Fence 7AB. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Top of the morning to you, EN! Many of you have been up for hours already watching cross country at Pau’s CCI5* in France, and now we’re adding on to the pile as we prepare to kick off cross country at the 19th Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.
The U.S. currently holds gold position but will need to have a quick turn of foot today to hold that lead ahead of hard-charging Canada and Brazil. There are many teams hoping to nab a berth for Paris this weekend, so the competition should be fierce today.
Full start times for the cross country tomorrow will be made available here and you can in the meantime save them by clicking here. And in some exciting news, you’ll now be able to view the cross country FREE on the FEI TV channel of ClipMyHorse.TV (or, of course, using your ClipMyHorse membership if you have one). Cross country will begin at 11 a.m. local time, so 10 a.m. EST.
Take a look at the course, designed by Paris designer Pierre le Goupil, below or on CrossCountryApp (or here in our full preview):
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Follow along with EN’s coverage of the Pan American Games, presented by Ocala Horse Properties, here. We also recommend following @usefeventing on Instagram and Facebook as well as @canadianeventingteam for more content from on the ground, as well as roving photographer Shannon Brinkman here.
#Santiago2023: [Website] [Eventing Timing & Scoring] [XC Start Times] [Entries] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]
Refresh this page regularly for the latest updates! Safe rides to all, and Go Eventing!
12:24 p.m. ET: 25 out of 34 starters completed cross country today. It looks like my math was wrong (shocking) as Brazil is going to hold onto silver position with Canada in bronze. That’s still Olympic qualification for both nations if things stay the same, but it will be a thrilling finish tomorrow. Full scores from today can be found here. I’ll be back later on with a full recap of the day! Thanks for following along.
12:22 p.m. ET: He’s done it! Karl makes the save of the day and also delivers one of the quickest of the day with Hot Bobo to move Canada back into silver medal position ahead of show jumping. Caroline Pamukcu and team USA still have a grip on both gold medal positions, and the U.S. currently holds all podium positions.
12:21 p.m. ET: Karl takes the straight route at the double corners and is heading for home. He’s on pace to go inside the time.
12:20 p.m. ET: Whew! Hot Bobo leaves a leg at the final water and Karl does great to hang on and reseat himself.
12:18 p.m. ET: Karl has been restarted. I’m guessing there was a fence that needed repair maybe.
12:16 p.m. ET: Hm, Karl is now being held on course at fence 10. Luciano Claudio Brunello and Cash des Cedres are heading for home, so I don’t think the hold is for them…
12:14 p.m. ET: Karl gives Hot Bobo a pat as they clear the first water combination.
12:13 p.m. ET: Canada’s final pair, Karl Slezak and Hot Bobo, are away and under the gun for a clear and quick one to climb back into silver position.
12:10 p.m. ET: Jaime Bittner Martinez and All Red bring home a clear with time for Chile!
12:07 p.m. ET: It’s crazy how few female riders there are in this field. Many South and Central American countries still run eventing as a military-oriented sport, and I want to say the U.S. and Canada are the only teams fielding female riders this week. I hope I’m not wrong about that, but I’m 99% sure.
12:06 p.m. ET: Luciano Claudio Brunello and Cash des Cedres opt to go long at the first water, skirting the big lobster drop.
12:05 p.m. ET: Ok, I think if my math is right, if Karl can deliver a clear inside the time, Canada will move back into silver position, currently in bronze with three riders home.
12:04 p.m. ET: Penultimate of the day will be Argentina’s Luciano Claudio Brunello and Cash des Cedres as we await the final Canadian pair, Karl Slezak and Hot Bobo.
12:02 p.m. ET: Next to see will be Lucero Desrochers S and Gama Castellon will be next to see representing Colombia. Colombia, Chile, and Uruguay are out of the team competition at this point, but clear rounds will still be valuable for experience and the future for these developing nations.
12:01 p.m. ET: Our final Chilean rider, Jaime Bittner Martinez and All Red, wearing, as expected, all red, are on course.
11:58 a.m. ET: Fernando Parroquin Delfin and Anahuac SDN pick up a disappointing 20 early on with an otherwise strong showing so far in his first Pan American Games.
11:57 a.m. ET: What a day for Brazil! Marcio ensures Brazil will hold team silver overnight, going into fourth place now with 1.6 time penalties added. It’s going to be an exciting finish!
11:54 a.m. ET: OK yes, it looks like those 15 penalties have now come off, so Liz goes into silver now on a score of 28.8. Sharon will be in individual bronze and none of those podium spot holders will be threatened as we wind down with the final few riders, unless Marcio Carvalho Jorge can deliver a double clear and kick Sharon out of bronze.
11:52 a.m. ET: Liz is going to be really close on the time as she goes long with a still-pulling Mikki at the final combination. She’s going to pick up a few time and put Caroline into gold position overnight. Liz picks up what looks like about 10 seconds of time…she’ll go onto a current score of 43.8 with that 15 penalties, but I think we’ll see those removed (or at least, I think we should see those removed from my view).
11:50 a.m. ET: Liz looks like she’s having to manage the immense power Miks Master C has, which is putting her a little down on time as she comes through the water.
11:49 a.m. ET: Final Brazilian team rider Marcio Carvalho Jorge and Castle Howard Casanova are away. I also believe Nicolas Wettstein and Altier d’Aurois are on course, but I’ve not seen them yet.
11:48 a.m. ET: Clear through the coffin at 11 for Liz and Mikki. Also clear over the Chilean Flag Trakehner.
11:47 a.m. ET: Liz is given a 15 for that flag in the water, but I think that will be removed after another look.
11:46 a.m. ET: Liz takes the left flag at the second element in the first water, but I don’t think there will be a question about clearing it.
11:45 a.m. ET: I was wrong, Lindsay finishes right on that optimum time and will go into individual bronze for right now as we see Liz Halliday, overnight leader, leave the box with Ocala Horse Properties’ and Deborah Palmer’s Miks Master C.
11:44 a.m. ET: Lindsay is going to be reallyyy close to the time – probably a handful of seconds but a really strong round here for Canada. Here’s a look at that direct line through the double corners:
11:41 a.m. ET: We’ve barely seen Marcelo Javier Rawson and Baral Villester, but they have just finished a clear round! Lindsay is through the final water, a little bit sticky but clear.
11:38 a.m. ET: Lindsay looks to have a lot of horse on her hands as she steadies Bacyrouge for the first couple of combinations. He looks to have taken a breath as she lets him open up in this short gallop stretch.
11:37 a.m. ET: Lindsay Traisnel and the sporty Bacyrouge are away! A fast clear will go a long way to pressure the Brazilians.
11:35 a.m. ET: Mauricio Bermudez and Vardags Saratoga make a nice save on course and waste some time but I believe are still working on a clear round. Our next to see will be Argentina’s Marcelo Javier Rawson and Baral Villester.
11:33 a.m. ET: As we await Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge for Canada, Brazil now moves into silver medal position as a team, but Canada can still reclaim their original spot. Meanwhile, Uruguay’s Gastón Marcenal and SVR Indy have a 20 at the Irish Bank and Gastón does what he can to hang on but was sufficiently unseated and hits the ground, though he appears to be uninjured aside from some damage to the old ego.
11:30 a.m. ET: Colombia’s Mauricio Bermudez and the lovely mare Vardags Saratoga are also on course and through fence 6. Gastón Marcenal and SVR Indy are showing as eliminated. I apologize for the lack of specificity with these updates, the scores are not updating with penalties when riders are eliminated or pick up penalties on course. I do know Chile’s Guillermo Garin Heyermann is carrying 20 penalties with HSB Sidonia.
11:26 a.m. ET: The crowd comes alive again for the next Chilean rider, Guillermo Garin Heyermann and HSB Sidonia, who’s safely through the first water to rousing cheers from the onlookers.
11:24 a.m. ET: 12 more pairs to see here at the Pan American Games, where cross country has certainly exuded its influence today.
11:21 a.m. ET: Mexican rider Eduardo Rivero Fragoso and Bimori SDN are the next away. Uruguay’s Gastón Marcenal and SVR Indy are also on course and through fence 14.
11:20 a.m. ET: What a ride from Rafe! He finishes bang on the optimum just like teammate Carlos Parro. What a class round!
11:20 a.m. ET: Rafe Losano and Withington show us how to navigate an Irish Bank:
11:17 a.m. ET: That’s a double clear for Caroline and HSH Blake and they go into the lead, to be no worse than second overnight depending on how quick Liz goes. Sharon moves into individual silver for now. Liz will be the final U.S. rider out in a few more slots. Meanwhile, Brazil’s Rafe Losano is having a really nice round with Withington.
11:15 a.m. ET: Caroline and Blake navigate the HSH Blake and get a little close to the wedge at B but are safely through and have a few seconds in hand as they turn for him.
11:14 a.m. ET: Word in now that Diego Zurita and Merlin Way parted ways at fence 11.
11:13 a.m. ET: Brazilian Olympian Rafael Mamprin Losano and Withington are next to see as Caroline is clear approaching the final elements on course.
11:11 a.m. ET: Make a gold-colored wish! Caroline’s got her foot down on the gas pedal with the stunning 8-year-old HSH Blake.
11:10 a.m. ET: Ecuador’s Diego Zurita and Merlin Way are showing as eliminated on the scores, but not sure where or what happened. Caroline is strongly through the lobster water (yes that’s the official name at least in my book).
11:09 a.m. ET: Caroline is now out of the box with HSH Blake and should be one to watch to make the time look easy. Colleen is home with 13.2 time penalties to add.
11:09 a.m. ET: Safely through the Irish Bank complex for Colleen and she’s got three to go and about 30 seconds to get home. She goes direct at the double corners — both Canadians have now safely taken this option as the only ones to do so thus far.
11:07 a.m. ET: FE Golden Eye is really jumping nicely for Colleen. I love a horse in a slightly smaller package, though really I might be making that up as I generally see him next to his stablemate, Vermont, who makes Goldie look like a pony!
11:05 a.m. ET: Ecuador’s Diego Zurita and Merlin Way, riding as individuals this weekend, are away. The U.S. will take their third turn next with Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake.
11:04 a.m. ET: Colleen is clear through 9. Here’s a look at the Paso Libertadores question at 7:
11:02 a.m. ET: A big jump into the lobster water for “Goldie” and Colleen, clear so far.
11:02 a.m. ET: Scores showing Juan Carlos Tafur Eisenmeyer and Blue Moon have now been eliminated.
11:01 a.m. ET: Here we go with Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye.
10:58 a.m. ET: Juan Benitez Gallardo rides really well to get Chaman Ginn neatly through the first water combination.
10:58 a.m. ET: Juan Carlos Tafur Eisenmeyer and Blue Moon pick up a second 20, this time at the coffin at 11.
10:57 a.m. ET: Argentina’s Juan Benitez Gallardo is the next away with Chaman Ginn, to be followed by the second Canadian pair, Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye.
10:56 a.m. ET: Rats! Juan Carlos slids to a stop aboard Blue Moon at the A element of 7. They’re clear on the second attempt, but Blue Moon is looking a little impressed by these questions so far.
10:54 a.m. ET: Colombia’s Juan Carlos Tafur Eisenmeyer and Blue Moon are the next to see — check out this awesome story from the FEI on 70-year-old Juan Carlos here. Sadly, Chilean pair Nicolas Ibañez and Domingo have now been eliminated with a third refusal on course at the coffin.
10:53 a.m. ET: Ok here’s Luis Ariel Santiago Franco and Egipco II. Sounds like they’ve had one refusal and a pin gone as well.
10:51 a.m. ET: With lots of encouragement from the crowd, home rider Nicolas Ibañez and Domingo are clear at the first water with 2 refusals picked up.
10:50 a.m. ET: This spectator crowd is raucous! Love all the cheering — are we at Boekelo??
10:48 a.m. ET: I believe Chilean rider Nicolas Ibañez and Domingo are away. Not sure if I missed Mexico’s Luis Ariel Santiago Franco and Egipco II start or if they aren’t starting/are starting out of order.
10:45 a.m. ET: Carlos Parro finishes bang on the optimum time to remain on his dressage score of 34.9, what a round! Uruguay has also sent their second rider away, Rufino Emilio Dominigue z Midon and SVR Edecan de La Luz.
10:44 a.m. ET: Here’s a look at Sharon and Claus finishing their clear round for the U.S.:
10:43 a.m. ET: Carlos Parro is using his experience to really push for the time here. He and Safira are neatly through the Irish Bank combination towards the end.
10:41 a.m. ET: Sharon adds 2.4 time to go to the clubhouse lead. Way to smash it!
10:40 a.m. ET: Sharon opts to go long at the double corners and is nearing the end about 10 seconds down on time.
10:40 a.m. ET: Sharon White is clear with some great footwork from Claus at the Irish Bank. GET IT GIRL!
10:38 a.m. ET: Olympic veteran Carlos Parro is now away for Brazil with Safira.
10:37 a.m. ET: 8 seconds or so for Mike, not bad at all! Sharon is clear as we pick back up with her with about 3 minutes left on course.
10:36 a.m. ET: Mike is the first one to go straight at the double corners at the final combination. He’s going to pick up some time still, but he’s working on a strong clear for the Canadians.
10:35 a.m. ET: Mike Winter is a little down on his markers as he comes to the Irish Bank.
10:35 a.m. ET: Good to see Sharon has kept some orange on (vest) today – hard to see her without her signature colors!
10:34 a.m. ET: Claus peeks a little as he drops into the first water, but they’re clear here.
10:33 a.m. ET: Sharon White is away with Claus 63. Here’s a look at Mike through that first water:
10:31 a.m. ET: All clear so far for Mike and El Mundo, through the first water.
10:30 a.m. ET: We’ll next restart our team rotation, with Sharon White and Claus 63 coming forward in individual bronze position.
10:29 a.m. ET: And here we go with the very experienced El Mundo, who’s come over from the Winters’ UK base for this shot at Paris qualification.
10:28 a.m. ET: Canada’s pathfinder, Mike Winter with El Mundo, will be the next to see.
10:26 a.m. ET: Well Sydney certainly set the standard as we have just a couple other clears so far, and all with time. Mexico’s Jose Enrique Mercado Suarez and Balanca SDN finish with 20 penalties and 60+ time. Argentina’s Juan Carlos Candisano has been eliminated on refusals at the first water with Remonta Urmelia.
10:22 a.m. ET: Chile’s first rider, Nicolas Fuentes Escala and Midnight are on course, and unfortunately Colombia’s Andres Felipe Gomez Sanabria and Caroline have had a dip into the first water and will end their weekend here.
10:20 a.m. ET: Jose Enrique Mercado Suarez and Balanca SDN pick up 20 penalties at fence 11.
10:17 a.m. ET: Ruy Fonseca and Ballypatrick SRS finished clear with 19.6 time penalties.
10:15 a.m. ET: Mexico will be the next out of the box, with Jose Enrique Mercado Suarez and Balanca SDN first to see. Federico has picked up 20 penalties at the Chilean Flag Trakehner.
10:13 a.m. ET: Federico Gonzalo Daners Suarez Bidegain and Demitasse, carrying some strong results at the 3*-L level together as they make their championship debut as a pair. Fun fact, Federico piloted former Gina Miles partner SVR Ron at the 2011 Pan Ams.
10:12 a.m. ET: Ruy appears to be about 40 seconds down on the optimum time as he comes to the Irish Bank, hesitating a bit on the hop down but neatly over the B element.
10:10 a.m. ET: We’re back now with Ruy and Ballypatrick SRS, who was his partner at Pratoni last year though he did withdraw after dressage. This is another experienced pair, and they also competed together at the 2019 Pan Ams, though they’ll be looking to have a better trip around the cross country this year! Our next starter will be the first from Uruguay, Federico Gonzalo Daners Bidegain and Demitasse.
10:09 a.m. ET: Here’s a look at the buzzy Irish bank and how it rides – textbook sample from Sydney:
10:08 a.m. ET: She’s home, well inside the optimum with a time of 7:53! Made it look like a schooling round. Way to go, let’s get it ladies!
10:08 a.m. ET: Sydney opts for the slightly longer route at the final combination.
10:06 a.m. ET: Sydney’s really kicking now at about 6 minutes on course.
10:05 a.m. ET Brazil now joins us, currently in a medal position, sending Olympian Ruy Fonseca away with Ballypatrick SRS. Sydney is a bit down on her time as she reaches the back third of the track.
10:03 a.m. ET: Sydney is very experienced on the international circuit, doing Aachen twice as well as some other events in Europe (including one designed by Pierre le Goupil in France that I can’t spell without looking up), so she’s an ideal pathfinder for today. She’s landing from each fence and really traveling to test that optimum time.
10:02 a.m. ET Sydney’s quickly through the first combination and now through the first water featuring a beautiful lobster on the jump in. Lots of spectators on the ground today — love to see it!
10:01 a.m. ET Sydney and “Q” are away and out of the main and warm-up arenas.
10:00 a.m. ET: And here we go! Sydney Elliott is the pathfinder today, going out first for Team USA on Carol Stephens’ QC Diamantaire. Syd’s under instructions to try the direct routes and test the time to get a feel for just how influential it stands to be on this racetrack of a course. The pairs will be sent out of the start box in 4 minute intervals, so we’ll have about 2 horses on course at one time today.
