Photo by Holly Covey.
Are you suffering from Fair Hill fomo? Then you’re in luck because this will be your comprehensive, minute-by-minute account of the CCI4*-L cross country. Keep this tab open and refresh the page for the latest updates.
Clayton Fredericks and FE Stormtrooper will be our pathfinders at 12:45 p.m. You can find a complete order of go here. Watch all the action live thanks to USEF Network.
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3:55 What a day! With flag penalties being awarded at the end of the day, the leaderboard took on a new look. Here’s your top five:
3:51 Now getting reports that both Phillip Dutton and Doug Payne have been awarded 15 penalties for missing a flag on course. That opens the door for Waylon Roberts to move into the lead.
3:50 So sad to see buck have a run out at the sunken road. This was where he fell earlier with Jak My Style. They go clear over the option.
3:50 Buck is clear through the area, but they look like they’ve lost a bit of steam.
3:49 Allison gives Business Ben a clear round, and we wait to hear her time. Now Buck is the sole rider left on course.
3:47 Allison also takes the longer option at the red corners to ensure a clear round with Business Ben.
3:43 After having trouble at the coffin earlier this morning on her first horse, Allison opts to take the option at 13.
3:42 Our very last ride of the day, Buck Davidson and Erroll Gobey, have gone out on course.
3:40 Allison Springer and Business Ben are clear through 8. Coming home inside the time would put her in fourth.
3:36 Phillip and Z are finished clear inside the time which puts them in the lead! They had one questionable moment over the red corners where the flag could be in question, but we’ve heard no word of an issue so far.
3:33
3:29 Big Phil and Z are cruising. They’re clear through 10.
3:22
3:19 Waylon Roberts has finished clear, and takes over the lead! We’ve got two to go until Phillip Dutton and Z who are the only pair left who could do better.
3:16 Waylon Roberts and Lancaster are clear through the arena. To stay in front of Doug, they can be no slower than 3.5 seconds over the time.
3:15 Mike Pendleton and Steady Eddie have made it all the way around with no jumping penalties. This is Mike’s first four-star long.
3:12 Foot perfect round by Doug Payne and Vandiver! They come home clear nine seconds inside the time.
3:08 Mia Farley comes home inside the time!
3:06 Doug and “Quinn” go clear through the coffin. I think word has really gotten around the barn about how to best ride this tricky combination.
3:01 MGS Firecracker is full of running today for Mia Farley.
3:00 Drumroll, please. Doug Payne and Vandiver are circling the box.
2:57 Jenny Caras and Fernhill Fortitude are clear through the first two fields.
2:56 Liza has fallen off at fence 15, which is an open oxer up behind the main VIP tent.
2:52 Liza Horan and Lafite make the four strides between 7a and 7b. Liza has already had one clear round in the three-star this morning.
2:49 Still to come are four riders who could take the lead if they go clear with little to no jump penalties: Phillip Dutton/Z, Waylon Roberts/Lancaster, Doug Payne/Vandiver, and Allison Springer/Business Ben.
2:47
2:46 Caitlin Henderson and Creative Dreamer are out on course, and we’re in the last hour of competition.
2:45 Sara Gumbiner and Polaris make easy work of the angled tables in the main arena.
2:42 Sydney Conley Elliot and QC Diamantaire are nearly done with a clear round. Positive riding all the way.
2:36 no! So close to the finish Mara falls in the water at the final complex. Hard to see exactly what happened over the duck int he water.
2:35 Mara goes the long route at the red corners. She had to use quite a bit of time to communicate where they were going, so hopefully not too much time wasted.
2:31 Even with a less than ideal jump over the ditch, Congo sails straight as an arrow over the corner element at C.
2:29 Mara and Congo looking so bold. They’re clear through 9.
2:26 Overnight leader alert! Mara dePuy and Congo Brazzaville are on course.
2:20 Oh dear Buck Davidson has an unexpected dismount from Jak My Style. Buck made it over the B element at the sunken road, but Jak didn’t quite.
2:19 Emma heads for a strong finish.
2:15 We’re seeing a time now for Meghan O’Donoghue and Palm Crescent. They were clear inside the time.
2:13 Emma Lomangino and Master Frisky are clear through 9.
2:11 Oh no Fylicia comes off at the coffin. She just didn’t get there exactly like she would’ve wanted.
2:07 Lynn and Pippy are home. Scores reflecting they picked up 20 penalties on course, but no word yet on where. That error wasn’t shown on the live stream.
2:06 We’re seeing really confident riding from Meghan O’Donoghue and Fylicia Barr on course now.
2:02 Lynn is clear through the coffin.
1:59 And another one unfortunately. Colleen Rutledge adds 20 penalties at the C element at the coffin.
1:55 Important ride on course now. Third-placed Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights go in the more forward 4 strides at fence 7.
1:52 Meg Kep finishes her first four-star long clear!
1:49
1:45 Meg Kepferle goes direct and clear at the coffin. Excellent ride.
1:40 Loving this ride by Erin Sylvester and Paddy the Caddy.
1:39 Lauren Billys opts for the long route at 13. She’s really gunning for a clear round here as she aims for securing and individual spot in the 2020 Olympic Games. In order to do that, she must be the leading rider (by FEI points) in her region, so every completion counts.
1:37 Clark has a second stop in at the B element in the main arena. He’s clear on second attempt and continuing.
1:37: A few more zingers from Jimmy:
“Theres only three types of people: those who can count strides and those who can’t”
“If you go fast enough they (your horse) can’t pull”
1:35 Clark Montgomery and Caribbean Soul have a disappointing stop at the corner after the coffin at 13c. Super frustrating this mare had it in her to make the time.
1:30 Jennie Brannigan was absolutely fighting for it at the coffin with Twilightslastgleam, but a lost stirrup and an awkward jump has her falling on landing. Such a bummer.
1:25 I am living for Jimmy Wofford on the live stream. He’s full of top quotes just right at the top of his head. Here’s some examples:
“Competition makes good athletes better and bad athletes worse.”
“Fatigue makes cowards of us all”
1:25 Will Coleman nails the first double clear of this division. Well done for him and this 9-year-old in his first four-star.
1:23 Lauren Kieffer and D.A. Duras gets it done at the tricky coffin.
1:22 Will Coleman responds quickly to a little bobble at the first red corner. He reroutes for the option.
1:20 Sadly a third refusal and elimination for Allison at the skinny chevron at 23b. The horse just got a bit tired and didn’t quite have the adjustability.
1:20 Allison picks up a second runout at the B element of the red Fair Hill corners.
1:19
1:17 Lauren Kieffer and D.A. Duras just left the box like a rocket! Let’s keep an eye on her time.
1:14 Arg. 13 C claims another victim: Allison Springer and Sapphire Blue B
1:12 Time penalties coming in now. Clayton finished with 17.2 added. Phillip Dutton added 4.8 with Fernhill Singapore, so I would believe he’ll cut that down further with Z.
1:11: Allison Springer is giving Sapphire Blue B a very confident start to the gelding’s first four-star long.
1:10 Will Faudree and Michel 233 have a run out at the C element of the coffin at 13. I think this one will continue to be influential today.
1:09 Jessie has a fight a bit to keep Watson GS going positively forward, but she gets it all done. This green horse has just gained mountains of experience.
1:03 Jessica Phoenix and Watson GS are seeing smooth sailing around so far. They’re through headed toward 20 after taking the long route at 19.
1:00
12:56 Clayton will be frustrated with those 11 penalties, but he’s gotten FE Stormtrooper clear around the rest of the course.
12:55 Nilson has retired at fence 13, the coffin. He opted to take the long route, but they had a run at at the option element before calling it a day.
12:54 Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Singapore are out on course. This will be a crucial exploratory mission before Phillip goes again with second-placed Z.
12:53 Clayton activated the frangible pin on the back rail at fence 15, an open oxer.
12:51 A big sigh of relief just echoed across the rider tent as Clayton makes easy work of the beefy coffin at 13.
12:49 Nilson Moreira da Silva and Cash have set out on Derek di Grazia’s track.
12:48 Clayton through one of the first major combinations in the woods at 7abc. There’s been some discussion on the distances here, and he’s done a happy five.
12:46 Here we go! Clayton is off and away.
12 p.m. Here’s what competitors are up against this afternoon:
