Winsome Adante did just what Kim Severson hoped he’d do. Watching him on course left no doubt that “Dan” is back on track with his signature speed and bravado as he and Severson became the first pair to gallop clean across Capt. Mark Phillips’ CIC***W cross-country course on Saturday, April 7. The leaders now stand alone at the top and were one of only five pairs to blaze faultlessly through the finish line ahead of the clock.

Over every question, their speed, determination and precision couldn’t be missed. Those qualities produced just the recipe Severson needed to break the first-place tie between her and Jonathan Holling and Lion King II.

Holling and Lion King set off with a steady pace and initially made short work of all questions. But by the time they cleared the Mill Creek Farm Yard (fence 19), a wide table through a gaping wooden frame, their pace seemed to slip slightly.

After effectively negotiating the downhill Picnic Table (20) and some tricky corner combinations in the back field that caused a few run-outs later in the day, Holling and Lion King made their way back through the Mill Creek Farm Yard (24AB) and over the final rolltop to post a score that reflected their delicate deceleration. Seven seconds over the 6:22 optimum time meant 2.8 extra faults.

But after Lion King proved that he’s more than capable in the show jumping with his CIC***W win at Red Hills (Fla.) in March, Winsome Adante can’t spare a single rail in show jumping should Holling look to pull off a repeat of last month’s World Cup qualifier victory.

Becky Holder and Courageous Comet looked in top form on course today as well. They also finished their cross-country run without fault and ascended two spots into third place.

They took that position from Amy Tryon and Le Samurai after Tryon seemed to hold back a bit at the final few fences and picked up 2 time faults to drop to fourth. Jan Byyny and Waterfront also dropped one place with 4 time faults and sit tied for fifth with Will Faudree and Antigua (who gained five places after a clean trip) with 48.4 faults apiece.

While last year’s AEC (N.C.) advanced level champions Kristin Bachman and Gryffindor jumped to seventh place from 11th after their clean effort, Heidi White and Northern Spy, Karen O’Connor and Upstage, and Phillip Dutton and Connaught all lost ground by time faults and round out the top 10 as eighth, ninth and 10th respectively.

While the clock seemed to be the toughest questions on course today, only four riders incurred jump faults and three withdrew prior to start.

Better I Do It and Darren Chiacchia incurred three run-outs at jumps 21 and 22 in the backfield. The other was at the second cabin (9).

Ian Roberts and Napalm’s trip was also interrupted with a few stops while Tara Zieler and Buckingham Palace and Missy Ransenhousen and Critical Decision both incurred 20 jump faults as well.

The Fork Top 10 After Cross Country:
1. Kim Severson—Winsome Adante        40.3
2. Jonathan Holling—Lion King II        43.1
3. Becky Holder—Courageous Comet    44.7
4. Amy Tryon—Le Samurai            45.4
5T. Jan Byyny—Waterfront            48.4
5T. Will Faudree—Antigua            48.4
7. Kristin Bachman—Gryffindor        49.4
8. Heidi White—Northern Spy        51.0
9. Karen O’Connor—Upstage        51.8
10. Phillip Dutton—Connaught        53.0