Link: Live XC scores–Advanced starts at 8:30am ET
The courses at Chattahoochee Hills are beautifully built and I’m looking forward to a great day of XC action. I mentioned the footing at Chattahoochee yesterday and everyone here has certainly done everything possible to make the ground as good as possible for the horses, and the footing is much improved from a few days ago thanks to the aggravator. As of 7:00am Saturday morning, it sounds like at most, if not all, of the US short listed horses (other than those galloping this morning) will run the full course, some going for the time, and most of the Canadians will run the full course as well. Whatever each rider decides to do, a lot of thought has been put into that decision and all that’s left to do is to execute that plan. One way or another, it’s going to be interesting to see how today plays out.
A big EN thank you to all of the volunteers for making XC possible at the AECs and good luck to all the competitors. Hannah Burnett is riding in the advanced on St. Barths and was kind enough to send some pictures and a preview of the cross-country for your reading pleasure.
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From Hannah:
Hey Eventing Nation! The XC here at Chattahoochee looks very nice & inviting overall–most likely to give the short listers a good confident ride before the WEG in a few short weeks. The first few jumps are big gallopy fences, #4ab is a roll top and then 6 forward strides up and down a mound to a skinny wedge.
5 & 6 are big tables on an angled forward 2 stride together. A couple more fences precede #12ab: big drop down & a really forward 4 strides to a toothbrush downhill. #14 is a collapsable table (which I’ve never seen in person & its cool!) #15ab are two big skinnies on a left bending 4 stride. A brush fence and roll top are before a vertical on an angled 2 strides to a wide open left-handed corner. The coffin is #20abc with a solid upright, one stride ditch, 2 strides over a skinny on a slight left bend.
The coffin at #20">
A few galloping tables come before the water jump at # 24abc: a drop, 5 strides brush type fence, slightly left 3 strides to a skinny & gallop out of the water.
The last combination is #25abc with a bank up, bounce over a rail and down a mound 6 strides to a right handed corner.
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On top of the bank complex at #25B, looking down at #25C
The other courses have some serious questions, including the prelim double corners.
Thanks so much to everyone here at Chatt Hills for running a lovely event, and mostly to Carl Bouchaert & the awesome title sponsor for the AECs this year–Land Rover. Good luck to everyone!
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Josh Walker’s great video from Friday at the AECs
