I just love these moments right before cross country, when the air’s full of anticipation of the story that’s about to unfold. Despite all the years (decades) I’ve been following eventing for – the many thousands of events I’ve watched – every cross country day feels like my first. I’ll never get bored of this. Cross country day is officially The. Best. Day. Truly.
And what better best day to be on than the best day at the best weekend all year? Bring on cross country day at Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event!
First up, a brief round-up of what went down in the dressage. If you’re craving more, you’ll find EN’s full reports here [Day One] and here [Day Two] and test-by-test reports here [Day One] and here [Day Two].
1️⃣Leading the charge as they head out on course today are last year’s runners-up Tom McEwen and JL Dublin for Great Britain, who kicked off their competition with a super smart test to sit on a score of 24.6 – they go at 3:30pm ET / 9:30pm CEST.
2️⃣ Just 1.4 points behind them are fellow Brits, and 2022 runners-up, Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir, who also delivered the goods for a score of 26 – they’ll get underway at 2:10pm ET / 8:10pm CEST.
3️⃣ Rounding out our top 3 after the first phase – in joint-third place as things stand – we have US combinations Liz Halliday and Cooley Nutcracker and Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus on a score of 30.6 – Lauren will be heading out at 3:18pm ET / 9:18pm CEST and Liz’ll be following her all the way as she sets off right after her at 3:22pm ET / 9:22pm CEST.
First out of the start box today and onto Derek di Grazia’s course will be Sara Kozumplik and Rock Phantom for the USA, who are currently on a score of 35.3 – they go at 1:30pm ET / 7:30pm CEST.
If you want to check out what Derek’s built out there, you’ll find our complete course preview here, and if you want to know the riders’ thoughts on what they’re about to face, we’ve wrangled them together and given them to you here.
The general consensus is it’s big but fair, with questions the whole way ‘round, and I’ll be here for every round, bringing you every second of the action live throughout the afternoon. Keep this page refreshed and enjoy the ride.
If you just can’t get enough of Kentucky, click here for everything you need to know about The Best Weekend All Year – and if you want to follow the form this afternoon, you’ll find EN’s epic Form Guide right here. As if that isn’t enough, we’ve got loads of great IG content happening courtesy of our team on the ground too @goeventing.
So, eventing nerds, let’s do this thang!
If you’re catching up on this later, scroll ⬇️ and read ⬆️.
Lock on, and go eventing!
EN’s coverage of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event is presented by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional support for all types of horses. Click here to learn more about Kentucky Performance Products.
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1:30pm
And we’re off! Our 2024 trailblazer Sara Kozumplik is away with 5* first-timer Rock Phantom. This is the former ride of Brazil’s Nilson Moreira da Silva (who we saw in the 4*) – Sara took over the irons for the 2022 season. The rain’s coming down in Kentucky but Sara won’t let that bother her. They clear the Flower Box at the first and then ‘Rocky’ has a bit of a look into the ditch under the Trakhener at 2. They catch the back rail on the Oxer at 4 and then unfortunately have a stop going into the first water at 5, the MARS Sustainability Bay. Sara decides to put her hand up – Rocky’s been sticky over the first fences and it makes sense for her to save him for another day.
