United States Eventing Association

What Happened Where? 2021 Maryland 5 Star Cross-Country Rewind

Weren’t able to spend your morning glued to the livestream of the 2021 Maryland 5 Star cross-country? Couldn’t be there in person to trek up the hills? We have you covered with a play-by-play of what happened on Ian Stark’s cross-country course which gave both the designer and the riders many sleepless nights, but ended up riding quite well for the majority of the field.

“I feel as though I have aged 20 years in a week,” said Stark. “I am very happy, but more relieved than anything. I have always said that my big fear is tricking horses and what really pleased me today was that the horses seemed to be reading the questions and the less experienced horses and riders had some hiccups, but in general, they were getting around and they weren’t losing confidence.”

Cooley Master Class, Angela Hislop’s 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Ramiro B x The Swallow), and FEI World #1 Oliver Townend jumped clear and crossed the finish line five seconds under the optimum time of 11 minutes leaving them at the top of the standings. However, they don’t have a rail in hand over second or third place.

Forty-two horses left the startbox since three pairs withdrew before cross-country: Lynn Symansky and RF Cool Play (5^th), Clayton Fredericks and FE Stormtrooper (31^st), and Buck Davidson and Erroll Gobey (25^th).

There were 35 horses who crossed the finish line with 11 finishing under the optimum time.

There were three horse falls and two rider falls and one retirement. No one was eliminated for having too many penalties, although stops and run-outs occurred throughout the course. Fence 11, the Brush Corner, caused the most problems of the day with four pairs picking up penalties there.

Here’s a play-by-play of the day:

#101 – The first horse on course, Carlevo, hung a leg at the brush corner at 10A and both Buck Davidson and the horse fall. Davidson had the breath knocked out of him, but they both walk away unhurt.

#113 – Emma Lomangino and Master Frisky picked up 20 penalties at fence 17, the vicarage vee, when Master Frisky jumps down into the ditch instead of over the corner. They jumped the alternate and continue on for Lomangino to finish her first five-star.

#114 – Lisa Marie Fergusson had two problems on course with Honor Me – first at 11 (a brush corner) and then at 17 (the vicarage vee)

#115 – Michael Pendleton and Steady Eddie ran past the final element of the crab water, 15F

#116 – Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot picked up 20 at 11 (a brush corner)

#118 – Ashlynn Meuchel and Emporium first ran into trouble at 15A (the first element of the crab water) and then again at 18A (the roller coaster)

#121 – Leslie Law’s Voltaire de Tre’ took the frangible pin at 17A (the vicarage vee) when he hit the back rail with his hind legs.

#127 – Holly Jacks-Smither picked up 20 penalties and fell from Candy King at 10A (a brush corner)

#128 – Colleen Rutledge fell off of Covert Rights on the backside of 4A (the Viaduct)

#130 – Johnny Royale stopped at 11 (a brush corner) with Joe Meyer

#131 – Fylicia Barr fell from Galloway Sunrise on the backside of 20 (the Camden Yard Houses after the Fair Hill Drop)

#136 – Ema Klugman retired Bendigo after the horse stopped at 27B (the Oriole Bird Water)

#137 – Class Affair ran out at 11 (a brush corner) giving Zara Tindall 20 penalties

#139 – Bolytair B adds 11 penalties for breaking the pin at 24 ((the Groundhog Garden Gate)

#141 – Islandwood Captain Jack and Caroline Martin both fell at 20 (the Camden Yard Houses after the Fair Hill Drop)

#147 – Phillip Dutton misses the flag at 9C (a wedge) and then both Dutton and Fernhill Singapore fell at 24 (the Groundhog Garden Gate) when Fernhill Singapore hung a leg.

Watch Oliver Townend's ride:

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