Cross-country excitement at NAYRC

The track set by course designer Derek DiGrazia wasn't radically different from previous years, providing good galloping, interspersed with some challenging technical questions. The ground was a bit hard due to this year's drought, and the short dry grass was slick in spots, but organizers worked tirelessly aerating the footing and laying down sand to help improve the going.

One sad incident marred the morning, when Argentina's Jose Luis Ortelli and Jos Danza fell at fence 13, the picnic table, a fence that caused no other problems throughout the day. The horse was transported to a nearby equine hospital, where further tests showed that the horse had fractured her shoulder, and was subsequently euthanized. The rider stood and was helping to care for his horse, but was transported to the hospital. He was released with a broken collarbone.

The hold lasted 54 minutes, leaving Ontario's Katie Evans and Forest Glen to walk around in front of fence 7, an imposing Trakehner. Forest Glen is an experienced upper level competitor, and a former mount of the great Mark Todd, and he showed his experience and partnership with Evans by easily finding his rhythm and completing the rest of the course in fine form once things got going again.

Overnight leaders Brittany Kart and Semper Fidelis put in a fast clear round to widen their lead over Kathleen Dingus and Springcroft Tia Maria, who jumped clear but had 3.2 time penalties. Dingus' team mate Stephanie Butts on her Thoroughbred-Clydesdale cross gelding Bungee slid into third with a stylish clear round, with Evans and Forest Glen taking over the fourth spot.

The CCI* kids took over in the afternoon, and while the temperature rose, we were still having a relatively temperate day for this part of the world. In the one-star competition, there is one team competition, but for individual standing the kids are divided into a junior division for kids under 18, and a young riders division for kids over 18. Though problems were few and far between, the coffin complex at fence 16 claimed it share of victims, as did the first water jump.

Charlotte Merle-Smith and Sportsfield Twist inherited the lead in the CCI*-Junior division with a fast, clean round cross-country. Photo by Heather Bailey©

At the end of cross-country Charlotte Merle-Smith and Sportsfield Twist from Area 1 had inherited the lead from Green in the young riders division with Kowhai and Ashley Dalton of Area 4 moving in to second and her team mate Lisa Slavik and Leesthorpe Boy taking over the third spot.

Nautical Ridge and Lindsay Cox from the combined team of Area 7/10 were leading the junior division with Courtenay Brines and Which One's That standing in second, and Ben Starr and Rachel Zoller from Area 8 in third.

Sunday is the final day here at NAYRC, and it will be a busy day. In the morning the eventers will show jump, and in the afternoon the individual champion in show jumping will be crowned. Somewhere in between the dressage riders will do their musical freestyle and decided their individual medals. It should be fun!