Preview Capt. Mark Phillips’ CCI4*-S Cross Country at The Fork at TIEC

Photo by Amber Heintzberger.

Captain Mark Phillips’ cross country for the 4*-S riders competing at The Fork at TIEC this weekend makes ample use of the unique layout of the venue, working in the famous hill (first used on the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games cross country course) at the end for one final fitness push. For many riders here this weekend, it’s a final set-up for a spring three-day, be it Kentucky, Badminton, the 4*-L here at Tryon in May, or another destination.

Click the image to enlarge.

Today’s course features 34 jumping efforts and an optimum time of 6 minutes, 29 seconds. As with the other spring 4*-S events, we can expect to see some planned time from some pairs, while others plan to push the speed a bit more depending on their end goals. Overnight leader Liz Halliday-Sharp with the Monster Partnership’s Cooley Moonshine, for one, plans to test the speed a bit, intending to test out a few gears on her up-and-comer.

Our reporter in the field this weekend is Amber Heintzberger, and took a spin around the course today for a preview. It’s looking fabulous thanks to the efforts of the building and decoration crew, including Dylan Barry and Jamie Gornall pictured below.

Dylan Barry and Jamie Gornall out making last minute adjustments. Photo by Amber Heintzberger.

There is, sadly, no live stream this weekend, but we’ll have much more to report on later today following cross country! Go Eventing.

EN thanks Amber Heintzberger for her reporting skills this weekend at The Fork. When she’s not braving the elements on a cross country course, she can often be found braving the elements on the road as a marathon runner — she even used part of her cross country walk this week as training for the upcoming Brooklyn Marathon, where she’ll be running for Team for Kids? If you want to support her in her quest, you can click here.

The Fork at TIEC (Tryon, Nc.): [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer] [EN’s Coverage]