Parker, Colo.—Sept. 1

Five levels ran cross-country today at the American Eventing Championships. The preliminary rider, advanced and intermediate divisions were supposed to complete cross-country on Friday, but competition was cut short by storms. Preliminary rider started the day with a big shake-up as leader Mike Huber was eliminated and the intermediate, advanced, novice and beginner novice divisions followed with excitement of their own.

Here’s a round up of all the action:

Tamra Smith maintained her lead on Mai Baum in the advanced division. Kieran Paulsen Photo.

“I literally wanted to cry going through the finish flag,” said Tamra Smith, who held on to her lead in the Adequan Gold Cup Advanced division aboard Mai Baum. “It’s been such a long road to get him back to this level. He was unbelievable. He’s the best horse in the world, and I’m just so fortunate to be sitting on him. I was cutting turns and lines to save time, so that I didn’t have to go so fast. I got him to one jump and asked for a big one, and he just took off and was like, ‘I got you mom.’ It felt so good to have him back.”

Smith only added 1.6 time penalties to her dressage score and goes into show jumping with a 28.0. Jordan Lindstedt sits in second with Revitavet Capato on a score of 31.5, and Smith is also sitting in third place aboard Fleeceworks Royal with a score of 42.4.

Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato are sitting in second place in the advanced division heading into show jumping. Kieran Paulsen photo.

All three leaders in the intermediate division have preserved their dressage scores after cross-country. Heather Morris and Charlie Tango defended their lead with a score of 25.8, Bella Mowbray and En Vogue sit in second place with a score of 30.5, and Julie Wolfert rounds out the top three on Iowa Lot Of Money, who scored 33.1.

Heather Morris and Charlie Tango lead the intermediate division. Kieran Paulsen photo.

“Not running yesterday wasn’t a hinderance,” Morris said. “I’m sure it helped the footing, and the horses were fresh to go this morning. It was so good for the horses to be able to run on amazing footing today, so we are really happy.”

Bella Mowbray and En Vogue sit in second place in the intermediate division heading into show jumping. Kieran Paulsen photo.

The novice divisions completed cross-country on a delayed start. They will start show jumping on Sunday at 8 a.m. (local time) in the Olson Family Arena.

Erin Contino and Handsome Ransom. Kieran Paulsen photo.

Erin Contino and Handsome Ransom held their overnight lead and go into show jumping on a score of 25.8.

Chris Kawcak and Maggie Belle took over the lead in the novice rider division with a faultless cross-country round. They go into show jumping with a score of 25.

Julia Brittain and Haiku held their lead in the junior novice division. They’ll enter show jumping with a score of 29.2.

Tamra Smith holds another lead in the novice horse division with MB MaiStein. If they can go clear in show jumping they’ll finish on their dressage score of 28.1.

The beginner novice divisions also ran on a delayed start. They will show jump starting at 11:15 a.m. on Sunday.

Tricia Leslie gave Inate Dignity a pep talk, before the beginner novice rider cross-country. Kieran Paulsen photo.

Tricia Leslie and Inate Dignity lead the beginner novice rider division with a score of 23.3.

Cami Pease and Vibrant lead the beginner novice amateur division with a score of 24.5.

Alexa Ehlers and  Clear Laveer lead the beginner novice horse division with a score of 27.4.

Haley Miller and Mr. Melvin lead the junior beginner novice division with a score of 29.1.

Read all of the Chronicle’s #AEC2018 coverage here.

Click here to watch Live Streaming of the 2018 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds.

We’ll have full analysis of the competition in the Sept. 24 print edition of The Chronicle of The Horse. Subscribe today.