Classic Eventing Nation

Ingrid Klimke and SAP Hale Bob OLD. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

IT’S TIME. Cross country day at the 2018 World Equestrian Day has arrived. Start time is 11 a.m. and they’ll be running at 3 minute intervals. The optimum time for this 5,700m track is 10 minutes.

Team USA
11:09 a.m. – Will Coleman & Tight Lines: 40 jump +51.6 time. Finished on 87.20
12:09 p.m. – Boyd Martin & Tsetserleg: 20 jump + 11.6 time. Finished on 58.7.
1:00 p.m. – Lauren Kieffer & Vermiculus: Rider fall at 18a. Both Ok.
1:27 p.m. – Lynn Symansky & Donner: Home double clear!
2:30 p.m. – Phillip Dutton & Z: Home clear + 6.4 time. Finished on 34.

Team Canada
11 a.m. – Colleen Loach & Qorry Blue d’Argouges: Home clear + 10 time penalties for 44.4
12 p.m. – Lisa Marie Fergusson & Honor Me: Home clear + 8.4 time penalties for 48.6.
12:51 p.m. – Hawley Bennett-Awad & Jollybo: Home clear + 10.8 time penalties for 43.5.
1:21 p.m. – Jessica Phoenix & Pavarotti: Rider fall after 18. Both Ok.
2:21 p.m. – Selena O’Hanlon & Foxwood High: Home clear + 8 time penalties for 38.7

As far as what to expect, we’ve never seen a World Championship with a clear jumping rate over 50%, according to Equiratings. The closest would be Rome 1998 (49.4%) and Kentucky 2010 (49.4%), so with the current impending weather we should expect at least half the field (40-ish riders) to have jumping penalties.

Potential weather in mind, time could be influential. The speedy ones to keep an eye out for are Classic Moet, Arctic Soul, Cooley Lands, Billy The Red, Horseware Stellor Rebound and Barraduff.

Equiratings is cranking out stats at a mad rate on their Twitter, and live videos on their Facebook Page. 

We’ll be updating this all day, so keep refreshing this page.

#Tryon2018: Website, Entries, Schedule, XC Start Times, Individual Scores, Team Scores, Ultimate Guide, Course Preview, How to Watch Live, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

7:08 p.m. An update from the FEI has just come in:

Heidi Bratlie Larsen and Euforian were pulled up on course by the Ground Jury after fence 21. The horse was taken by equine ambulance to the onsite Veterinary Treatment center where he was diagnosed with a soft tissue injury.

Box Qutie, ridden by Anna Freskard (SWE), who pulled up visibly lame at the cross country finish was transported to the Tryon Equine Hospital where he is also being treated for a soft tissue injury.

3:22 Wow! What a day of cross country. Some stalwarts disappointed, and new talent saw success. Stay tuned for a full debriefing from Jenni Autry. Here’s your leaderboards:

3:22 Ludwig just 6 seconds over!

3:21 Final rider heading home.

3:20 Raf Kooremans & Henri Z home with 15.2 time penalties.

3:19 Scary moment for Ludwig as Stinger leaves a leg at the fence in the final water. Thankfully both recover very quickly.

3:18 Ludwig gets scrappy through the squirrels too. Still good for these two.

3:16 Yoshi home 15 seconds over but clear!

3:15 Final rider, Ludwig Svennerstal is clear through 10.

3:14 Scrappy through the corners for Raf.

3:13 The French are on fire! Sidney home only 10 second over.

3:12 Second to last rider, Raf Kooremans keeps on a forward positive direct route through the Mars water.

3:11 Yoshi digs deep for the corners. Super.

3:09 Yoshiaki Oiwa looking super through the downhill chevron at 9.

3:07 Wow great save by Arianna at the final water. She is clear through there with one less stirrup.

3:07 Brilliant by Sarah Ennis! Double clear, and her ride helps put Ireland in medal contention.

3:06 Sidney Dufresne (FRA) clear through the Mars water.

3:06 The French are currently in silver medal position, and they’ve got their final rider on course.

3:04 Arianna Schivo goes the long way at the Mars water. Sort of forgot that was the main route!

3:04 Fastest lady in the world! Jonelle Price and Classic Moet home clear 16 seconds under the time!

3:01 Marcio home with 9.6 time penalties for Brazil.

3:00 Sarah Ennis is brilliant through the downhill chevron at 9.

2:59 Jonelle and Classic Moet just so fast through the corners.

2:58 Shane Rose adds 28 penalties over cross country.

2:57 Jonelle clear through the Mars water.

2:56 Jonelle is away!

2:56 Karin Donckers and Fletcha van’t Verhof home 20 seconds over.

2:55 Super cool live integration of helmet cams into the coverage. Just got a bird’s eye view of Marcio Carvalho Jorge clear through the Mars water.

2:52 Shane Rose has a fly-by at 9.

2:51 Not confirmed, but I believe Ros just pulled out the fastest round today! 8 seconds under.

2:50 Allstar B is so fit and full of running, even after the hill.

2:49 Phillip is home clear. 19 seconds over for 6.4 time penalties.

Phillip Dutton and Z. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

2:48 Phil clear through 23. Ros through the final water.

2:48 Karin Donckers also on course now. They’re through 7.

2:47 Ros through the corners.

2:46 Ingrid home clear BANG ON OPTIMUM! She almost takes out the camera man.

2:45 Ros and Allstar B take a flier at 9. So honest!

2:44 Phil clear through the corners and now Ros Canter is on course.

2:43 Ingrid’s ride is a little rough and ready, but clear through the final water.

2:42 P. Dutty clear through the Mars water.

2:42 Z is looking full of running. Phil doing expertly managing him.

2:41 Here we go with Phillip Dutton and Z, our last US pair.

2:40 Ingrid clear through the corners.

2:39 Manuel is thrilled with his clear round! Cheeky tongue out at the finish + Ingrid clear through the Mars water.

2:36 Bobby crawls over the ditch & wall at 5, but looks completely unbothered by it.

2:34 Selena Home clear, but 20 seconds over. Three clear Canadian finishers for the team score.

2:32 This hill is no joke. Selena working hard over the combination on top of the hill. Good work!

2:31 Ingrid Klimke off on course with SAP Hale Bob OLD. She’s got Willberry on her back!

2:30 Spain’s final rider Manuel Senra Chover clear through the Mars water! Selena golden through the final water.

2:28 Go Selena! She and Woody are clear through the Mars water!

2:27 Bill Levett’s horse Lassban Diamond Lift hangs a leg on the boat in the water, and Bill falls in the water. The horse amazingly has no issue with the waterfall bank.

2:24 Amacuzzi looking a little tired before hanging a leg on the fruit table, and Simone Sordi is on the ground.

2:23 Patricia Ryan is home. She added 47.8 penalties.

2:21 Felix Vogg’s day didn’t go as planned, but he never stopped fighting. Home with the 40 jump pen + 33.6 time.

2:21 Theo Van De Vendel hails a cab through 9.

2:19 It held off for a while, but here’s the rain.

2:15 Oh dear. Patricia Ryan gets a long one at fence 9. This unseats her, and she saves it, but not before Dunrath Eclipse goes barreling into the crowd and over the ropes. She did also hit a pin on that fence for 11 pens.

2:14 A wild jump over the first corner, and sadly another problem at the second corner.

2:13 Merel Blom and Rumour Has It N.O.P. clear but one pesky second over!

2:12 Heartbreak! Our U.S. transplant Felix Vogg has a runout at the boat in the Mars water.

2:10 Waikiki 207 making this look like a hunter round! They’re clear through the corners.

2:08 Great riding for Louise Svensson Jahde. Clear through the Mars water.

Louise Svensson Jahe and Waikiki207. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

2:06 Thibaut Vallette Lt Col is another home for France. He’s only 3 seconds over the time.

2:04 Stefano Brecciaroli home for Italy with the one stop +

2:03 Toshiyuki Tanaka looks like he’s having a tack malfunction with the bridle, but clear through the Mars water.

2:00 Stefano Brecciaroli goes for the direct route, but after a wild jump up the bank he has a runout at the skinny.

1:57 Tim and Cekatinka home double clear!!

Tim Price and Cekatinka. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

1:56 Marcio Appel Cheuiche home for Brazil!

1:55 Tim clear through the final water.

1:54 Padraig McCarthy clear through the Mars water for Ireland.

1:53 ‘merica

Lynn Symansky and Donner. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

1:52 Tim Price is brilliant through the corners.

1:52 Emma McNab home 17 over, but clear for Australia!

1:51 Recent Burghley winners Tim Price and Cekatinka off and away.

1:50 What a save for Marcio Appel Cheuiche!! Sticks it at the Mars water

1:49 Lara de Liedekerke-Meier with just 4.4 time penalties.

1:49 Emma McNab is producing a great round for Australia

1:43 One second under for Tom McEwen and Toledo de Kerser. The brits officially have 3 riders home clear.

1:42 p.m. Lynn home double clear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She looked careful but that OTTB was moving!!

1:39 Andreas Dibowski and Tom McEwen also clear so far for Germany and Great Britain, respectively.

1:37 Lynn looks on assignment for a team rider completion. She’s very careful through the corners, but clear still.

1:36 Lynn goes very carefully and clear through the Mars water!

1:35 Let’s go Lynn!

1:34 OH MY GOD Jessie gets bobbled, fights for it and nearly has it. Holds on for strides and strides, but finally falls. Ugh gutted for her.

1:32 Jessie has an amazing recovery at the corners. Pavarotti twists hard in the air over the first, and she goes on with 1 (or no) stirrups to go clear.

1:30 We’re in the 3rd team rider rotation: Jessica Phoenix has to stick a big landing at the Mars water, but clear!

1:28 Pauliina tries to take a long one at the corners. They scrap over, but she pops off. She’s up pretty quickly.

1:27 Pauliina Swindells and Ferro S scrappy & clear through the Mars water.

1:25 Another stop for Sandra going the long route at the Mars water (at D). She puts a hand up to retire from what I can tell.

1:24 Viamant du Matz runs by the boat in the Mars water. 20 pens for Sandra Auffarth.

1:22 Short hold, and now we’re back with reigning world champion Sandra Auffarth.

1:19 Dan Jocelyn home for New Zealand. No jumping,

1:16 Astier home bang on optimum time. Complete masterclass. Ride of the day.

1:14 Oh dear. Brazilian rider Henrique Plombon Pinheiro’s horse, Land Quenotte Do Feroleto jumps right into the ditch & wall at the Buckeye combination (5).

1:13 Tina home clear + 6 seconds over the time.

Tina Cook and Billy The Red. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

1:12 Dan Jocelyn nearly unseated at the drop into the Mars water, but he recovers quickly and saves it over the boat!

1:12

Boyd gets scrappy through the squirrels. #WEG2018 pic.twitter.com/fnYSV5JjOe

— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) September 15, 2018

1:11 Being named individual has given Tina some kind of determination. She’s on it!

1:10 Astier is pure class on this course. He is going fast and clear! Through the corner so far.

1:08 NO Bug tapps a leg on fence 18, and she tried so hard but just couldn’t save it. Lauren is on the ground, but looks ok physically.

1:05 Tina out for Great Britain. Clear through 9.

1:05 Lauren clear through the corners.

Lauren Kieffer and Verimiculus. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

1:04 The Spanish came to play. Albert Hermoso Farras home clear with just 5.2 time penalties.

1:03 Lauren clear through the Mars water, long route.

1:03 Lauren clear through 9 and looking fast.

1:02 Lauren Kieffer and Vermiculus out on course. Clear through 5.

1:01 Nicolas Wettstein performs some shape shifting, but clear through the Mars water on the direct route.

1:01 HAWLEY!!!! She’s home clear 27 seconds over the time.

1:00 Pawel Spisak home clear for Poland! Only .8 time penalties.

12:57 Canadians are on fire! Go jolly!!!

12:51 Hawley Bennett-Awad and Jollybo clear through 12! They successfully went the long way at the Mars water.

12:50 SAVE OF THE DAY by Robin Godel whose horse stumbles to the knees. Robin is chucked up on the horse’s head but sticks it.

SAVE OF THE DAY. Robin GOdel and Grandeur de Lully CH. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

12:50 Hmm… Did not see Anna jump the C element in the Mars water, but no one has pulled her up. Could by my mis-seeing.

12:48 Fab riding by Robin Godel who has to work hard to get Grandeur de Lully CH up the waterfall bank.

12:47 Anna Freskard actually skipped the C element of the Mars water before her runout, so that’s elimination.

12:45 Box Qutie says no to the waterfall bank with Anna Freskard

12:33 Ryuzo Kitajima activates the frangible device at 19. His reins then come unbuckled at the end, and he circles. Tie the ends of you reins in a knot, kids!

12:43 Maxime home just 5 seconds over the time! Super completion for France.

12:42 Renske Kroeze goes direct and clear through the Mars water.

12:40 Italy with another rider home. Pietro Sandei adds 29.6 penalties

12:39 Ryuzo Kitajima clear the direct route in the water! Well done.

12:39 Queen Mary has springs in her feet! Heading to the influential water.

12:37 Maxime Livio clear through the corners with Opium de Verrieres.

12:37 Cathal home! Just 9 seconds over.

12:36 p.m. Cathal Daniels continuing the good momentum for Ireland.

Cathal Daniels and Rioghan Rua. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

12:35 p.m. Mark Todd home 44 seconds over.

12:33 p.m. Italy’s Pietro Sandei and Rubis de Prere have a miscommunication and just barely get to the other side of the boat in the Mars water. This horse also wants nothing to do with the following waterfall, but they’re through clear on paper.

12:30 p.m. Rioghan Rua chips an extra stride in at the F element of the Mars water. Scary, but through.

12:30 p.m. Toddy gives us all quite a scare at a downhill brush. McClaren stumbles and nearly trips up.

12:29 p.m.

12:27 p.m. Nooooooo Toddy goes the long way at the Mars water, but still a runout

12:25 p.m. Mark Todd — please eventing jesus get him around!

12:25 p.m. Imperial van de Holtakkers with something dragging off that right front. Looks like boot tape.

12:22 Belgium’s Joris Vanspringel fighting for every moment.

Joris Vanspringel and Imperial van de Holtakkers. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld

12:22 Chris Burton has a stop at the boat in the mars water!

12:21 Piggy home double clear!!!

12:21 The fastest man in the world is on course.

12:19 p.m. Boyd Home with 31.6 penalties added on cross country.

12:17 p.m. Quarrycrest Echo is looking super. This may just be Team GB’s day.

12:16 p.m. Julia home 21 seconds over for a score of 48.3

12:15 p.m. Piggy also takes the long route at the Mars water.

12:14 p.m. Piggy French on now for GB. She’s cutting corners everywhere possible.

12:13 p.m. Boyd continuing on with force.

12:12 p.m. Boyd on course — Has a stop at the boat for the Mars water. He looked like he came in on a half stride with Tsetserleg wanting to take the long one and Boyd wanting to wait.

12:11 p.m. Lisa Marie Fergusson home clear with 8.4 time for Canada!!!

12:10 p.m. JULIA HAS A STOP!! At the second corner at 14.

Julia Krajewski and Chipmunk FRH. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

12:09 p.m. Word is definitely back to the barns. Julia takes the long route at the Mars water.

12:09 p.m. Julia clear through 9.

12:07 p.m. First glimpse of Julia on the live stream! Clear through 7.

12:07 p.m. Maria clear through the water. Some horses very upset about the waterfall, others seem to not mind.

12:06 p.m. Dressage leaders Julia Krajewski and Chipmunk off on course.

12:05 p.m. Second rider rotation continues with Spain’s Maria Pinedo Sendagorta clear through 7.

12:04 p.m. Alex Hua Tian home clear with 9.6 time.

12:03 p.m. Second Canadian rider — Lisa Marie Fergusson has to really fight for it, but gets Honor Me up the waterfall bank.

12:02 p.m. Ronald Zabala Goetschel (ECU) has a fly-by at the final corner with Patch.

12:01 p.m. Daniela adds only 8.8 time penalties. Well done!!

12:00 p.m. Alex Hua Tian making it happen with Ballytiglea Vivendi. Clear through 17.

11:58 a.m. Daniela killing it around this course!! clear through 22 so far.

Daniela Moguel and Cecelia. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

11:56 a.m. Heidi Bratlie Larsen looks to be pulled up on course. Euforian looking tired.

11:55 a.m. Daniela Moguel goes the long way at the water at 10.

11:53 a.m. The one refusal and 51.2 time penalties.

11:53 a.m. Ok it’s official I want to take Euforian home with me!

11:51 a.m. Euforian looks like such a solid citizen for Heidi Bratlie Larsen. Stands way off the waterfall water, but offers to do it for her and trot the skinny afterwards. She’s the first from Norway ever to represent in eventing at WEG.

11:50 a.m. There are opinions on the course:

Is that a World Championships course !!! #walkinthepark boring

— Ruy Fonseca (@RuyFonseca) September 15, 2018

11:48 a.m. South Africa’s Victoria Scott with a stop at the B element of the Mars water (10).

11:46 a.m .Niklas gets a big jump over a table at 21, but he sticks the landing!

11:45 a.m. We loose another pair to the waterfall bank up at 10, this time Patrizia Attinger.

11:44 a.m. Niklas Lindback (SWE) clear through the corners.

11:43 a.m. Alice has to really fight for it through the last water. Some of these spouts are really backing horses off.

11:42 a.m. Kazuma home for Japan double clear!! Just one second under the time.

11:41 a.m. 

Here comes the rain☔️ #WEG2018 pic.twitter.com/lGVcr2945f

— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) September 15, 2018

11:40 a.m. France has their first rider home. Donatien is the third to come in 25 seconds over.

11:39 a.m. Alice Naber-Lozeman (NED) has a runout at fence 9, a chevron downhill.

11:37 a.m. Pietro Roman and Barraduff home with no jumping, but 25 seconds over the time.

11:36 a.m. Kazuma Tomoto (JPN) clear through the Mars water. Donatien Schauly Adj (FRA) clear the final water.

11:34 a.m. Sam home double clear!! 3 seconds under time.

11:31 a.m. Update on Blyth — He had 2 refusals at the water (with the second not shown on the live stream), so the corner refusal was elimination.

11:30 a.m. Barraduff seems to slip on a turn ahead of fence 10 with Italy’s Pietro Roman. All good carries on clear through the Mars water.

11:29 a.m. Sam & Horseware Ardagh Highlight clear through the corners (14).

11:29 a.m. Nilson’s stop + time gives him a score of 79.8

11:28 a.m. Irish pathfinder Sam Watson it out!

11:27 a.m. Blyth has a second stop at the corners. He appears to be calling it a day.

11:24 a.m. Blyth Tait suffers the same fate of Will & Nilson at the waterfall bank. Word will be getting back to teams on an alternative plan at that water.

11:21 a.m. Gemma home for Team GB!!! Clear inside the time.

11:21 a.m. Magnum’s Martini says hell no to the waterfall bank at the Mars Sustainability Bay at 10. Nilson just barely stays on there.

11:20 a.m. Nilson Moreira da Silva clear through the water at 7. Magnum’s Martini stumbled a few times in there. Curious as to that footing.

11:19 a.m. Will through the finish with Phish. Penalty score showing as 87.2.

11:17 a.m. Australia’s first rider out — Andrew Hoy with Vassily de Lassos.

11:16 a.m. Kai Ruder home. No jump penalties, but 43 seconds over the time.

11:15 a.m. Gemma Tattersall (GBR) takes the longest route at the Mars water, avoiding the bank with the waterfall feature.

11:14 a.m. Will has another runout with Phish at the first corner.

11:13 a.m. Carlos Diaz Fernandez is home clear inside the time!! Time possible, maybe won’t cause issues.

11:12 a.m. Will Coleman and Tight Lines have a stop at the water at 10. Phish said no to the waterfall bank up.

11:11 a.m. Kai Ruder (GER) clear through the corners with Colani Sunrise.

11:10 a.m. Colleen is home clear!! 25 seconds over the time.

11:08 a.m. We’re seeing the first of Spain’s Carlos Diaz Fernandez and Junco CP. They are definitely looking quicker than Colleen.

11:05 a.m. Super start for Canada with Colleen. Direct routes are possible.

11:03 a.m. Colleen takes the direct route at fence 10 — Mars Sustainability Bay (This is the one that has numbered letters A-G)!

11:02 a.m. Colleen is through the first water at 6 — the Hearthstone Sluice.

11:02 a.m. Colleen doesn’t seem to be in a huge hurry around this course. Likely looking for a solid completion for Canada.

11:00 a.m. Colleen Loach and Qorry Ble d’Argouges is off!

10:58 a.m. Spain’s Gonzalo Blasco Botin has also withdrawn Sij Veux d’Autize. Spain and Sweden are now down to three-member teams.

10:55 a.m. Sara Algotsson Ostholt announced this morning that she has withdrawn Wega from WEG before cross country. They were placed fifth.

10:31 a.m. 

Storm's a-comin. #WEG2018 pic.twitter.com/xegdol6Fqt

— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) September 15, 2018

10:30 a.m. We’ve finally got a semi-official numbered map:

Fence 19 and 20ABC – The Longines Water. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Welcome to cross country day at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games! It’s been a wild past 12 hours here at the Tryon International Equestrian Center, as the FEI announced last night that show jumping will be moved to Monday due to heavy rainfall predicted for Sunday. All WEG events scheduled for Sunday across all disciplines have now been moved to Monday.

Cross country will run today as planned, starting at 11 a.m. EST with horses running at 3-minute intervals and fences 23A and 24B removed from the course. Click here for start times. Click here for all the details on how to watch the action live.

Heavy rain due to Hurricane Florence is expected to begin this afternoon and continue through Sunday night. Total rainfall is expected to be 5-7 inches, with up to 10 inches in some areas. Winds are already picking up here at the venue and are expected to gust at about 20 mph today.

Question marks continue to swirl around how rain, heat and humidity will impact today’s outcome on cross country. Temperatures are expected to rise to 80°F (27°C) today, but with 80% humidity it will feel much hotter.

Capt. Mark Phillips’s has designed a serious test for horses and riders. Click here for EN’s fence-by-fence preview. The course spans 5,700 meters with an optimum time of 10 minutes. EquiRatings confirmed that in the history of WEG, we have never seen more than a 50% clear jumping rate. We are in for a wild ride today.

Less than 20 seconds separate the top 15, and we can expect time penalties to be influential on today’s leaderboard. EquiRatings is predicting that at least six pairs will catch the time. These are the speed horses to watch: Classic Moet, Arctic Soul, Cooley Lands, Billy The Red, Horseware Stellor Rebound and Barraduff.

In chatting to the riders, the overwhelming consensus is that they prepared for a 10-minute course with a true test of fitness in the hill at the end, and teams chose their horses based on those factors. They are ready to go to battle today. Here are a few final thoughts from the riders as we countdown to the start.

Julia Krajewski, 1st: “With rain coming, nobody really knows how this is going to play out. I think Chipmunk is very fit, and he feels very good here. I think the cross country is tough, so the aim from now is to keep my points.”

Ingrid Klimke, 2nd: “We had a very hot summer in Germany, so the horses got used to the heat. We knew there was a hill, so for me I think it will be perfect.”

Ros Canter, 3rd: “Obviously the challenge is going to be the humidity and the potential weather conditions, and as the last member to go (for the British team) I don’t know what weather is going to be thrown at us yet. I have to try and stick to our plan, and hope I can deliver for the team.”

Boyd Martin, 8th: “It’s a tough course just because it’s so twisty and turny and technical at the beginning, and to ride that fast is going to take some real skill and a trained horse. Then you have to leave a bit in the tank for the last two minutes, and that’s going to be the fitness and training we’ve put into the horse over the years. A lot of it will come down to heart and desire, and my guy is a real trier. I’m going to really go for it and give everything we have.”

Phillip Dutton, 12th: “Nobody wants to see exhausted horses, but I think the riders will set out knowing that the hill is at the end and keep that in mind at the beginning of the course as well.”

Lynn Symansky, 17th: “I think it’s a really good course for Donner. It’s not too big, and size doesn’t really matter to him. I think the hardest thing will be at some of the combinations where there’s so much to look at. He’s a horse that gets a little bit distracted by stuff in the distance, so I have to make a plan to really have him on his line. I plan to take most of the direct routes.”

#Tryon2018: Website, Entries, Schedule, XC Start Times, Individual Scores, Team Scores, Ultimate Guide, Course Preview, How to Watch Live, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Team NZ’s Tim Price being counted down at the start of 2014 WEG cross country. Four years later, Tim currently sits 11th after dressage with Cekatinka. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Eventing cross country is WEG’s #1 attraction, and big crowds are expected for tomorrow’s big day. Here’s what you need to know to get there, get around, and have a grand time!

Getting parked: As we cautioned in our “Real-Talk Spectator Guide,” DON’T tell Siri you want to go Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). Spectator parking is at Lot F (6881 S. NC Hwy 9, Columbus, NC), the new steeplechase course behind the Tryon Riding & Hunt Club office on Route 9, about 20 minutes away. Parking is $20 and they accept cash and cards. Click here for additional parking info.

There’s no telling what traffic will look like tomorrow; consider downloading a live traffic navigation app like Waze. The parking and shuttle situation continues to vacillate between fast and efficient and  “a nightmare,” as one reader told us today. Our advice — you never know, so get there early! Shuttles start 2.5 hours prior to competition and end 2.5 hours after the last competition ends each day.

Getting to cross country: Cross country is held on the White Oak Course adjacent to TIEC. Shuttles will be running continuously from spectator parking to both TIEC and White Oak, with all three points connected. I imagine that there will be signage on each bus indicating where it is headed; if not, ask your driver. Your options:

• Get dropped off at TIEC and walk over to cross country. If you have some time to kill before cross country starts, a visit to the vendor village is an easy way to fix that. The course finishes in the main U.S. Trust Arena, so you can follow the numbers backwards from there down to the busier section of the course (about a 20 minute walk).
• Get dropped off at TIEC and take shuttle from TIEC to White Oak. There’s a shuttle pickup at the far end of the Vendor Village, past the food truck court.
• Get dropped off at White Oak. There looks to be a couple different places to get dropped off or picked up along the course.

We couldn’t find a full venue map online so here’s a photo of a hard copy — zoom in to see shuttle routes and venue layout.

Getting in: You can print a copy of your tickets to show upon arrival or you can add them to your Apple wallet.

Getting around cross country: Course maps and orders of go will be available at the information booths at TIEC (see red “i” icons on map); we don’t know what the situation will be at White Oak. In the meantime, here’s another ghetto photo:

Thanks, Cheryl and Pat Bagnal for the hook-up!

Two fences, 23A and 24B, have been removed from the course. To view all the individual jumps, check out EN’s cross country course preview here.

Schedule: The start time is 11 a.m. EST with the final horse heading out on course at 3:03 p.m. The entries will now run at three minute intervals, shorted from four minutes on account of incoming weather. The order of go is the same as it was for dressage, with Team Canada’s Colleen Loach and Qorry Blue d’Argouges as our trailblazers. Order-of-go sheets will be available tomorrow at info booths.

See cross country start times here.

Team USA
11:09 a.m. – Will Coleman & Tight Lines
12:09 p.m. – Boyd Martin & Tsetserleg
1:00 p.m. – Lauren Kieffer & Vermiculus
1:27 p.m. – Lynn Symansky & Donner
2:30 p.m. – Phillip Dutton & Z

Team Canada
11 a.m. – Colleen Loach & Qorry Blue d’Argouges
12 p.m. – Lisa Marie Fergusson & Honor Me
12:51 p.m. – Hawley Bennett-Awad & Jollybo
1:21 p.m. – Jessica Phoenix & Pavarotti
2:21 p.m. – Selena O’Hanlon & Foxwood High

Schedule update: Show Jumping for Eventing at WEG Postponed Until Monday

What to wear: EN showed up to cross country day at the 2014 WEG in Normandy wearing an Uncle Sam costume (Jenni) and an American flag bikini (me), and they invited us back this year so pretty much anything goes. Go ahead and wave that flag — the more team spirited, the better! It’s fun to see everybody walking around with their nationalities on their sleeves.

Can you spot the EN photographer in this 2014 WEG pic? Photo by Leslie Wylie.

As of 9:30 a.m. the National Weather Service’s forecast for Mill Spring was as follows: “Showers, mainly after 1 p.m. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 78. North northeast wind around 18 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.”

Our amateur meteorological analysis is that it looks like the slow-moving, rotating storm is going to creep up on us and it’s going to start raining between noon and 1 p.m. but we’re going to be mostly on the edge of it during cross country. Pack your rain gear and keep your fingers crossed.

Radar at 9:30 a.m. via Weather.com.

What to bring: Think a wet cross country day at Kentucky — rain boots, rain gear, hand sanitizer, water container, etc. If you have a lightweight folding chair, that seems pretty posh. If you find yourself in dire need of something, don’t panic — the TIEC General Store probably has it.

Have a glance at this list of allowed/not allowed stuff, most of which is common sense. Officially there is a clear bag requirement, but security doesn’t seem to care much about enforcing it — they just check non-clear bags more carefully.

Eating/drinking: There are tents set up out on course which we expect will be dispensing of food and beverage tomorrow. If all else fails, you could catch the shuttle back to TIEC as the stop spits you out at the Vendor Village food truck court.

See you out there! Go Eventing.

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Ros Canter and Allstar B. Photo by Jenni Autry.

We’ve seen all 83 pairs in the dressage here at the World Equestrian Games, and all I can say is where’s the cross country? Only kidding. We saw some really good work over the last two days. Riders were dropping personal bests left and right. There were tears of joy (or was that sweat?), and we’ve got a very tight leaderboard going into cross country. We chat with a few eventers for their thoughts on the dressage, on the course and on the humidity:

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Julia Krajewski (GER) and Chipmunk FRH (1st—19.9)

On a sub-20 test: “He’s done 19-something twice before, so I felt a bit of pressure to produce it again. They joke about it, ‘do a 19 again,’ but I think secretly they mean it. It’s all about preparation, and certainly I can’t just pull him out of the stable and push a button and do a 19. Chipmunk felt really relaxed and I could ride for all the points — calm and collected like a professional, even if he’s only 10 years old. After a few movements I felt like, yes it could be good, but you never know how the judges see it. When I finished the audience went crazy, so I thought it could be a good score.

On the cross country course: “Probably the second water because we’ve got all five options and it goes from a A to G, which I’ve never before. They’re quite a few possibilities. You have to think what to do when something happens just to be prepared. Then probably 9AB. The skinny one down the hill is a proper question, and then another is the corners at 14. [There are] quite a few fences where you have to have your line right and be very concentrated. There are many with several options. We hopefully did a good job to find the best way for every horse on the team.”

On the heat during tomorrow’s cross country: “We had a really hot summer in Germany. It was over 30 degrees (86 fahrenheit) for more than 5 weeks, which I think helps at least, but the horses aren’t used to the humidity. This morning I had a cross country school and last Sunday we did a gallop where he felt really good. The rest is up to the rider and your feeling during the course. If you feel them tiring you have to slow down and do the pace they need. We are prepared to go fast, and we are prepared to slow down a little if necessary.”

Ingrid Klimke (GER) and SAP Hale Bob OLD (2nd—23.3):

On her test: “I was very pleased because he was so relaxed and so smooth, and I could really ride everything the way I wanted. He came in and right away at the start, so I was first a little worried, like why don’t they go ahead and ring the bell now because we are ready? But as soon as he entered the ring it was as if he knows his program, was listening, waiting. There was nothing he could do better.”

On the cross country: “I think there are some possibilities where it would be easier to run out, so the rides have to be really focused, but lucky fences and a wonderful course. I’m really happy it stays to the end (stays a full 10 minute course) because then we have the hill, and on top of the hill two more minutes, so it is a true course and that’s why we are here.”

Ros Canter (GBR) and Allstar B (3rd—24.6):

On her test: “I am absolutely over the moon with him. The last three or four years he has been ultra-consistent in this phase. He is just so amazing. No matter what the atmosphere, he never changes. I gave him a day off yesterday because he worked so well the day before. He has just got that temperament where he puts 100% in for me every time, and it’s more the pressure for me that I want to do him proud and everyone else who has helped get me here.”
On the course: “It looks a good course. The challenge is going to be the humidity and the potential weather conditions. As last team member to go, I don’t know what weather will be thrown at us yet. I will try to stick to the plan and hope I can deliver for the team. I know Team Great Britain is pleased that the longer course is still in place. Our selections were based a long that, and we’ve got the horses fit and ready to run, so we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

Phillip Dutton (USA) and Z (12th—27.6):

“He is such an improving horse. He loves to work and loves to train, and I couldn’t be more pleased with him,” he said. “We have trained for it (cross-country to be full distance, and the teams were picked for that. I think it is the right decision.”

Stefano Brecciaroli (ITA) and Byrnesgrove First Diamond (18th—28.4)

On his test: “I’m very pleased, it was the first time with the horse at this level. Today it felt good, there was one mistake and it was my mistake on the flying change, it was a little too late in asking the horse, so one mistake but the rest was very good. The horse tried very hard and it was a good result. We’ve had almost six months together and I think it is a good start.

On his coach, Andrew Nicholson: “I am very lucky to have a man behind me like Andrew. You know Andrew, he is sure about all so I listen to him and do the job. Andrew is a very good man and I’m pleased to have him here with me.”

Tim Price (NZL) and Cekatinka (11th—27.2)

“It’s very tight around that 27 number, it seems to be the magic number. She is a hot little mare lacking a little bit of experience in particular in an occasion like this. As you get closer to your dressage test, all you want is to just go in and be normal, not go in and change and for the most part she was really good in that way- she stayed focused and worked away. We had a bit of irritation in the middle of the test, I don’t know if a fly got on her or something so that was a bit of a shame but she came back to me and we got on with the job and she was really good.

“The cross country is demanding, none of us know what the time is going to be like because with a difficult time it heightens the difficulty everywhere else because everyone else is trying to go and do a good speed but it’s tomorrow and I’ve only just got this job done so now I can take it a little bit more seriously. It will be what it will be, we are pretty gutsy, the Kiwi’s and hopefully we’ll make a good plan together and go and execute.”

Andreas Dibowski (GER) and FRH Corrida (33rd—30.3)

“She was okay. She is a very young horse, so it was not a perfect test, but everything what I wanted to do worked good.

“I have walked the cross-country course twice. There are a lot of fences and we have a lot of possibilities, so we will make a plan A, B and maybe C. It depends on how much rain is coming. Nobody knows at the moment.”

Lynn Symansky (USA) and Donner (17th—28.3)

“I am so happy with my horse. He is an American-bred thoroughbred, and he tries his heart out. He was so good in there and I could not be happier. To be riding here on home soil, it is so awesome to be cheered by a home crowd. It gets us all amped up just that bit more, especially for cross-country day.

“It looks a good course. This horse is born for a track like this, so I am hoping it ends up being as tough as it possibly can be tomorrow.”

Tom McEwen (GBR) and Toledo de Kerser (19th—28.3)
“I am really pleased with the test. It was a shame about the last change with one too many strides, but he was awesome.We have a strong team score, which is the main thing.

“I don’t think the cross-country course should be underestimated. It is possibly not the biggest course we’ve jumped, but saying that, it is technical, it is strong and you have got to keep your wits about you. There are plenty of strong questions out there, so a lot to get on and ride.”

Sandra Auffarth (GER) and Viamant du Matz (35th—30.6)

“I’m really happy with my horse. He’s really young, I have been riding him since he was four, so for the last five years and he has had great development over the last three or four months, he’s learning every week and I’m really happy. It was not the plan that I ride him here, my plan was of course to ride Opgun Louvo so I’m really happy with him.

“I think the cross country course is good for him, he gave me a really good feeling in the last competitions so I’m looking forward to it.”

The start of Wednesday’s endurance race. Photo by FEI/Martin Dokoupil.

The FEI has confirmed that the WEG endurance horse Barack Obama, ridden by Jenny Champion for Team New Zealand, was euthanized this afternoon. The 20-year-old Anglo-Arab gelding was transported to the on-site endurance veterinary clinic after the second loop of the 120-kilometre race and treated for kidney problems, then transferred to the Tryon Equine Hospital for further treatment.

The horse’s owner, Mark Round, in consultation with the athlete and veterinarians, today elected for euthanasia. In accordance with FEI Veterinary Regulations, a post mortem will be conducted and samples will be taken from the horse.

The horse had been competing in international endurance events since 2009 and had 16 FEI event starts, including six 160-kilometer rides. Jenny garnered six wins with the horse since taking over the ride in 2014. Equestrian Sports NZ shared a story about the pair’s journey to WEG here.

Equestrian Sport NZ High Performance Director Sarah Dalziell-Clout said the entire team is devastated by the loss. “He passed a comprehensive vet test prior to leaving NZ and was in good health leading into the race, passing the first two vet checks at the competition,” she said. “Leading into the race the team vet Nick Page was confident the horse was race-ready.”

She described Jenny as a true horsewoman and noted that the rider pulled him up immediately after sensing that something was not right, well before the race was canceled. She sought veterinary assistance and the horse was treated as soon as possible.

FEI President Ingmar de Vos, FEI Veterinary Director Göran Akerström, and President of the Endurance Veterinary Commission Thomas Timmons addressed the media at a press conference this afternoon. They emphasized that equine welfare was the reason for the race’s abandonment, citing the combination of extreme heat and humidity, an unusually high number of horses displaying clinical signs of metabolic issues, and the additional exertion required of the horses following heavy rainfall. Of 95 starters, over 50 horses received veterinary treatment during or after the race.

The circumstances surrounding the misdirection of riders, which solicited a restart and shortening of race distance, are still being investigated. Click here for EN’s original race report.

EN sends its deepest condolences to Jenny, Mark and Barack Obama’s team and supporters.

[FEI: statement on horse fatality]

[Equestrian Sport NZ: Tragic News in The New Zealand Camp at WEG]