The CCI3*-S and CCI4*-S divisions were able to complete their show jumping before the torrential rain interrupted the competition for the CCI2*-S division.
The show jumping course was designed by Chris Barnard. When asked how he felt about his courses, he remarked that the CCI4*-S "walked as tough as it rode." With only 14 clear rounds in the CCI4*-S, there were many changes to the leaderboard after dressage. Barnard designed his courses to be "fair for the level - the good ones have questions to answer, and the greener ones at each level are still quite comfortable to jump around. It's such a beautiful ring, and it's easy to design a nice, flowy course. It's good footing and the horses jump well off of it."
The outdoor arena drained nicely for CCI2*-S competition to resume. The cross-country footing is in excellent shape after the rain for the final phase of the FEI competition tomorrow.
The leaderboards going into the final phase tomorrow are as follows:
CCI4*-S
1st: Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp & Fernhill By Night (24.50)
2nd: Matthew Flynn & Wizzerd (25.90)
3rd: Doug Payne & Quantum Leap (26.80)
4th: Will Faudree & Caeleste (27.40)
T-5th: Doug Payne & Vandiver (28.30)
T-5th: Clayton Frederick & FE Always In Time (28.30)
CCI3*-S
1st: Alexander O'Neal & Miss MoneyPenny V (29.00)
2nd: Boyd Martin & Fernhill Prezley (29.40)
3rd: Boyd Martin & Penhill Celtic (29.60)
4th: Hallie Coon & Cooley SOS (30.40)
T-5th: Sydney Elliott & Commando D'Osthuy (31.00)
T-5th: Kurt Martin & D.A. Lifetime (31.00)
CCI2*-S
1st: Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp & Maryville Sir Henry (27.40)
2nd: Kelly Prather & Catch Me Cooley (28.90)
3rd: Leslie Law & Tout De Suite (30.50)
4th: Kimberly Steinbuch & Classiro (32.30)
5th: Dana Cooke & FE Whole Lotta Rosie (32.40)
For full scores, click here. To view the event program, click here.
Twenty-three pairs are set to start the MARS Maryland 5 Star on Oct. 16, and four of those are USEA Young Event Horse program graduates. The YEH program serves as a pathway to introduce young horses to the sport of eventing. Founded in 2004, the program’s goal is to identify 4- and 5-year-old horses that possess the talent and disposition that, with proper training, can excel in the four-star and five-star levels of eventing.
Julie Wolfert (Bucyrus, Kansas), the overnight leader in the Morven Park International CCI4*-L, was a ball of nerves as she waited for her turn to jump around Chris Barnard’s show jumping track with SSH Playboy.
Allie Knowles wrapped up a stellar weekend with Katherine O’Brien’s Starburst in the USEF/USEA 6-year-old Developing Horse National Championship this morning, jumping a clear show jumping round to take the win on their dressage score of 24.8.
It's a big week for eventing in the U.S. with the MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill taking place in Elkton, Maryland, starting with the first horse inspection on Wednesday. Can't make it to the event yourself this year? Not to worry! We've outlined all the ways that you can tune in from home.