear otherwise with a time of 11:28 and 6.8 for a total current of 94.8.
9:02 a.m.: RF Scandalous climbs through the arrowhead coming out the arena and takes the flag. Hard to tell exactly how inside the flag on the left side she was on the replay but she’s carrying on.
9:00 a.m.: RF Scandalous stands a bit off of the final brush element in the water at 18/19. Marilyn does a great job giving the mare the reins and letting her find the line.
8:59 a.m.: Clear through 17 for Marilyn Little.
8:57 a.m.: Marilyn seems to be giving Kitty lots of opportunities to gallop and cover the ground, they’re clear through 12.
8:56 a.m.:
8:56 a.m.: Marilyn and “Kitty” are clear through the first combination at 8.
8:51 a.m: Fernhill Now or Never gets a bit close to the brush jumps at the 18/19 water for Kate Honey. This horse really has springs for feet, really cool to see over the fly fences. Marilyn Little is away!
8:51 a.m. Shane Rose and Virgil are our newest starters, meaning our third USA pair, Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous will be the next out.
8:49 a.m.: Andrew Heffernan now joins John Kyle in the commentary booth. “I came a little too fast,” he says of his one tough spot on the course earlier.
8:48 a.m.:
8:48 a.m.:
8:41 a.m.: Another strong finish for team USA as Katherine Coleman stops the clock at 11:16 for 2.4 time penalties and a two day score of 59.9!
8:38 a.m.: Clear through 24 for Katherine and Longwood, who we have not seen since the first fence.
8:36 a.m.: Nicola Wilson and Bulana are on their way like bats out of hell. This horse looks to be a very cool jumper. Katherine is clear through the tricky water at 18/19.
8:35 a.m.:
8:34 a.m.: The live stream is just a tad behind real time, so I can tell you that Katherine is clear through 13.
8:33 a.m.: And Katherine and Longwood are underway!
8:31 a.m.: We’re about to see our next American, Katherine Longwood, out of the box with Longwood.
8:28 a.m.: We’re back underway with the live stream. Ros Canter becomes the second rider to finish exactly on the optimum time with Zenshera. Now we’ll see Alex Bragg (who was one of our favorites to watch at Badminton last month) and Redpath Ransom.
8:26 a.m.: The FEI TV live stream is currently frozen, so if you’re watching it’s not just you!
8:22 a.m.: Oliver does five strides where most have put in six in the main arena from a big table to double corners. Oliver knows how to hustle the clock and he’s doing just that with Black Tie.
8:20 a.m.: A big jump into the first water at 7 for Ros Canter and Zenshera. We’ve seen a few horses take a peek here followed by a big leap as they see the water on the landing side of the big brush in.
8:18 a.m.: Quite a few taking the indirect route at fence 9, which sets the horse up with a bit more time to see the brush corner on the way out. Oliver Townend takes this option with Black Tie, who looks totally game.
8:17 a.m.: Never looking hurried, Pascal Leroy stops the clock bang on the optimum time of 11:11 with Minos de Petra. They win our vote for Ride of the Day so far!
8:15 a.m.: Oliver Townend and his 2014 WEG mount, Black Tie, are now on course. Pascal Leroy is giving us a master class in “How to Ride a Hunter on a Cross Country Course.”
8:14 a.m.:
8:12 a.m.: Minos de Petra makes the water at 18/19 look like it’s part of a hunter course. So much love for this horse.
8:09 a.m.: Nicholas Lucey and Proud Courage have a hairy moment up the bank at the island at 18, quickly re-route to the alternate and have an unfortunate stop.
8:06 a.m.: A very experienced pair (example: they’ve completed Badminton five times), Pascal Leroy and Minos de Petra are our latest starters.
8:04 a.m.: Not to keep harping on course design, but I’m really appreciating how forward Mike is encouraging the riders to go. You don’t see any of the landing followed by a hair pin turn to make the next element, rather you see riders boldly encouraging their horses to keep a rhythm and the distances just come up out of stride, even in the combinations.
8:02 a.m.: Aside from the early trouble for the first two riders, Mike E-S’ course has been riding really well overall with just a few issues scattered throughout. It’s very telling to see how the horses are handling the last couple of combinations, and thus far no one has looked all that tired coming home.
7:57 a.m.:
7:55 a.m.:
7:54 a.m.: Sorry, evidently Andrew did not retire at the water, he’s still on course!
7:53 a.m.: HOME full of gallop with just 7 seconds of time for Sharon White! This puts this pair on 52.6 over two days. What a great trailblazing round for the Americans!
7:52 a.m.: Andrew Heffernan has retired Millthyme Corolla at the water at 18 after the mare tripped up the bank and could not make the brush work.
7:51 a.m.: Cooley On Show has his ears pricked and carefully makes his way through the final water at 27. He’s looked very confident in the shots we’ve seen of him.
7:50 a.m.: Sharon and Cooley on Show are clear through 25, having disappeared from the live stream again. Almost there!
7:48 a.m.: Hey, there’s Sharon! We catch a glimpse as they easily clear 16. Time looks great at the midway point! They look dynamite as they take the direct route through the water at 18.
7:46 a.m.: We’ve sadly seen very little of Sharon White on the live feed, but she is clear through 14 according to the live scores.
7:45 a.m.: Our first British horse on course, Pennlands Douglas, shows off his pre-cross country dance moves:
7:44 a.m.: Sharon and Cooley On Show are clear through 8. Kirsty Short and Cossan Lad were having a cracking round but have a drive by at the brush on the island at fence 18. She’s re-routed to the alternate route and is back on her way.
7:42 a.m.: Victoria Scott stops the clock at 11:05, our first clear and under time. And now on course: Cooley On Show and Team USA’s trailblazer, Sharon White!
7:40 a.m.: Denis and Oregon de la Vigne live dangerously at the water at 14 but use their combined experience to get the job done. According to the scores, Harry Dzenis and Xam activated a pin at fence 8A.
7:40 a.m.:
7:39 a.m.: French rider Denis Mesples and Oregon de la Vigne are our newest starters. They’re clear through fence 13 and are currently nature galloping through the woods. This course is nothing if not beautiful.
7:37 a.m.: Just caught a glimpse of Sharon White’s signature orange as she gets ready to head out soon!
7:36 a.m.: A tiny peek at the last element of the water at 18, but positive riding from Victoria gets the job done. Harry Dzenis and Xam are currently carrying 11 penalties for activating a pin — unsure where at this moment.
7:35 a.m.:
7:33 a.m.: Harry Dzenis takes the first direct route through the water at 18 with Xam, who looks super keen and positive at this just over midway point of the course. Alan Nolan is having a rocking round with Bronze Flight, and he gives his horse big pats at the last combination at the penultimate fence.
7:31 a.m: Our next starter is South African rider Victoria Scott and Song du Magay.
7:29 a.m.: Alan John Nolan takes the conservative route at the water at 18.
7:27 a.m.: British rider Harry Dzenis and Xam are our latest starters. Alan John Nolan is clear through 14.
7:26 a.m.: I have to apologize for the lack of GIFs in today’s live updates; my touchy GIF software has decided it didn’t want to play today. Sad face.
7:23 a.m.: And, sadly Emma has been eliminated for three refusals at fence 9B. Ireland’s Alan John Nolan and Bronze Flight are on course seeking to become our first completion. He takes the alternate route at 9, which gives you a much better line to the brush corner out, where Emma came to grief.
7:30 a.m. Strong and no issues through the first water, which caught our first pair out.
7:18 a.m. Pennlands Douglas is quite keen in the start box and they’re underway with an encouraging “Come on, lad!” from Emma.
7:14 a.m.: A bit of an early lull here as we have just a couple of minutes until our next rider, Great Britain’s Emma Hyslop-Webb and Pennlands Douglas. This is the second CCI4* start for this pair, who came 21st at Pau in 2015.
7:10 a.m: And we’re underway with our trailblazers Caroline Powell and Spice Sensation. Unfortunately they’ve called it a day early after a peek and a stop at the first water.
7:08 a.m.:
Old Chatham H.T.
