The advanced cross-country course rode almost perfectly today. Half of the 18 starters had double-clear rides, which is a very high percentage for advanced. 14 of the 18 starters had clear rides. Two riders finished with stops, one retired, and one fell. When a course produces such good results the question is always whether it was a relatively easy course or if the riders and horses just ran really well, and, as always, the answer is probably somewhere in the middle.
The top 5 horses after the dressage all crossed the finish line clear and inside the time, so the leaderboard looks virtually the same as yesterday. Allison Springer has a 3 point lead with Arthur ahead of Emily Beshear and Here’s To You. Barbara Crabo and Eveready of Arizona round out the top three.
Advanced XC Standings:
1. Allison Springer and Arthur +0 27.9
2. Emily Beshear and Here’s To You +0 30.9
3. Barbara Crabo and Eveready +0 32.5
4. Buck Davidson and Ballynoecastle RM +0 32.8
5. Doug Payne and Running Order +0 33.8
6. Becky Holder and Can’t Fire Me +0 35.6
7. Buck Davidson and Titanium +0 35.5
A few notes on the cross-country:
–There were just a handful of issues on the course. Detail Specialist had a run out early at the skinny at #4B and Melissa elected to save him for another day. Brittany Kart was doing a really good job managing a very excited Llewellyn around most of the course, but they took a tumble at #15A. Brittany was up quickly and Llwellyn took a canter back towards the barn. Sara Kosumplik had a run out at the skinny combination after the drop. Jessica Hampf of Canada had a very disappointing run out late on the course at the corners. High Society was having a fantastic round until then and I definitely think they look like a Canadian contender for an Olympic spot next year despite the stop.
–Allison’s cross-country rides with Arthur are always either brilliant or heartbreaking and today it was brilliant. With the exception of a big chip-in stride at #9, this advanced course caused no problems for them. Allison had a slightly slower but quality ride on Destination Known.
Here’s the interview with Allison where I walk backward up hill and try not to fall over:
–Emily Beshear and Here’s To You had the best cross-country ride I have ever seen from them with an advanced double-clear. If Quincy keeps running clear and fast this pair is going to be consistently in the top placings.
–Buck Davidson was the only other rider besides Allison in the advanced with two horses and he finished XC with both Reggie and Ty on their dressage scores. After a win at Richland two weekends ago, Ballynoecastle RM seems to be really on the top of his game right now.
–EN’s ‘grittiest rider of the day‘ award is a tie between Julie Wolfert and Lisa Barry. Julie worked hard all round to come home clear and she has all the look of a rider who will be able to get it done on any horse. Lisa Barry gutted it out with great riding in the skinny combination to keep her clean round alive.
–Last Call (Alexandra Slusher) was loving the cross-country as always and gave the selectors a nice reassurance that she was well picked for the Boekelo team in October.
–Doug Payne can breathe easier after a fantastic XC ride on Running Order. After a few problems during the summer they looked to be approaching that tipping point of consistent problems. But they are right back on track after one of the best XC rides of the day.
—Sara Gartland and Always A Lady had a great round that would have moved them up much more in the placings if there had been more issues on the course.
–Jon Holling helped with the announcing all morning courtesy of PRO. Jon and Kyle Carter are two of my favorite guest announcers, but for very different reasons. As you would imagine, Jon’s commentary is less entertaining but much more intelligent.
The prelim cross-country is running right now with training level to follow. Stay tuned for much more from the AECs. Go eventing.
