Here we go ENers. It’s cross country day and… the weather’s holding up. All hail the British weather for Badminton weekend. Although, we may be complaining about the heat as the day progresses…
We’re in the thick of the competition now, with two days of dressage behind us and a clubhouse leaderboard to peruse. Here’s how things are shaping up so far at the 75th edition of MARS Badminton Horse Trials:
The clubhouse leaderboard as we head into cross country looks like this:
1️⃣ Leader of the pack after dressage is EquiRatings’ favorite for the win – Great Britain’s Ros Canter with Izilot DHI on a score of 25.5.
2️⃣ 2 points behind, also representing Britain is Thursday’s overnight leader Bubby Upton and Cola on 27.5.
3️⃣ And topping off the podium places after the first phase, for New Zealand, is Tim Price with Vitali on 27.7, just 0.2 behind.
4️⃣ The best of the US, Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF are right up there in 4th – they’re on a score of 29.
5️⃣ Just behind is Britain’s Emily King with Valmy Biats – on 29.2.
6️⃣ Another American sits right on their tails – Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl are on 29.8.
The scores are really tight, right the way from the top to the bottom of the table, so every second will really count out on course today.
Click here for the full scoreboard.
Here are the links you need to catch up on all that went down in the dressage:
Dressage Day One:
▶️ [Test-by-test reports]
▶️ [Morning round-up]
▶️ [Afternoon round-up]
Dressage Day Two:
▶️[Test-by-test reports]
▶️ [Morning round-up]
▶️ [Afternoon round-up]
And now we turn out attention to The. Best. Day. Cross country day.
Trailblazing his way ‘round the track today will be Britain’s Tom Jackson with the first of his two rides and last year’s 5th place finisher Farndon – they get the action underway at 11:30am BST / 6:30am ET / 12:30pm CEST.
Some start times of note:
🇺🇲 If you’re cheering for the US, here are your guys n gals:
🏇 Going for a completion in every single one of the world’s 5*s this week, Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF – who are currently sitting just off the podium places in 4th – will leave the start box at 11:49am BST / 6:49am ET / 12:49pm CEST.
🏇 Next up for Team USA is Meghan O’Donoghue with her 18-year-old Thoroughbred Palm Crescent – they go at 12:41pm BST / 7:41am ET / 1:41pm CEST.
🏇 Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl are in 6th position going into today – they go at 1:24pm BST / 8:24am ET / 2:24pm CEST.
🏇 Currently inside the top-20, in 18th place, Cosby Green and Copper Beach have their turn out on course at 1:37pm BST / 8:37am ET / 2:37pm CEST.
🏇 Badminton debutant Grace Taylor goes with Game Changer at 2:42pm BST / 9:42am ET / 3:42pm CEST.
🏇 And fellow debutant here at the British spring 5*, Allie Knowles brings Morswood forward at 3pm BST / 10am ET / 4pm CEST.
🇨🇦 Sole Canadian representative here this week, Jessie Phoenix, will be hopping her way ‘round the track with Wabbit at 1:07pm BST / 8:07am ET / 2:07pm CEST.
🇬🇧 There’s a huge British contingent here, so here’s just a small selection of who we can look forward to:
🏇 Holding second place overnight, Bubby Upton and Cola go at 12:19pm BST / 7:19am ET / 1:19pm CEST.
🏇 Winner of five of the seven 5*s, William Fox-Pitt is currently in joint-8th place with Grafennacht – they go at 1:20pm BST / 8:20am ET / 2:20pm CEST.
🏇 Overnight leader and last year’s champ, Ros Canter will be doing her very best to hold on to the top spot with Izilot DHI at 2:34pm BST / 9:34am ET / 3:34pm CEST.
🏇 Going for her first Badminton completion, and fancied for a chance at the win here by EquiRatings, Emily King will get her shot with Valmy Biats at 3:04pm BST / 10:04am ET / 4:04pm CEST.
🏇 Currently sitting just outside the top-10, in 12th, three-time Badminton winner Pippa Funnell will wrap up today’s cross country as the last to go with MCS Maverick at 4:09pm BST / 11:09am ET / 5:09pm CEST.
🇮🇪 Ireland’s Georgie Goss and Feloupe impressed between the white boards and are currently in joint-8th place – they go at 12:37pm BST / 7:37am ET / 1:37pm CEST; EquiRatings’ brain Sam Watson has his turn with SAP Talisman at 12:02pm BST / 7:02am ET / 1:02pm CEST; and speed demon Sarah Ennis will leave the start box with Grantstown Jackson at 1:03pm BST / 8:03am ET / 2:03pm CEST.
🇫🇷 Frenchman with flair Gaspard Maksud will be under starter’s orders and away with Kan-Do 2 at 12:58pm BST / 7:58am ET / 1:58pm CEST; and amateur rider and full-time farrier Florian Ganneval will get his first Badminton cross country underway with Blue Bird De Beaufour at 1:11pm BST / 8:11am ET / 2:11pm CEST.
🇳🇿 There’s two Kiwis in the top-10 going into today’s cross country:
🏇 Tim Price has a place on the podium – he’s currently in 3rd with Vitali – they go at 3:13pm BST / 10:13am ET / 4:13pm CEST.
🏇 And Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier are in 7th – they go at 4pm BST / 11am ET / 5pm CEST.
🇦🇺 Sammi Birch and Finduss PB have their say at 12:28pm BST / 7:28am ET / 1:28pm CEST; and Aussie eventing veteran Bill Levett will get going with Huberthus AC at 12:54pm BST / 7:54am ET / 1:54pm CEST.
🇨🇭 And sole Swiss rider, Felix Vogg – who’s sitting in joint-15th with Cartania – will get his Badminton cross country underway at 12:06pm BST / 7:06am ET / 1:06pm CEST.
I obviously couldn’t mention absolutely everyone here, despite them all being worthy – if you want to see when your favorites will be heading out of the start box, you’ll find the ride times here.
You can follow along with the form as you enjoy all the country action with EN’s epic Form Guide, which you’ll find right here.
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, in our course preview here, 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 Badminton content and mosey on along to our IG account @goeventing.
Sally Spickard will get things going with live updates from the cross country and then Cheg Darlington will take over later – EN’s here throughout the day, so keep this page refreshed, and watch this space! If you’re catching up with this later and are the type to like things in order, scroll ⬇️ and read ⬆️.
It’s here. It’s the best day.
I’m not going to shout-out the superfans in the States today because of course you’ve got up while it’s still dark to follow along – it’s cross country day.
Refresh, refresh, refresh – and go eventing!
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