Photo courtesy of Aiken Horse Park.
Welcome to what is sure to be a thrilling finale of the $50,000 Liftmaster Grand Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field in Aiken, Sc. We’ve been treated to some exciting action over the first two phases from which West coast rider Tamie Smith and Mai Baum have emerged as overnight leaders on a score of 23.3.
We’ll see a total of 35 combinations leaving the startbox to context Capt. Mark Phillips’ cross country today beginning at 2:30 p.m. EST. You can follow along with a Horse & Country TV subscription (which is well worth the low monthly cost and also comes with no obligation) by clicking here. Refresh this page periodically for the latest updates from the last phase of competition.
Optimum time for the track, which consists of 22 jumping efforts, will be 3 minutes and 49 seconds.
$50,000 Liftmaster Grand Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field: Website, Entries, Live Scores, XC Course Preview, H&C TV, USEF Network, EN’s Coverage
5:36 p.m. EST: Tamie says Lexus was a bit “wild” at the beginning – “I’m not sure that was a ride you’d want to copy!” she tells Frankie – but what an accomplishment for the German Sport Horse gelding who will head to Kentucky in April if all goes to plan. Here’s a look at your final top 10 (view full scores here) – stay tuned for more from Bruce’s Field! Thanks for following along with us.
5:27 p.m. EST: She did it!! Tamie stuck to her guns and got Mai Baum’s confidence blooming the farther she went. Tamie comes all the way from California to WIN the third annual $50,000 Liftmaster Grand Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field!
GIF via H&C TV.
5:26 p.m. EST: Over the Carolina Bay Flower Box to the corner:
GIF via H&C TV.
5:24 p.m. EST: Lexus stands wayyy off from the fence 2, the Palmetto Golf Club but they’re clear.
5:23 p.m. EST: Tamie has six seconds of time in hand.
5:22 p.m. EST: Pressure’s on! Liz comes home handily inside the time. Can Tamie and Mai Baum hang on?
GIF via H&C TV.
5:20 p.m. EST: Deniro Z and Liz take out the right flag at the big open corner at fence 9 – hard to tell from the camera angle but he looked to be safe from my view.
5:18 p.m. EST: Boyd could not afford a second of time to take the lead, he’ll instead pick up about 1.2 time penalties to finish on a provisional score of 29.5. We’ll now see Liz Halliday Sharp and Deniro Z, currently in second on a 25.8.
5:16 p.m. EST: Boyd hangs out for five strides to the big corner:
GIF via H&C TV.
5:14 p.m. EST: Boyd Martin and Long Island T are our next to go, with just three more to see. This pair is currently on a 28.3.
5:12 p.m. EST: Sara and Rubens d’Ysieux are clear! She picks up about 2.4 time.
5:11 p.m. EST: Sara and Rubens clear through the Banksia Bank at 10 and 11.
GIF via H&C TV.
5:07 p.m. EST: Clayton is home with 9 seconds of time. Next in will be Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Rubens d’Ysieux, on a score of 29.7.
5:05 p.m. EST: Buck says he brought Erroll Gobey here a couple years ago and had some trouble, so he’s really pleased with the 11-year-old’s performance here this weekend. “He’s definitely grown up and he was good in all three phases so I’m really happy,” he tells Frankie.
5:03 p.m. EST: Now away are Clayton Fredericks and FE Always In Time, coming in on a score of 30.6.
5:02 p.m. EST: Buck and Erroll Gobey over the Carolina Bay Flower Box to the Triple Brush at 15 and 16. Buck has finished just under the time!
GIF via H&C TV.
5:00 p.m. EST: “I really can’t complain, one second cumulative for all three is pretty awesome.” – Doug after his ride with Quantum Leap.
4:58 p.m. EST: We’ll next see Buck Davidson with Erroll Gobey, coming in on a score of 30.6.
4:57 p.m. EST: Another great run for Doug, and they come home one second over to add .4 time. Overall a great showing from the Payne team this weekend!
4:55 p.m. EST: A nice shot over the Hitchcock Woods Fox Squirrel at fence 6 for Quantum Leap:
GIF via H&C TV.
4:53 p.m. EST: And we’re off with Doug and Quantum Leap!
4:50 p.m. EST: We’re just on a slight hold while the crew fixes the ground line at the Banksia Bank. We’ll see Doug Payne with Quantum Leap next, currently on a score of 30.7.
4:47 p.m. EST: Bummer, Tamie hits the deck at the bounce of the Banksia Bank, when Danito peeked and ducked to the left. They look to be ok, and we’ll see Tamie back shortly with overnight leader Mai Baum.
4:44 p.m. EST: “Blackie” slips on landing coming back down the Banksia Bank, and she comes home about 4 seconds over time. Next out are Tamie Smith and Danito, in sixth currently on a score of 29.2.
GIF via H&C TV.
4:40 p.m. EST: We’ll now see Liz back on her second of three rides, Fernhill By Night, currently on a score of 26.4.
4:39 p.m. EST: Boyd and Luke 140 are home 7 seconds over time to finish the weekend on a 31.1.
GIF via H&C TV.
4:34 p.m. EST: We’re moving now into the top 10, and it’s really anyone’s game at this point given the challenges of the time. We’ll see Boyd and Luke 140 shortly.
4:33 p.m. EST: Lillian says this was good practice for her – she actually calls herself not the fastest rider so this was good for her to go out and get the time.
4:30 p.m. EST: We’ll have about five minutes before we see Boyd Martin back with Luke 140, coming forward on a score of 28.3.
4:29 p.m. EST: Lillian comes home easily inside the time with LCC Barnaby, the second fastest time of the day – I believe I heard 3 minutes, 42 seconds.
4:25 p.m. EST: Next out are Lillian Heard and LCC Barnaby, currently in 13th on a score of 33.1. This pair is quick across the country so this should be fun!
4:24 p.m. EST: 10 seconds over for Annie and Fedarman B – a different camera angle of the Bruce’s Field Logs:
GIF via H&C TV.
4:22 p.m. EST: “The cross country is pretty quick and fast and you’ve got to react quickly and the horses have to be looking for the next jump pretty early on. I think it is educational for everyone.” – Phillip after his ride on Fernhill Singapore.
4:20 p.m. EST: Next out are Annie Goodwin and Fedarman B on a score of 34.4.
4:19 p.m. EST: Phillip sees a good one and pushes Singapore to meet him there. They’re home now easily inside the time!
GIF via H&C TV.
4:18 p.m. EST: Phillip goes around the chevron to get to the Carolina Bay Flower Box, which sets him up on a really nice line to walk down to the corner in four:
GIF via H&C TV.
4:14 p.m. EST: Doug comes home one second inside the time for Doug’s second double clear of the day. Phillip Dutton is back now with Fernhill Singapore, currently in 15th on a score of 33.9.
4:12 p.m. EST: A good shot over the Banksia Bank for Doug and Starr Witness:
GIF via H&C TV.
4:07 p.m. EST: Bummer! Clayton parts ways from FE Stormtrooper after a bit of a miscommunication heading to the big Aiken Post Office corner. They got a bit off their line and FE Stormtrooper ended up jumping too wide, jostling Clayton. He’s right up on his feet and looks no worse for the wear, as does his horse. We’ll next see Doug Payne with his Pan American Games partner Starr Witness, currently in 12th on a score of 31.2.
4:06 p.m. EST: “It’s great to know that we can get it done and be a good bit inside and not feel like I took any huge risks. The horse was brilliant, it’s his first run of the year and I couldn’t ask for more.” – Liz with Frankie on her ride aboard Cooley Quicksilver.
4:04 p.m. EST: Liz gets a shot of confidence with a double clear and the fastest of the day so far! She’ll feel great about that as she looks ahead to her higher placed rides. Clayton Fredericks is back now with FE Stormtrooper, on a score of 33.9.
4:02 p.m. EST: A pat for Cooley Quicksilver after a great shot over fence 7, The Willcox.
GIF via H&C TV.
p.m. EST:
3:56 p.m. EST: We’ll see Liz Halliday-Sharp riding out of order next with her first of three rides, Cooley Quicksilver, currently on a score of 30.0.
3:55 p.m. EST: The best moments:
GIF via H&C TV.
3:54 p.m. EST: Sharon and Cooley On Show pick up just one second of time, so close! A great ride from these two.
3:53 p.m. EST: Sharon and Cooley On Show elect for the inside turn here to the Carolina Bay Flower Box to the big corner:
GIF via H&C TV.
3:49 p.m. EST: Dana comes home with 3.6 time penalties to finish on a 39.5. Next out will be Sharon White with Cooley On Show, coming forward on a score of 34.6. “Louie” is ready to go!
GIF via H&C TV.
3:46 p.m. EST: A look at the big open oxer, The Aiken, at fence three:
GIF via H&C TV.
3:45 p.m. EST: Dana Cooke and FE Mississippi are next out of the box on a score of 35.9.
3:44 p.m. EST: Phillip has Z in a nice rhythm and makes quick work of 15 and 16, the Carolina Flower Box to the Triple Brush. This pair adds two seconds of time.
GIF via H&C TV.
3:41 p.m. EST: Fun fact: Doug forgot to start his watch at the start! He credits a strong partnership with “Quinn” and the 17-year-old’s adjustability for making the intensity of this type of track much more doable. “There’s not much that compares to it,” he tells Frankie.
3:39 p.m EST: 3 minutes, 46 seconds for Doug and Vandiver, the second double clear and fastest time of the day so far. Phillip Dutton and Z are next out on a score of 34.1.
3:38 p.m. EST: Doug illustrates the inside turn at the chevron here. This is en route to fences 8 and 9, the Carolina Bay Flower Box and the Aiken Post Office corner.
GIF via H&C TV.
3:35 p.m EST: Clayton and FE Ophelia add a handful of time (apologies, I missed the exact time!). Next out will be Doug Payne with his old campaigner, Vandiver. Look for this pair to be quick and nippy!
GIF via H&C TV.
3:30 p.m. EST: Sydney is the first one inside the time! 5 seconds inside the time for this pair, putting them on a finishing score of 37.5. “He was super! This course is made for him, just tight turns and just keep moving. He’s fantastic,” she tells Frankie at the end. Clayton Fredericks and FE Ophelia are next out on a score of 34.2.
3:28 p.m. EST: Sydney shows us the flower box to the corner that comes after the aforementioned turn:
GIF via H&C TV.
3:26 p.m. EST: Next out are Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire on a score of 37.5.
3:25 p.m. EST: Emily and Corvett come home 12 or 13 seconds over time. “This horse is jumping his eyeballs out!” comes over the loudspeaker.
GIF via H&C TV.
3:22 p.m. EST: Nilson says Rock Phantom was pretty strong the whole way around, and had he been able to ride a bit more the beginning he may have made the time. We’re getting closer to that elusive double clear!
3:20 p.m. EST: Nilson and Rock Phantom come home with a clear round, quite quick looking. He’ll hold the quickest round of the bunch so far with 3 minutes, 56 seconds. Next out will be Emily Hamel with Corvett – this one is always fun to watch with his unorthodox jumping style!
3:15 p.m. EST: Colleen and “CR” are home with 9.2 time penalties. “What a good man!”, she tells him at the finish. Next out will be Brazil’s Nilson Da Dilva and Rock Phantom, on a score of 38.6.
3:12 p.m. EST: This GIF illustrates a turn that may end up being somewhat influential, depending on whether you elect to go inside or outside of the chevron. You’re setting up a line to a flower box to a big corner that I’ll capture next.
GIF via H&C TV.
3:10 p.m. EST: Missy Miller and Quinn are also home clear, with 7.2 time penalties added. Colleen is back now with a quick turnaround for her second ride, Covert Rights, currently on a score of 47.2.
3:08 p.m. EST: In case you guys thought that remote event reporting was glamorous, allow me to dissuade you. But – at least I have a desk dog?
3:06 p.m. EST: Buck Davidson will not be running Carlevo, and Holly Jacks Smither has also withdrawn her second ride, Candy King.
3:05 p.m. EST: Boyd picks up 10.4 time penalties, also on a very smooth-looking ride. We’ll have to see what he takes from this ride to modify in his next two. Next out is Missy Miller with Quinn on a score of 40.0.
3:04 p.m. EST:
3:02 p.m. EST: Thomas shows off his skinny skillz:
GIF via H&C TV.
3:00 p.m. EST: Karl Slezak comes home in 4 minutes, 5 seconds. Next out will be Boyd Martin with Pan American Games gold medal winner Tsetserleg.
GIF via H&C TV.
2:57 p.m. EST: I apologize for not catching it on GIF, but Karl Slezak is the first to get more bold with his lines – we’ll likely start seeing more of these decisions as it becomes more apparent that the time requires some extra gumption. Holly Jacks Smither muses that the time is definitely possible, noting a couple places where she added too much.
2:56 p.m. EST: Another Canadian rider, Karl Slezak, sets out of the box with Fernhill Wishes with plenty of speed to burn. Commentator Kevin Keane observes that the riders will likely need to get ahead on the clock early, because they aren’t going to find it easily later on.
2:54 p.m. EST: Holly is the quickest so far on 4 minutes even.
GIF via H&C TV.
2:50 p.m. EST: Canada’s Holly Jacks-Smither and her longtime partner More Inspiration are now on course riding on a score of 42.2.
2:49 p.m. EST:Emporium comes home clear in 4 minutes, 21 seconds. Ashlynn looks thrilled!
2:47 p.m. EST: “I am absolutely thrilled with how he ran. Really and truly it’s not going to be easy, the ones that get the time are going to have to have incredibly smooth, bold rides with absolutely no wasted moments.” – Colleen on her ride with Frankie Thieriot Stutes. Indeed, her ride looked quite quick and was still 15 seconds over!
2:45 p.m. EST: 4 minutes and 14 seconds is the time for Colleen and Confidence Game, who really looked to gain confidence as he went. Next up will be Montana-based Ashlynn Meuchel and Emporium, on a score of 44.9.
2:43 p.m. EST: Confidence Game gets a test of footwork through the Banksia Bank question. Colleen is using all of her experience to get this lesser experienced ride of hers around, but they’re having a positive ride to this point.
GIF via H&C TV.
2:41 p.m. EST: Next out are Colleen Rutledge with the stallion Confidence Game, currently on a score of 48.4.
2:39 p.m. ET: A look at the tricky Banksia Bank at fence 10, a nice ride from Alex and “Elmo”. Alex is home clear with 11.2 time penalties.
GIF via H&C TV.
2:35 p.m. EST: Jules is home in 4:17, picking up time over the optimum of 3:49. Next out is the only young rider in field, Alex Baugh with Mr. Candyman, currently on a 49.1.
GIF via H&C TV.
2:32 p.m. EST: There’s a LOT to look at for these horses, almost like you’re in a bit of a fishbowl. It’s hard to get up to a good rhythm in some areas, and Cooley O feels some effects of this stickiness early on but they’re kicking on a bit more now.
2:30 p.m. EST: And we’re all set to go here in Aiken! First out of the box will be Jules Ennis with Cooley O, standing in 38th on a 52.4.
