This was the scene at the second water jump on the CCI* at about the time cross-country was due to start at 8am. That skinny log that you can barely see in the middle of the water is the C element of Jump 7, and eventually, after much deliberation, the Ground Jury and Organiser Mary Fike opted to remove it, as well as the B element, the drop down into water from the course.
Deliberations!
The riders were given the option of crossing the bridge or galloping through the water, and after alerting all the competitors to the changes, cross country started at 8:35am. Wouldn’t you know, by then the fog had all but lifted and visibility was almost perfect. I would NOT have wanted to have made the decision though, definitely a case of you’re damned if you do, and damned if you don’t. The course caused a fair amount of trouble without the second water jump anyway. The first water was responsible for quite a few refusals and eliminations, I saw a couple at the coffin over in the far field, and there were some others spread out over the course.
Will Coleman was a fantastic pathfinder on his lovely OTTB Ole Boy who won the CCI* at Plantation earlier this year; this horse, not surprisingly, has a terrific gallop and ate up the ground. They posted a clear within the time to hang onto fourth place, and yes, that is frost on the grass. The top four remain the same this evening as they did last night. The trot-up is at 8am tomorrow morning (yawn!) and the CCI* will show-jump at noon, followed by their mounted awards.
Penny Rowland and Northwind Breeze (CAN) maintain their hold on the CCI*
Anne Kaufman and Broadway Finale in the CCI*
Blair Nicol for Canada on Top Gun in the CCI*
Charlotte Evans, also for Canada in the CCI*, on Mail Order Bride
Lawman and Kari Briggs
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| Christine Duke and Sportsfield One O Two. Photo used with kind permission of Sam English, many thanks. |
Dasha Ivandaeva and Autorytet in the CCI* for Canada
Canadian Diana Burnett in the CCI* on With a Whisper
Jordan Thompson on Amaretto for Canada contesting the CCI*
Kari Briggs on Lawman CCI*
Katie Eckert on Sassaparilla Kid in the CCI*
Nicolette Merle-Smith with Ganymede in the CCI*
Randall Pearre and The Flying Ace over Fence 15 in the CCI*
Robin Walker and Rowdy Friend, one of two rides for Robin in the CCI*
Sharon MIller Miesque Star in the CCI*
Shelby Wietharn and Desert Storm in the CCI*
Barbara Allen and Equinox in the Prelim 3 Day
Lara Borson Knight and Shooby Do in the Prelim Three Day
Tom Borthwick and Mischief’s Replica in the Prelim Three Day
Cherie Chauvin on Katchi Kapshi through the second water in the Training Three Day. I was thrilled to catch up with Visionaire today, who I haven’t seen in far too long, and it absolutely made my day week month year. This was her pick as soon as she saw him cantering down to the water, and look at him over the ditch…!
Visionaire then confirmed her status as superior eye for a horse when I saw her new project, an absolutely stunning 3 year old OTTB, and with her permission I’ll publish a picture of him in a future post; in the meantime I’ll just want him!
Jennifer White and Fast Ball in the Training Three Day
Katie Lockhart and Loughnatousa Max in the Training Three Day
Lauren Romanelli on SPF’s Big Idea
Brad Hall rode Eva in the Training Three Day
Cindy Bonamarte and Puma in the Training Three Day water
Janice Holmes and Sloan Ranger in the Training Three Day
Please keep an eye on my blog for some interviews with terrific people and riders, I was lucky to meet some lovely competitors and owners today, as well as persuade a couple of old friends to chat for a few minutes, and they’ll be online soon. Also some photos from the Training Three Day Ten Minute Box, and lots more from show-jumping tomorrow. Apologies for forgetting to post my own scores last night, but massive thank you to Jackie at Stone Gate Farm for supplying the link in the comments section. You can stay up to date with all the scores here, just refresh your page regularly.
Thank you as always for reading, and a big thank you to EN Juan, leader of ‘The Nation’, who completely hit it out of the park today at the Pan Ams in Guadalajara. Fighting back from a stomach bug he brought us the fastest results on twitter, interviews with the US and Canadian riders, pictures, and full reports all within minutes, I’m in absolute awe! Thank you all and go eventing!
