A view of the cross country course at Aachen CCIO4*-S.
As we anticipate the final phase of the eventing competition in Aachen, we’re taking a look at what the horses and riders will be facing as they set out onto the notoriously technical 4*-S track.
Breaking up the 3,990 meters are 25 numbered fences, comprising of 39 jumping efforts. The optimum time is 6 minutes and 55 seconds – that works out at an average speed of 570 meters per minute. You can get a bit of a view of the track here
The course designer is Rüdiger Schwarz, assisted by Kai-Steffen Meier.
Word on the ground is that Rüdiger always builds a tough track, but this year is looking particularly tough. It’s intensely technical and twisty, and there’s lots to do. It’s got a different vibe to it than in other years, brought about by the way the intensity ebbs and flows – for one minute you’re galloping along with just one fence in your way, then in another minute you’ve got seven or eight questions to navigate – it’s being widely described as a 5*-S.
It all kicks off at 10am local time / 4am EST / 9am BST when German rider Libussa Lübbeke and Caramia 34 get underway.
The first US rider to leave the start box will be Dan Kreitl and Carmango, riding as individuals. They go at 10:24am / 4:24 am EST / 9:24am BST.
The British individual, Hector Payne will set off on Dynasty at 10:35am / 4:35am EST / 9:35am BST.
Team USA get underway at 11:03am / 5:03am EST / 10:03am BST when the vastly experienced Phillip Dutton will be aiming to climb the leaderboard with his longtime partner Z.
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C go at 11:31am / 5:31am EST / 10:31am BST.
Tamie Smith and Mai Baum are the penultimate combination for the USA. They set out at 11:59am / 5:59am EST / 10:59am BST.
Anchorman for the US, Will Coleman riding Off the Record, wraps things up for Team USA at 12:34pm / 6:34am EST / 11:34am BST.
Pathfinders for the Brits are Gemma Stevens and Flash Cooley. They get Team GBs campaign underway at 11:13am / 5:13am EST / 10:13am BST.
Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI go at 11:41am / 5:41am EST / 10:41am BST.
Current World Champions Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir head out onto the track at 12:10pm / 6:10am EST / 11:10am BST.
And it’s our current leader – Tom McEwen riding JL Dublin – who will finish off cross country day – and the competition – as the last combination to leave the start box. They set out at 12:46pm / 6:46am EST / 11:46am BST.
If you’re following World No. 1 Tim Price with Falco, they go at 12:38pm / 6:38am EST / 11:38am BST.
So, how is the course looking?
Intense is a word that’s popped up more often than not. The consensus is that you won’t be able to make up time at the end, so you’ll have to be up on your minute markers – easier said than done, for sure, and the time is something the riders think will be truly influential tomorrow. There’s also lots of scope for silly errors – they’ll have to have everything turned on for the whole seven minutes (actually, just a smidge – five seconds – less, we hope).
How will today’s events fit with the form? Follow along with EN’s Form Guide here.
Keep up to date with the live leaderboard here.
If you just can’t wait to see what the course is like, here’s the course map and the CrossCountryApp preview can be found here.
Tilly’s got boots on the Aachen ground and will be bringing you ALL the details of the day’s sport. Make sure you’re following @goeventing and keep it locked onto EN.
In most countries, you’ll want to grab a subscription to ClipMyHorse.TV to be able to view the action both live and on-demand. FYI, your USEF account connection to ClipMyHorse.TV will not grant you access to Aachen live streaming – you must have a separate subscription to CMH (monthly or annual). Click here to see ClipMyHorse.TV subscription options.
Sally will be delivering a minute-by-minute account of all the happenings out on course on our Live Updates stream, so you don’t have to miss a thing.
According to Tilly, horses do their PhD over the 4*-S track in Aachen. Who’ll struggle to keep up? Who’ll be graduating with honors? And who’ll be valedictorian? We’ll soon find out!
EN’s Coverage of CHIO Aachen is brought to you with support from Kentucky Performance Products and Ocala Horse Properties.
CHIO Aachen: [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream] [EN’s Form Guide] [EN’s Coverage]
Team USA:
Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Kentucky Champions Tamie Smith and Mai Baum – go into the cross country in 9th on 30.9.
Her plan – “Just don’t mess up” – is simpler than the course:
“There’s tons of combinations – very technical. The time is going to be hard to make. You’ve got to be on your A game and really be paying attention.”
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Also on the podium at Kentucky – in 3rd place, Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C – who lie in 14th on 32.1.
“It is very intense, especially after the first water. You don’t really have any other fence before you get to the big stuff down at the corner. It’s a lot of full intensity.
I think it always rides like a five-star short here. There’s some good areas to gallop, which is great because I think the last portion of the course will be quite slow. So that’s going to be my hope – to get up on the time before you get to those last few combinations or you just won’t make it. It’ll be good to go out and put the pedal down and go for it – I’ll see what kind of adjustability I have. He’ll come away. bigger, better horse for sure.”
Phillip Dutton and Z. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Seven time Olympian, Phillip Dutton rides Z and is currently in 18th on 32.8.
“It’s an interesting track. There are galloping patches, but then there’s quite intense patches where the time is going to be very influential. A lot of the events, you just stay on your minute markers – whereas this course, some of them you’re going to be way up on your minute markers but some minutes you’re going to be way down. It’s going to be interesting and you need a horse that’s really adjustable but fast, and obviously brave. We haven’t seen what’s in the arena yet, but the challenges keep going right through to the end.”
Will Coleman and Off The Record. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Also representing Team USA is Will Coleman and Off the Record, currently occupying 5th place on the leaderboard with 28.1. Unfortunately we don’t have his take on tomorrow’s course – we can only assume that he’s out there walking as we speak…
Word from the British Camp:
Tom McEwen and JL Dublin. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Kentucky Runner-up Tom McEwan and JL Dublin are currently leading the competition on 24.3.
First place is going out on course last, so we’ve got a bit of a wait to see what actually transpires, but here’s Tom’s take on things after a stroll – or two, three, four – around the track:
“There’s two very long straights – from the first water up to the mound – whatever it is – [according to CrossCountryApp it’s a Normandy Bank at 11A], then an awful long stretch all the way back to the trakehner [at 15]. Obviously last year had that very influential fence on the way back to the trakehner.
At the first water you circle under the driving bridge. There’s quite a lot to do in there – it’s quite something to be able to keep up your canter in there.
I think it’s going to be possibly harder than ever… Possibly. But it’s quite hard to tell. You’ve just got to go and find your flow and find your way around. It’s five-star short. The time always has a massive influence, and I’m looking forward to finding out a little bit more.”
Tom’s referring to getting to know his relatively new ride, JL Dublin – Nicola Wilson’s former ride.
“In some way we came here as a learning experience, knowing that we can be very competitive at the same time – so it’s just putting those two together.”
Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
And what does Current World Champion Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir – lying in 3rd place on 25.5 – think of what lies ahead?
“I think there’s absolutely no catching up to be done at the end of the course – you really need to be up on those minutes early on – time will be of the essence tomorrow.
There’s some tricky technical questions scattered around the course, but I like how, in the main field, there’s two quite big opportunities to have a good gallop and ride away from your fences quickly, and make up a bit of time there. I’m very lucky to be sat on a big rangy, galloping horse, so I’m going to try and make the most of those big stretches, and then hopefully we’ll be there or there abouts with the time.”
Pathfinder for the Brits, Gemma Stevens and Flash Cooley are currently sitting just outside the top 20 on a two-phase score of 35.
“It’s Aachan. There’s always enough to jump here. There’s always a bit of a trick – there’s always an angle – angles, let’s say. I think the double of corners off the bank near the end before the last water is a real question. I think it would be easy to make a silly mistake. There’s no room for error at all – you’ve got to be so accurate.
I think the question just before the arena as well [a combination comprising of a solid fence to a double of angled brushes in the shape of tractors], there’s always a question there. When you’re thinking about the clock, you’ve got to just jump those fences.
For sure there’s enough to jump.”
Fourth team member for Britain, Kirsty Chabert with Classic VI – currently sitting in 11th on 31 – was unavailable for comment – perhaps she’s walking the course with Will…
Tim Price and Falco. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
And what does the World No. 1 think?
Tim Price is sitting in 4th on 26. Speaking of coming back for a third go round Aachen with Falco, Tim remembers:
“The first time it blew his mind; the second time, it was a little better – but we got stuck on the keyhole on cross-country – so we’ll see!
The course has been stiffened up this year – it’s bigger, and there’s a couple of places with proper questions that have to be ridden in a certain way. It’s always nice to have a contingency plan B and C, but there’s a couple here where there’s really only one way to make it work well – though I’m sure we’ll see a few versions! The Kiwis are good at being underdogs, so I’m sure we’ll go out and give it a good go.”
A total test, then.
It’s going to be a good one, that’s for sure!
Go eventing!
EN’s Coverage of CHIO Aachen is brought to you with support from Kentucky Performance Products and Ocala Horse Properties.
CHIO Aachen: [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]
