The iconic Cottesmore Leap AKA the Hard Pass. Photo via CrossCountryApp.
Historic venue – check. Saturday – check. Formidable field of 5* combinations raring to go – check. All this can only mean one thing: it’s cross country day at Defender Burghley. Bring. It. On.
This year, as ever, we’re being treated to the typical test of bravery, scope, stamina, precision and control we’ve come to expect from Burghley, and Derek Di Grazia’s cross country course leaves no terrain or undulation unturned. Riders are going to need to be on their A game as they set out of the start box today, that’s for sure. Derek says the easy route is the straight route, but that’s easy to say. The whole shebang is a hard pass from me, although I’d be happy with a gallop ‘round the track taking my own version of a black flag alternative and avoiding every single fence, but that’s why I’m safely settled on my sofa in front of the TV, clattering away on my keyboard whilst the superstars of our sport are ponied up and waiting in the wings to bring us what’s sure to be a thrilling day of action out on the Burghley estate.
It’s an 11am start / 12 noon CET / 6am ET today with Britain’s Harry Meade kicking things off with the first of his three rides, Superstition.
🇺🇲 If you’re cheering for the US, these are the times you need to know:
📍 Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle – 7:31am ET.
📍 Mia Farley and Phelps – 8:12am ET.
📍Cosby Green and Copper Beach – 8:30am ET.
📍Hannah Sue Hollberg and Capitol H I M – 9:10am ET.
📍Andrew McConnon and Wakita 54 – 10:15am ET.
I could go through the whole field and pick out combinations of note but basically it’s all of them so here’s the full list of ride times for your perusal.
If you just can’t get enough info about this year’s competitors, then you’re in need of EN’s epic Form Guide, which you’ll find right here.
I’ll be bringing you live updates of all the brouhaha that Burghley brings throughout the day, but if you want to watch along, the only way to view all of the competition live and on demand is via a subscription to Burghley TV.
But first, a quick catch-up with what went down in the dressage:
Dressage Day One:
▶️ [Test-by-test reports]
▶️ [Morning round-up report] [Afternoon round-up report]
Dressage Day Two:
▶️ [Test-by-test reports]
▶️ [Morning round-up report] [Afternoon round-up report]
Here’s a look at how things stand in terms of the leaderboard as we head into cross country:
1️⃣ Heading up the chasing pack and in the lead overnight is Britain’s Ros Canter with Izilot DHI on a score of 19.9.
2️⃣ 2.1 points behind herself is Ros Canter with her second ride Lordships Graffalo on 22.
3️⃣ And 0.3 behind Ros, rounding out the top three as things stand, is Kiwi eventer extraordinaire Tim Price with Vitali on 22.3.
Click here for the full scoreboard.
But that’s all relative as the most quality field in recent history head out onto the biggest Burghley track we’ve seen for a very long time.
While you’re eagerly awaiting the first countdown of the day, check out what the runners and riders will be facing as they thunder along the track via the interactive course preview map, and if you want to know the riders’ thoughts on this year’s cross country offering, we’ve wrangled them together and given them to you here.
And when you’re done with all that, feast your eyes on all of EN’s Burghley content and mosey on along to our IG account for even more @goeventing.
Before we get down to the nitty gritty of things, a pop quiz. What’s the first rule of live updates? Refresh, refresh, refresh if you want to keep up with live updates.
Let’s do this thang ENers, and go eventing!
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