Kentucky Cross Country Open Thread, Presented by SmartPak: fischerRocana Reigns Supreme

By on Apr 28, 2018 9:55 am -

The moment we’ve all been waiting for is here — it’s cross country day at the Land Rover Kentucky Three Day Event! This is the page you’ll want to keep refreshing all day for all the action as it happens. Also follow our twitter feed (@eventingnation) for more live updates.

Cross country will be hugely influential. The entire field is spread across just 22.4 points without the dressage coefficient, meaning time penalties will prove costly. Our overnight leader, Marilyn Little, has room for just about five seconds, so she’ll have to put the pedal down to stay on top.

If you’re on site and want to experience cross country day with a mimosa and a certain celebrity status chinchilla, then come enjoy the EN’s 6th Annual ‘Insanity in the Middle’ Tailgate, Presented by Amerigo! We’re in spaces S294 and S295. Click here for more info.

We’ll kick things off with the first rider at 11 a.m. EST. To catch EN’s course preview click here. Click here to catch up on all of EN’s coverage from #LRK3DE. Go Eventing.

#LRK3DE Links: Website, Ride Times, Schedule, Live Stream, Live Scores, Course Preview, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Ultimate Guide, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

4:46 p.m. EST Thanks for hanging in there with us, EN! Our servers famously crash every year in Kentucky, and this year proved different only in the length and intensity of the technical issues! #ChichCrash2018 tried to slow us down, but we kept right on. Read on below if you missed any of the action today. Also check out our twitter feed (@eventingnation), which followed the action in ~actual~ real time.

2:16 p.m 

2:15 p.m. We finish cross country day with just a few too many international riders at the top for our liking, but Lynn and Donner are in the hunt!

2:12 p.m. She was looking a little down on the time but she actually came through the finish only one second over.

2:10 p.m. Patrick with a super jump up the Normandy Bank.  They’re just a bit down on the clock.

2:10 p.m. Lauren is clear through the Head of the Lake with Patrick! She’s our final rider on course.

2:09 p.m. Oliver Townend has officially gotten two clear rounds! (GIF)

2:07 p.m. Oliver is right on his time in the final drag toward home.

2:06 p.m. Oliver charges down the hill after the Normandy bank. Sending spectators at the ropes running!

2:05 p.m. Cooley Master Class isn’t looking at all like the horse from the start. Going very boldly now.

2:04 p.m. Two seconds above the time for Phillip Dutton and I’m Sew Ready.

2:03 p.m. Oliver clear through the hollow / Lauren clear through the first water

2:02 p.m. Cooley Master Class is looking much more confident at this point in the course. Nice ride through the Rolex Grand Slam Challenge.

2:01 p.m. Brilliant riding through the water for Phil

1:59 p.m. Oliver had to dig deep and keep this horse going through the coffin.

1:58 p.m. Very scary ride for Phillip at the table in the hollow, but I’m Sew Ready somehow gets them over it.

1:57 p.m. Third-placed Oliver Townend heads out with Cooley Master Class in the horse’s first four-star.

1:57 p.m. Phillip and I’m Sew Ready good on the clock at fence 7.

1:55 p.m. Buck is home with just 1.2 time penalties for a current top ten place with Copper Beach.

1:54 p.m. Phillip Dutton and I’m Sew Ready have a very quick ride through the first water.

1:53 p.m. Great ride through the Normandy Bank for Buck. He’s a bit down on the time, but very close.

1:52 p.m. Donner and Lynn are home clear! They are the top US Pair in fourth provisionally.

1:50 p.m. Big discussions between Buck and Copper Beach through the Hollow but theyre clear.

1:49 p.m. Colleen has a second jump error at the Mighty Mogul fence at 26B.

1:48 p.m. Textbook ride through the Head of the Lake with Lynn and Donner.

1:47 p.m. Buck is taking on his third completion here with Copper Beach.

1:46 p.m. Lynn and Donner fly through the Rolex Grand Slam Challenge water. They are gunning for a clear.

1:45 p.m. We are hearing now that Colleen and CR picked up a stop at the corner at 10b, The Rolex Grand Slam Water

1:45 p.m. 20 jumping and 7.2 time penalties for Kim.

1:44 p.m. Dreams dashed. Kim and Cross have a stop at the b element of the Mighty Moguls.

1:43 p.m. Lynn Symansky and Donner are out. They put forward a very efficient ride through the first water.

1:42 p.m. Kim charges through the Normandy bank. Crossy looks like he’s got more than enough run left.

1:41 p.m. Pawel is home with 2 time penalties.

1:41 p.m. Clear through the Head of the Lake and Kim is right on the clock.

1:40 p.m. Baneras looks a bit tired, but Pawel is doing a great job of getting him home.

1:39 p.m. Erin Sylvester and Paddy the Caddy came home inside the time.

1:38 p.m. Kim absolutely blazes through the Rolex Grand Slam Challenge at 10.

1:37 p.m. Pawel takes the long route at the Head of the Lake

1:36 p.m. Great riding through the coffin at 6. Kim is looking determined.

1:35 p.m. Banderas catches a hind leg on 15b, but Pawel sits it.

1:34 p.m. Kim does the quick three in the first water.

1:33 p.m. 18.4 time penalties for Elisa Wallace. Simply Priceless finishes full of running.

1:32 p.m. GO CROSSY! He and Kim are off and away.

1:31 p.m. Pawel Spisak looks very determined in the back seat through the coffin.

1:30 p.m. Paddy the Caddy looking very bold through the Hollow.

1:29 p.m. We’re finally getting a glimpse of Elisa at fence 20. She’s clear so far just a bit down on the time.

1:28 p.m. After the last combination, she’s over the time. Coming home with 7.6 time penalties for fourth place.

1:27 p.m. Marilyn and Kitty are on the long hill toward the finish. They’re just slightly loosing the clock.

1:26 p.m. I held my breath through the Normandy Bank. Marilyn took and chance and made it look easy.

1:26 p.m. Elisa Wallace and Simply Priceless are out of course. They’re clear through 9 so far.

1:25 p.m. Clear, bold ride through the Head of the Lake for Marilyn. She’s good on the clock so far.

1:24 p.m. Will Coleman is home in 10:44 seconds. Fastest ride of the day, and Phish looks ready to start the whole thing over.

1:23 p.m. Super ride through the hollow for Marilyn and Kitty.

1:21 p.m. Marilyn’s round is looking very solid. She heads to the hollow.

1:20 p.m. Chris Burton home two seconds under the time! Michael still leads but only by the skin of his teeth.

1:19 p.m. A right drift to 4C at the first water gave an unpleasant jump, but Marilyn gallops off.

1:17 p.m. Kitty is bounding out of the startbox

1:16 p.m. Will Coleman shows Tight Lines the way through the coffin at 6. They get it done

1:16 p.m. Nobilis is so damn quick-footed. He is so economical going toward the head of the lake.

1:15 p.m. Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous head to the box

1:13 p.m. Quick conversation between Burto and Nobilis at 10B

1:11 p.m. Super goes so far for Bughley winners Chris Burton and Nobilis 18. Clear through fence 6.

1:08 p.m. Kelly Prather home clear inside the time! Well done!

1:07 p.m. AH! A glance off the corner at 6D for Steady Eddie. He calls it a day there.

1:05 p.m. We have word that Lillian picked up 20 penalties at the Head of the Lake.

1:04 p.m. Chip stride to the massive ditch and brush for Tim Bourke. He kicks on.

Tim Bourke and Luckaun Quality hopping through Pete’s Hollow #LRK3DE

A post shared by U.S. Eventing Association (@useventing) on

1:03 p.m. Four star table or novice fence? You tell us

1:02 p.m. Speedsters Tim Bourke and Lauckaun Quality are off and away. They will go for the time.

1:01 p.m. We didn’t see much of her on the live stream, but Lisa Marie and Honor Me are home with 5.6 time penalties.

1:00 p.m. Kelley Prather and Truly Wiley are looking fab in the first parts of the course.

12:59 p.m. Lillian and LCC Barnaby squeak over 13A, but make a good run for the offset logs at 15.

12:55 p.m. Lillian Heard and LCC Barnaby haven’t shown up on the live stream yet, but they are clear through 7 so far.

12:54 p.m. Landioso hangs a leg at the log on the Normandy bank. Mackenna saves it!

12:53 p.m. A little stumble on landing into the Head of the Lake for Mackenna, but she stays right on and they get a beautiful jump over the corner.

12:51 p.m. Arg! A fall for Allie Knowles at the Normandy Bank.

12:47 p.m. Mackenna Shea and Landioso super through the first water

12:46 p.m. Lauren is just a hair down on the time. She should put the pedal down between here and the finish.

12:45 p.m. Lauren is so bold through the Head of the Lake. She wants that time!

12:44 p.m. Lauren does the four between the offset logs at 15. This hasn’t been riding very well so far, but she gave it a beautiful look.

12:43 p.m. Allie Knowles and Sound Prospect are away and clear through 6 so far.

12:42 p.m. Caroline Martin has withdrawn The Apprentice

12:41 p.m. Bug thinks the water at 10ABC is easy peasy!

12:40 p.m. Oliver Townend home 6 seconds under the time! Fastest ride of the day so far, and fifth clear.

12:39 p.m. Textbook through the first water for Vermiculus.

12:38 p.m. Oliver wastes absolutely no time at the Normandy Bank.

12:38 p.m. Lauren and Bug are off!

12:37 p.m. Home clear for Carlevo! One more to go for Buck.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiHvZqYnwEy/?taken-by=useventing

12:37 p.m. Quick & clear through the Head of the Lake for Oliver.

12:35 p.m. Buck makes the Mighty Moguls his master this time through!

12:34 p.m. Oliver is using King Joules’ big gallopy stride to make up some time. Made it in three strides between the offset logs at 15.

12:34 p.m. Well done for Buck at the Normandy Bank. Keeps Carlevo between the flags.

12:33 p.m. HUGE leap into the the water at 10A, aptly named the Rolex Grand Slam Challenge, as Oliver is chasing that challenge himself.

12:31 p.m. Slight drift left into the Head of the Lake, Buck lets him take his time and goes clear.

12:30 p.m. Agh! A wild ride through the water at 4abc for Oliver Townend. They get away with it.

12:29 p.m. Holly takes the long route into the Head of the Lake. Doesn’t quite get her canter back before the corner in the water, and is jumped out of the tack. Horse & rider both ok.

12:28 p.m. Carlevo looks to be backing off a little at the coffin at 6. Buck is having to work hard.

12:28 p.m. Eyes are on Oliver Townend now. We expect him to make the time today with MHS Kind Joules

12:27 p.m. Buck through the first water with his second ride Carlevo.

12:25 p.m. Ashley finishes clear with 33.6 time penalties.

12:23 p.m. Great ride through the first water for Holly Jacks Smither. She’s hugging her line!

12:21 p.m. Eek! Tactical Maneuver climbs through the brush at 21d. Over, under or through right?

12:20 p.m. Great ride through the long route at the Head of the Lake for Ashley.

12:19 p.m. Lots of strides added for Ashley at the offset logs. She is determined for a clear round.

12:18 p.m. A stop at 4a for Hawley Bennett-Awad and Jolly bo. She puts a hand up. Heartbreaking early end to their day.

12:17 p.m. Sticky ride for Ashley over the alternate corner at 10b, but still looking good.

12:14 p.m. Lovely ride through the Mighty Mogels for Sharon. She’s headed home and looking quite good on time.

12:13 p.m. Ashley Johnson and Tactical Maneuver make their way through the start of the course.

12:11 p.m. Sara and Polaris have done it! First 4* cross country finish!

12:10 p.m. Sharon saw four, but Louie said he needed the five at the angled trees at 15ab. They made it work.

12:08 p.m. Louie looking so game. She is one of the first riders to do five strides between 12 and 13A.

12:07 p.m. They had a wiggle on the way into the coffin combination at 6, but gets it done!

12:06 p.m. Sharon White out on course. Go Louie!

12:05 p.m. Andrea is home with 40 jump penalties and 19.2 time penalties.

12:03 p.m. Huge jump from Rookie Sara Gumbiner and Polaris at 6D!

11:56 a.m. Knowing her past issues with right handed corners, Andrea goes the long way at 10ABC and makes it clear.

11:56 a.m.

11:55 a.m. Kelecyn Cognac slams the breaks at 15b.

11:54 a.m. We haven’t seen any of her, but Andrea Baxter and Indy 500 are on course and clear so far.

11:53 a.m. Great riding by Waylon Roberts through 10ABC

11:51 a.m. He was down on the time, but he made it up in the last quarter of the course finishing bang on optimum. Unreal.

11:48 a.m. Yikes! A very sticky ride through the head of the lake for Michael, but he gets away with it. He’s 5-6 seconds down on the clock.

11:47 a.m. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiHnkZUA-wt/?tagged=lrk3de

11:46 a.m. A master at work – Michael is right on the minute markers.

11:45 a.m. Woodge made it home inside the time. Way to go girl!

11:43 a.m. The crowd is going bananas for fisherRocana!

11:42 a.m. Michi does the four between 4a and 4b, but he’s hugging that line to save every second.

11:40 a.m. The queen is on course.

11:40 a.m. Goosebumps watching the Next Level Eventing crew run up to Tamie at the finish. Clear with a handful of time.  Well done!

11:39 a.m.

11:38 a.m. “It was a relentless course. He’s got so much heart that little guy.”  – Boyd

11:37 a.m. Tamie is a bit down on her time, but Wembley’s big stride should help.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiHpEBtnIpP/?tagged=lrk3de

11:36 a.m. Tamie makes the Head of the Lake look easy!

11:34 a.m. Scrappy riding from Woodge and Captain Jack.

11:32 a.m. Tamie doing an excellent job showing Wembley around Kentucky. I can practically hear the West Coast cheering for them!

11: 31 a.m.

11:30 a.m. “Come on!” Boyd encourages Tsetserleg through the Mighty Moguls. They come home 4 seconds over the time.

11:29 a.m. Boyd is down on the clock, but giving this horse a great ride. Tamie is out on course. Go Wembley!!

11:27 a.m. Boyd adds through the angled logs, but Tsetserleg looks happy to do it.

11:26 a.m. A clear round for Lillian! She picks up 19.6 time penalites.

11:25 a.m. Boyd has to dig deep at 10BC, but he gets it done!

11:24a.m. Joe has pulled up with Clip Clop.

11:23 a.m. Phillip Dutton comes home clear with a four-star first-timer. No one but Phil could make that happen! “I’m pretty proud of my little horse”- P’Dutty.

11:21 a.m. A stop for Joe Meyer and Clip Clop at 13 A.

11:21 a.m. Lillian looks like she’s having a canter around. Absolutely beautiful riding.

11:20 a.m.

11:19 a.m. Phillip has 30 second to get home. Z is looking a little through 27AB.

11:18 a.m.

11:15 a.m. 

11:15 a.m. Lillian Heard and Share Option are looking super out to start.

11:14 a.m. Z hangs a leg at both 15 A and B. Phillip does an excellent job to keep him going.

11:13 a.m. Caroline took the long route at the Head of the Lake. She is hunting for her first clear 4* despite time penalties.

11:11 a.m. Sticky ride for Caroline as she heads to the Head of the Lake

11:10 a.m. Buck has a run out at 26b. He will be very frustrated with that after such an excellent start.

11:08 a.m. Thanks to a lead from Richard Picken, Z and Phillip are out of the box!

11:06 a.m. Little bit of a flyer for Caroline at 4b, but Spring Easy picks up the distance easily.

11:05 a.m.

11:04 a.m. Caroline Martin and Spring easy are off!

11:02 a.m. Buck and Park Trader get the three strides through 4a-4b. He’s cruising.

11:00 a.m.

10:59 a.m. Buck circles the startbox squeee!

10:50 a.m. Jen McFall has also withdrawn High Times

10:48 a.m. Ronald Zabala-Goetschel has withdrawn Wundermaske in an effort to save the horse for WEG. He posted this update to his facebook page:

10:28 a.m.

10:02 a.m. 

10:00 a.m.