When overnight leaders Sandra Auffarth and Let’s Dance 73 (Lancer II x Stella VIII), Dörthe Loheit and Marina Köhncke’s 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding, had the last rail of the triple combination down, Laura Collett and London 52 (Landos x Vernante) moved up to take home the win in the Military Boekelo CCIO4*-L. It’s an improvement on their performance from last year, as Collett and her own, Keith Scott, and Karen Bartlett’s 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding finished second at Boekelo in October 2018.
Second place went to Christopher Burton and his own and Geoffrey and Kate Guy's 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding Clever Louis (Cyrkon x Lafita 6), who sat tied with Collett and London 52 for second place overnight. Collett and London 52 were the closer of the two pairs to the cross-country optimum time, meaning they won the tie and ultimately took home the win.
Michael Jung and Creevagh Cooley (Camiro de Haar Z x Darragh Field), Mitt Hjärta Hästsport and Hälsocenter’s 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare, were in eighth place overnight on a score of 28.1, but a double clear round catapulted them up the leaderboard to finish the weekend in third place.
Tamra Smith and Mai Baum (Loredano x Ramira), Eric Markell and Ellen and Alex Ahearn's 13-year-old German Sport Horse gelding, were in seventh place after cross-country and a single rail and one time fault today dropped them down the in the standings to conclude the competition in 11th place.
Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp and The Monster Partnership's 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Cooley Quicksilver (Womanizer x Kylemore Crystal) moved from 24th place to 30th place after dropping two rails in today’s show jumping.
Matt Flynn and Wizzerd (Wizzerd x Amai), Patrick and Kathleen Flynn and Merry Go Round Farm's 10-year-old KWPN gelding, pulled one rail and picked up 2.8 time faults to move up the leaderboard from 57th and finish the weekend in 52nd place.
Although eliminated on cross-country yesterday for a fall of rider, Jennie Brannigan and Stella Artois still show jumped today as part of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup competition. She and the Stella Artois Syndicate's 11-year-old Holsteiner/Thoroughbred put in a double clear round for Team USA.
Germany had a commanding lead in the FEI Eventing Nations cup competition heading into the final phase of competition, so even 16 added penalties couldn’t rob them of the win, which they took home on a score of 94.1, nearly 30 points ahead of the second-placed Australian team, which finished on 123.5. Third place went to team Japan on a score of 124.2. The U.S. team added 12.4 penalties to their overnight score of 292.9 to finish the FEI Eventing Nations Cup team competition in eighth place on 305.3.
For final individual scores, click here. For final team scores, click here. To read the USEA’s coverage, click here.
Eventing combines three phases: dressage, show jumping, and cross-country. It is arguable that many eventers compete in this sport because of the cross-country phase. It's a fan-favorite for sure with its wide open galloping tracks, a wide variety of obstacles to jump, and the ability to encounter natural elements such as water, banks, ditches, and more!
Boyd Martin came into cross-country today in the CCI4*-S at Stable View in an enviable position, holding the top three places, and he put in three strong performances with his Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event-bound horses, finishing on top with Commando 3 (38.0), in second with Fedarman B (38.8), and in fourth with Luke 140 (40.4).
Boyd Martin has always believed in Luke 140 since he came to his barn in 2019. The fiery bay gelding has completed one five-star, in 2023 at Luhmühlen (Germany) where they were fourth, but injuries have meant he’s had to sit out a couple of seasons and miss out on selection for two Olympic Games, most recently in 2024.
Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered!