Jock and Promise, photo by Samantha
Cross-country proved to cause a lot of problems today at Pau. Mark Todd and Major Milestone took a big tumble, but they are reportedly fine. Just 22 of 60 starters finished clear and 28 starters failed to complete the course. 10 pairs did finish double-clear. Olympic team bronze medalists for New Zealand, Jonathan Paget and Clifton Paget moved up from 2nd overnight to take the lead. Will this be the weekend Jock wins his first four-star? He’s one show jumping round away. The terminator Michael Jung is in second with Leopin on 38.3. Andrew Nicholson and Nereo make it two Kiwis in the top three. Astier Nicolas and Jhakti du Janlie from hometown France are in 4th, within a rail of Jock. To give you a feel for how tough the XC rode, Kai Steffen-Meier and Karascada moved up from 43rd to 12th with 1.2 time penalties.
As for the USA, Buck Davidson and Ballynoecastle RM retired after two stops at the bank into the first water. Colleen Rutledge and Shiraz continued their four-star XC domination with a clear round, adding 28 time and moving up 27 spots. Canada’s Lindsey Traisnel (ne Pearce) had a stop at the Kiosks before retiring.
Samantha Clark was sending out awesome Tweets throughout the cross-country and she was kind enough to let us publish her notes and insights from the XC below. Please remember these are live notes, written in real time!
After the cross-country, Colleen posted this on her blog and her husband Brian was kind enough to send it our way:
Luke was his regular superstar man, going clear on a wicked cross country. My time was more than I have ever had, but looking to finish with numbers not letters is always my goal. I took more long routes than I ever have, but that was from our over-jumping fences in some of the combinations.This course is unlike any you’ve ever seen with completely man-made terrain on flat ground and turns upon turns. There is absolutely no seeing a spot because the jumps are hidden around behind in the combinations.It is still so amazing to watch the phenomenal riding that exists on the continent. Jung deserves every accolade he receives. WFP is a rock star, I want to be him when I grow up (or grow legs).I’m so proud of the pony, let’s hope he show jumps as well as we know he can.
A few quick notes from Samantha, written in real time:
First of all – Enormous thanks to Ruth Edge and John Kyle. They had fabulous commentary on FEI TV that was really enjoyable and informative. Also a disclaimer–I only saw what I saw on a computer screen, which doesn’t always give a true picture.
Colleen and Shiraz: It was very frustrating not to see Colleen at all except for sailing over last fence. Annoying! They finished with 28 time and clear. Colleen & Shiraz now four for four at four stars – only (!) Badminton and Adelaide to go to complete the set!
Buck and Reggie: Ballynoe astle looked surprised at the bank going down into first water. He put one leg down and almost jumped, changed his mind (Will Coleman London 2012), and then stopped a second time. Buck called it a day.
William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning – Class ride, no surprise. Although unhurried and rhythm like a metronome, they were by no means hanging around. They didn’t waste a single second away from fences. Chilli looked very fresh and full of running the whole way round. Took the long way at one combination near the end (I don’t think anyone actually took the short route) but otherwise straight thru, made it look like canter in park. Flawless.
Mr. Cruise Control – I didn’t see much of him but everything I saw looked pretty good. High head carriage, very genuine, looks like a nippy, very classy big pony, and looked more tired at the end than Chilli Morning
Kings Temptress – Picked up an early 20 at number 4, which is a corner off a bank. Came down and perhaps slipped very slightly but didn’t lock on and ran past it a bit. Shame. This fence caused more problems later on too
Highland Ford – Richard Jones, very quick long route at first water. What a clever, lovely genuine horse. Not as pretty to watch as William or Andrew but getting it done. Lost a shoe about halfway on. Aparently a problem at 18, the third water, but I didn’t see it.
Alice Montgomery and Gordon – Squeezed in extra stride coming out of first water, Gordon didn’t look like he was loving the going on the track. Sticky ride 2nd water but just kept on going and answering questions. Completed provisionally clear over the time, but then given a stop later.
Most horses putting in two strides coming out the first water up the bank to brush fence.
Ugo Provasi’s horse is a saint!
Clifton Pinot hangs a front leg at brush first part of first water and very sticky moment for both. Incredible stickabliity and will to survive, and then great positive ride away and through 2nd water. Settled a bit as course went on, super ride by Kevin. Kevin has spent summer in UK at Jock’s barn after taking ride on Pinot early in the year. Horse finished looking really good.
By Crikey – Took the flag off at fence 4, the corner at bottom of bank, where Mary had a problem. Then ground to a halt at duck the brush going into first water then retired
Nicky Roncoroni and Trig Point – Nicky has been on GB Equine Pathway for last four years. Looked good at four star debut, won CCI3* Ballindenisk, lovely jumper. Didn’t see much but liked everything I saw, completely different ride to Andrew, William, and Kevin. A really good star for the future, good example of GB program at work.
Philip Brun – Two refusals at second duck at first water, then third stop at brush coming out.
Very frustrating not to see Colleen at all except for sailing over last fence – 28 time and clear and instead had to see an elimination and a retirement and a stop early on. Annoying! Colleen & Shiraz now four for four at four stars – only (!) Badminton and Adelaide to go to complete the set!
Marecelo Tosi – Slow and struggling from the get go!
John Paul Sheffield – Cadoc Z was impressive through the first water but then a stop at second water at the first part of the bounce in, also stop here for Joe Wise and High Handed who was pulled up later for minor nose bleed.
Horsewares Parko – Cracking round, played safe with long route third water, smart riding.
Didier Dhenin – Eliminated at first water, tripped out step coming out, horse trod on rider’s leg.
Nichloas Wettstien – Long route 2nd water, on lovely horse Onzieme Framoni, plain noseband and snaffle, no martingale. Disappointing 20 quite late in the course (25b).
Kai-Steffen Meier – Living dangerously first water, needs to gather up knitting!
Caroline Powell – Lovely through first water on Onwards and Upwards. Such a quiet yet effective rider, incredibly economical on lines, one of the fastest in the world, yet also so stylish. Absolutely beautiful round to watch.
ODT Sonas Rovatio – Completely misses step out of first water, chests it, catapults Oliver Townend out of saddle. He vaults back on very neatly pony club games style for walk back home.
Laurence Hunt’s On Q for Gold – Looked a bit sticky to start off with, lots of “encouragement” at first water vocally, and slaps down the shoulder in between fences. Hard work every minute but funnily enough looked much easier as soon as they turned towards home!
Hippolyte and Bill Levett – Set off very quick but ducked out at second duck going into first water.
Merel Blom and Rumor Has It – Very lucky moment over 3 and stuck on well and survived to take long route 4. Very bold first water, and in fact all way round. Luckily seems to have great partnership with horse, gets away with it, knows him inside out and vice versa, still taking fliers even at very end. Took a couple of long routes.
Didn’t see Canadian Lindsey Traisnel (ne Pearce) except for stop at Kiosks after which they retired.
Jock and Promise – Took the flag at the corner at 4 but didn’t look chancy. Another great partnership, super bold horse beautifully ridden by Jock. Very fast, Jock seems to anticipate every move. Jock has instinctive feel.
Kenki Sato – Quite keen after second water. Still looking strong at third water, Kenki riding really well. Very disappointing to have a stop at second part of kiosks (24) and then seemed to tire quite quickly near the end.
Astier Nicholas – Huge applause as they set out. Well ridden first water, very positive, slipping and sliding a bit and a bit all over the place, then reorganized before continuing in a much tidier fashion.
Major Milestone – Clipped the top rail of the hedge at 19 coming off the racetrack and no chance of staying up. Looked like a soft fall in the mud but very annoying nonetheless.
Chris Burton and Underdiscussion – Just ran past corner at 4. Looked like it was gong to happen early, then looked nice the rest of the way round after they moved down a gear until third water jump where they retired
Quirinal de la Bastide – Had a stop at 2nd duck first water, and grapes later.
Michael Jung – Very quick but took long way at the second water very smoothly. Such a soft rider, and yet very strong and fast. Stays out of his horse’s way unless needed but then very strong and effective. Smooth ride to watch even though the horse got quite strong and might not have looked so nice with any other rider.
Andreas Dibowski’s Butts Avedon changed his mind last minute about first water, had both legs down bank, somehow clambered back up. Jumped in on 2nd attempt then retired.
Bay My Hero – Took flag at 4, but William was amazing through first water and then gradually stepped up the acceleration a notch as he went on despite never looking hurried. Horse looked a tiny bit tired and longer/strung out at end, but William such a master at keeping him together, keeping him confident, and keeping the rhythm.
Both William and Michael look so calm and quiet, yet at the same time instil confidence in their horses (and fans, me!). Such a treat to watch them both ride. Both save so much energy around the course for their horses, both by economical lines, but also by doing so little on top of their horses.
