We’ll be providing a round-by-round update of the cross-country action from the Rio Olympic Games! Scroll down for all the action.
Important links: complete order of go / live results / live stream (a cable or satellite TV subscription needed) / a look at the Rio Olympic cross-country course / all the Chronicle eventing coverage
Cross-country runs from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Rio time/9:00 a.m – 2:00 p.m. EST.
U.S. riders’ times are:
Boyd Martin/Blackfoot Mystery—10:45 a.m. Rio time/9:45 a.m. EST
Clark Montgomery/Loughan Glen—12:02 p.m. Rio time/11:02 a.m. EST
Lauren Kieffer/Veronica—1:27 p.m. Rio time/12:27 p.m. EST
Phillip Dutton/Mighty Nice—2:44 p.m. Rio time/1:44 p.m. EST
2:08 p.m. Thanks for following along with us today! Be sure to check back at COTH.com later today for a full report from the day and plenty of photos.
2:06 p.m. And our final team placings from the day:
1 AUS Australia 150.30
2 NZL New Zealand 154.80
3 FRA France 161.00
4 GER Germany 172.80
5 NED Netherlands 238.60
6 SWE Sweden 243.10
7 GBR Great Britain 252.10
8 IRL Ireland 278.40
9 ITA Italy 296.00
10 BRA Brazil 311.70
11 CAN Canada 331.10
12 USA United States 1097.70
2:03 p.m. Here are your top 10 individually heading into tomorrow:
1 AUS BURTON Christopher SANTANO II 37.60
2 GER JUNG Michael SAM FBW 40.90
3 FRA NICOLAS Astier PIAF DE B’NEVILLE 42.00
4 NZL TODD Mark LEONIDAS II 46.00
5 USA DUTTON Phillip MIGHTY NICE 46.80
6 USA MARTIN Boyd BLACKFOOT MYSTERY 50.90
7 BRA PARRO Carlos SUMMON UP THE BLOOD 51.30
7 NZL JOHNSTONE Clarke BALMORAL SENSATION 51.30
9 AUS GRIFFITHS Sam PAULANK BROCKAGH 53.10
10 FRA LEMOINE Mathieu BART L 53.60
2:02 p.m. Marcio and Lissy Mac Wayer are HOME with about 20 time penalties. That’s a wrap on Rio cross-country, and it sure did shake up this leaderboard.
2:00 p.m. OK, our last rider of the day, Marcio, picks up 20 at the second water. Marcio almost comes off, but then he rights himself, and they gallop away! We’re now hearing he might now awarded 20 for that trip though… We’ll update you later. Ah no, we’ve heard that he did eliminate himself by jumping the wrong option.
1:58 p.m. And it’s just 3.2 time penalties for Happy and Phillip as they finish! That’ll put Phillip in fifth individually before tomorrow!
Lissy Mac Wayer still going well through fence 20.
1:56 p.m. Happy and Phillip clear the final water, straight and very easy.
1:53 p.m. Marcio through the first water nicely. Phillip Dutton meanwhile clear through fence 20.
Lissy Mac Wayer now through the Pan Am Games complex at 11, 12.
1:51 p.m. The very last rider of the course, Brazil’s Marcio Carvhalo Jorge leaves the box now on Lissy Mac Wayer.
1:49 p.m. Phillip and “Happy” meanwhile jump the very!! edge of the corner at 6, but they do seem to have stayed inside the flag. We’re not sure. If the jury goes the other way, he’ll be eliminated. Fingers crossed!
1:48 p.m. Oh no, and Ingrid gets a runout at the final water! That’ll dash her medal hopes for this year. She finishes though with her 20 jumping and about 6 time.
1:48 p.m. Phillip Dutton, the last U.S. rider, setting out soon on Mighty Nice! Come on, Phillip!
1:45 p.m. And Ingrid’s now clear through 20, looking just a bit scrappy there but getting it done.
Sweden’s last rider, Ludwig Svennerstal in Aspe, out on course now.
1:43 p.m. Ingrid clear through 15 and the water at 16, still cooking along easily.
Jonelle Price is HOME with 8 time penalties. That should put NZ just into silver position behind Australia.
1:41 p.m. Merel Blom finishes with some time, while Jonelle is at minute 7 on her course and still clear.
Ingrid goes straight at the double corners! She’s going for it.
1:38 p.m. Ingrid Klimke’s over the first couple of fences now. She’s riding in her fifth Olympics for Germany. She can’t boost her team back to first today, but she could sit silver position if she goes clear…
1:35 p.m. And Jonelle is clear 8 and 9, that looked easy for them. We’re going to be seeing Germany’s Ingrid Klimke on Hale Bob OLD out here soon, and they’re sitting third individually.
1:33 p.m. Jonelle is clear the first couple, while Kitty King heads for fence 24.
Jonelle has a sticky ride through the first water, horse hangs a leg jumping in, but they make it through clear.
1:31 p.m. Kitty King clears the ski jump at fence 20, just carrying her 20 penalties from earlier on course.
Our next rider out on course will be Jonelle Price on Faerie Dianimo for New Zealand. Her ride has real potential to impact the top team scores.
1:28 p.m. The Netherlands’ Merel Blom leaves the box next on Rumour Has It. She’s the final rider for this nation as we get down to the final few riders today.
Alexsandr Markov has picked up a few stops on course so far, and he’s now been eliminated.
1:27 p.m. Great Britain’s had a bummer day here, but Kitty King is going well so far through fence 9. Ah, but we hear Kitty King picks up 20 penalties at fence 11.
1:26 p.m. And Shane Rose is apparently eliminated after three stops at that final water. He must have also crossed his tracks in there somewhere.
1:25 p.m. Shane Rose picks up 20 at the last water! That means Australia is likely still going to hold the lead heading into tomorrow’s show jumping, but it’ll knock Shane Rose out of individual medal contention.
1:24 p.m. Great Britain’s anchor riding heading out next, it’s Kitty King on Ceylor LAN.
1:22 p.m. We haven’t been seeing Stefano much, but we do just see him get eliminated at the final water for missing a flag and then jumping the next element. What a bummer.
1:20 p.m. CP Qualified and Shane Rose make the 11 and 12 Pan Ams complex look simple.
Next out we’re going to have Alexsandr Markov for Russia with Kurfurstin.
1:18 p.m. Shane Rose takes the alternate at the corners at 6. I’m not sure we’ve seen anyone go direct that way this afternoon!
Mark Kyle finishes with his 20 jumping and about 30 time.
1:16 p.m. Mark Kyle goes the long route at fence 24 as Shane Rose leaves the box for Australia on the lovely grey CP Qualified.
1:14 p.m. And the final rider for France, Mathieu Lemoine, is home with 14 time penalties but clear jumping.
1:12 p.m. Italy sending out their final rider now, Stefano Brecciaroli on Apollo vd Wendi Kurt
1:10 p.m. Mark Kyle gets a glance off at fence 12, the last element of the Pan Ams complex.
1:07 p.m. Riddle Master a bit sticky through final water but stays clear. Rebecca adds just 12.4 time penalties for Canada, but that’s a clear jumping completion for them.
1:05 p.m. Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master are still having a great go through the second half of the course.
Mathieu meanwhile clear 8 and 9. Mark Kyle leaves the box for Ireland on Jemilla. They’re the anchor pair for their team.
1:03 p.m. Riddle Master is clear the log piles at 15, looking good so far. They’re through the second water too.
Next out the box is Mathieu for France on Bart L.
1:01 p.m. Pawel and his horse have a nasty fall over the second element of the ski jump, but they pop up and look fine.
12:59 p.m. Rebecca Howard is clear the double of corners at 6; she went the long route too like nearly everyone is doing at this point in the day.
12:57 p.m. Poland’s Pawel the only one on course at the moment, but we have Canada’s Rebecca Howard leaving soon on Riddle Master.
12:56 p.m. Alex Hua Tin finished his round with just time penalties, while Pawel Spisak had to regroup after Banderas hung a leg into the first water. He circled and continued on.
12:52 p.m. Karin Donckers day ended when her mare skimmed to the side of the brush corners and she fell. Fletcha van’t Verahof took a tour of the countryside. Now Pawel Spisak—an individual rider from Poland—is on course.
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12:50 p.m. Yoshiaki Oiwa comes home clean for Japan (and very happy!) with just 18 time faults. Donckers survived a bit of a hung knee at the first water but is going well on Fletcha van’t Verahof.
12: 49 p.m. Guy Fonseca is home safe for Brazil with 40 jump and lots of time, while Karin Donckers is away on course, riding as an individual for Belgium.
12:48 p.m. Guy Fonseca’s horse looks a bit tired but jumps well at the long route of the last water.
12:47 p.m. Yoshiaki Oiwa has a lovely ride through that combination. Fonseca is getting lots of cheers from Brazilians in the crowd!
12:45 p.m. Alex Hua Tian leaves the box on Don Geniro. Ruy Fonseca taking the long routes now as he’s carrying those 20 penalties, but he’s clear through 24.
12:43 p.m. Japan’s Yoshiaki Oiwa really clocking along! They’re clear so far through 15. A couple of dodgy moments early for them, but now they’re looking very strong!
12:41 p.m. Yoshiaki Oiwa is out on course for Japan now. Meanwhile Ruy Fonseca has a glance off at the corner at 17! They get it the second time.
12:39 p.m. We’re hearing that Lauren Kieffer just fell from Veronica at fence 24 after trying to go the straight route there at the gate. The horse hangs a leg, and she goes down too, but they’re both quickly back up. That means the US won’t have three riders complete.
Sarah Ostholt is home with time and stops.
12:37 p.m. Sarah Ostholt gets a stop in the final water but clear on second attempt.
12:35 p.m. Lauren and Veronica solid and bold through 11 and 12. You can hear Lauren yell out a “good girl!”
Brazil’s Ruy Fonseca heading out now on Tom Bombadill Too. The crowd loves them, and they’re over 2.
12:33 p.m. Lauren goes the long way at the corners at 6, and she’s easily through there.
Sara Algottson earns a stop at the ski jump at fence 20. Clear on second attempt and carrying that 20.
12:31 p.m. We’ve heard that Julia Krajewski was eliminated for Germany after three stops, but we’re not sure where the last happened. Veronica clear the water at 4, just twists a bit there in the element in the water.
12:30 p.m. And now it’s finally our next out for the USA, Lauren Kieffer on Veronica! We really need her and Phillip Dutton to complete after Clark Montgomery’s elimination.
Sara Algottson meanwhile clear through the first part of the course.
12:28 p.m. It’s a clear with just 4.8 time for Clarke Johnstone! Great round for New Zealand.
12:25 p.m. Clarke and Balmoral Sensation having a very nice trip around so far, and they’re clear the final water. Making that look very easy.
But Julia gets another runout at fence 9!
Sara Algottson Ostholt leaves the box for Sweden.
12:24 p.m. Alice clear the final water for the Netherlands. But Julia gets a stop at fence 4b! That’s shocking for Germany’s team, who was leading starting this phase, but they also had problems with Sandra Auffarth earlier today.
12:21 p.m. Clarke gets a great shot at fence 8 and 9, easily clear there.
Julia Krajewski leaves the box for Germany on Samourai du Thot. She was the alternate, but she had to slot in for Andrea Ostholt and So Is Et after the first jog.
12:20 p.m. We’re getting close to our next U.S. rider, Lauren Kieffer on Veronica.
12:18 p.m. Clarke Johnstone and Balmoral Sensation out the box now for New Zealand. This pair was fifth at Badminton this year.
Pippa Funnell picks up a runout at the last element of the last water! Such a bummer for her and GB after an otherwise super trip. They are home safely with those 20 jumping and about 24 time.
12:16 p.m. Pippa and Billy the Biz clear fence 24, taking the long route there. We are hearing that Russia’s rider is eliminated sadly.
12:14 p.m. Andre Mitin may have missed a flag in the final water; we will see if he’s eliminated himself by doing so and then jumping the next. Either way, he is home safely.
12:12 p.m. Pippa Funnell gets a nice trip through fence 17.
Alice Naber-Lozeman is going to head out the box next for the Netherlands on Peter Parker, and they clear the first two fences.
12:10 p.m. Stuart Tinney makes it home clear on Pluto Mio for Australia! He’s just 7 seconds over.
Pippa is clear through the corners at 6; after a very sticky leap over the first she takes the long route but stays clear.
12:08 p.m. Pippa Funnell and Billy The Biz will start next for Great Britain.
12:07 p.m. Pluto Mio looking good through the ski jump at 20.
Russia’s Andre Mitin takes the long route at fences 8 and 9.
12:05 p.m. Roman Pietro has a rough trip through the final water, gives his mount lots of pats on the way out, but they stay clear there. They finish with about 20 time penalties for Italy. That’ll slot them into a provisional 12th place.
12:03 p.m. Next out is Russia’s Andre Mitin and Gurza. Pluto Mio, an 18-year-old gelding, meanwhile going well through fence 10, the keyhole.
They also make quick work of fences 11 and 12, the Pan Ams complex.
12:01 p.m. Jonty has to circle before the last element of last water, but it’s numbered seperately, so he should be OK. He’s way down on time, but he’s looking at an Olympics cross-country completion for sure. And yep, they are home!
12:00 p.m. Here’s the first fence the pairs tackle out of the box:
11:57 a.m. Stuart Tinney is out of the box for Australia next on Pluto Mio. The Irish pair of Jonty Evans and Cooley Rorkes Drift going well and clear through 24 after taking the long route.
11:55 a.m. France’s Thibaut Vallette through the last water and home for France just about a minute over the time allowed.
11:53 a.m. Colleen looking happy to have another finishing score for Canada with her 40 jumping and 42 time. Pietro Roman is next out for Italy on Barraduff.
11:50 a.m. Colleen Loach and her mount (with his long and hard-to-spell name) are through 27 and still looking strong, but we are hearing they picked up two stops somewhere along the course. Jonty Evans and Cooley Rorkes drift leave the box now. He’s in the top 10 after dressage for Ireland!
11:48 a.m. Lauren finishes for Puerto Rico! She has the 20 jumping and many time (48.4), but she’s still looking plenty pleased with her day.
11:46 a.m. France’s next rider, Thibaut Vallette is now on course with Qing du Briot. They’re clear the first water at 4.
Lauren Billys clear at fence 27, and they choose the long route in the final water at 30.
11:44 a.m. Lauren Billys and Purdy do the ski jump at 20 very easily.
11:42 a.m. Colleen is clear the first water, makes that look easy.
11:40 a.m. Lauren Billys picks up 20 as she gets a runout at 11b, the brush at the top of the Pan Ams stepup. They take the alternate route, and they move on.
Canada’s Colleen Loach on Qorry Blue out of the box now.
11:38 a.m. We’re just over halfway through today’s cross-country action. Lauren Billys is clear through 8 and 9, made that look quite easy.
11:36 a.m. Elmo still out there, taking some long routes but going nicely. He’s only 24, and this is his first Olympics. Lauren Billys off and over the first two fences now.
Elmo gets a 20 at the final water jump when the horse just loses some steam. They finish with 20 jumping and 22.8 time penalties for Finland.
11:34 a.m. Individual rider Nicolas Wettstein retires on course after two stops at 22. Joris van Springel is also out on course at the moment for Belgium.
11:32 a.m. Lauren Billys, riding Castle Larchfield Purdy for Puerto Rico, is out next. She’s a U.S. fan favorite as she’s based in California.
11:31 a.m. Camilla is home with 40 time but jumping clear, and she has a HUGE grin as she gallops through the finish. What a great moment for Zimbabwe equestrian!
11:30 a.m. Here’s the unique fence 31, which Camilla has just cleared!
11:27 a.m. Elmo Jankari is going to be next out, another individual, for Finland on Duchess Desire.
Meanwhile Camilla is picking her way along slowly but steadily, having a good clear so far on course.
11:25 a.m. Another individual, Nicolas Lionel Wettstein for Ecuador, is now on course and clear the long route at 6, the corner complex.
11:22 a.m. Zimbabwe’s Camilla goes nicely through the Pan Am steps at 11 ab and 12. Felix Vogg gets a third refusal, and he’s eliminated for Switzerland.
11:20 a.m. Carlos Parro is home clear! Meanwhile Felix Vogg gets a stop at fence 17b, the Palm Tree question.
They then get another 20 at the ski jump. Looked like they came down quickly to B, and the horse just chested it. They take the alternate, and they’re safely away.
11:19 a.m. Felix Vogg taking long routes but doing it very nicely. Now out on course is Zimbabwe’s Camilla Kruger on Biarritz. She’s wearing a very colorful hat and body protector!
11:16 a.m. Carlos Parro still going well towards the end of the course. Felix Vogg takes the long route at the corners at 6, and he’s clear there for Switzerland. Here’s Carlos Parro from yesterday’s dressage:
11:15 a.m. Carlos Parro getting cheered around the course by fellow Brazilians. He’s clear through the double of logs at 15 on his good galloping OTTB.
11:13 a.m. Clark gets another stop at the double of logs at fence 15, but they continue on from there. Unfortunately we’re now hearing Glen eliminated after three stops, but we’re not sure where that happened. Bummer for the U.S. team! They’ll rely heavily on their other three riders.
11:10 a.m. Carlos Parro and Summon Up The Blood (quite a name) out for Brazil next. Loughan Glen appears to be going well after that early bobble.
11:08 a.m. Loughan Glen VERY nappy into the water at 4, and he gets 20 at the in, and then he’s likely crossed his tracks in there too. Very strange, almost like the horse spooked and didn’t want to go in, which you don’t often see at this level. We’ll let you know what his score is like, but they’re not going to be clear.
11:06 a.m. If you just watched Michael Jung today, you’d think, “Wow, this course is so soft!” Clearly that’s not how it’s gone for most pairs… They’re clear 31, and they look to be on the time too. YEP, they got it, and that’s a double-clear for them, 14 seconds inside the time.
11:04 a.m. Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen are next out for the USA, sitting 24th after dressage. That wasn’t the score they were wanting, but I imagine they’ll forget about it if they can get home clear today!
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11:01 a.m. Mark Todd clear the final water, basically a riding lesson through there. And he’s home with just 2 time penalties. Michael Jung and Sam still easily going through fence 20. The ones out there now are making this course look pretty simple. (Yeah, it’s not.)
10:59 a.m. Tim Lips is home with just time for the Netherlands. Meanwhile, Michael Jung and Sam clear the corners at 6 and fence 7.
Mark Todd isn’t far from home, and Leonidas is still galloping so strongly.
10:57 a.m. Jung and Sam clear the first water at 4, going at a good clip.
Mark Todd and Leonidas clear the ski jump at 20, making it look oh so easy, which we know it’s not!
10:55 a.m. Next out of the box is going to be Michael Jung on Sam. Michael needs no introduction! But here he is in the dressage, where he placed fifth:
10:54 a.m. Toddy deals with a little bit of a drift at the corner complex at 6ab, but he gets it done. They’re now clear 9.
10:53 a.m. Master cross-country rider Mark Todd out of the box now with Leonidas for New Zealand.
WFP is home with 10.4 time and those 20 jumping. Such a bummer for him as he just had that blip at 20!
10:50 a.m. And WFP has picked up a 20 for crossing his track in the ski jump at fence 20. That’ll move Chris Burton up into gold medal position heading into tomorrow if those penalties hold, and we believe they will.
10:49 a.m. Tim Lips and Bayro leave the start for the Netherlands. They’re 20th after dressage.
10:47 a.m. WFP clear through 9 on his stallion. Again, they’re our dressage leaders at the moment. They do 11 and 12 very easily.
10:45 a.m. WFP and Chilli make quick work of the first water. Chris Burton and Santano clear the last, and they are home! Did they get the time? They did! That’s a clear round, and they’ll hold at least their placing for second individually.
10:43 a.m. William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning are off!
Chris Burton is clear the final water at fence 30.
10:40 a.m. Arianna is home with time and 20 jumping for Italy.
Chris Burton and Santano still clocking along, they’re clear fence 24. The horse is looking fresh and jumping well.
10:38 a.m. Soon we’ll be seeing dressage winners Wiliam Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning for Great Britain. As of now, Chris Burton very easily through fence 16, and then corner combination at fence 17. He might as well be jumping around a training level horse trials so far.
10:36 a.m. Chris Burton easily clear 8 and 9.
10:34 a.m. Santano II hangs a leg jumping the mound in the first water with Chris Burton, but they make it through there clear. The horse galloping along beautifully.
Clare Abbott finishes for Ireland with 40 jumping and lots of time.
10:32 a.m. France’s Karim makes it home with 20 jumping and more than 30 time, but that’ll be at least another completion score for France.
Now out on course we have Arianna Schivo for Italy. Australia’s Chris Burton, sitting well up there (second) after dressage, will leave the box soon on Santano II. Here they are in their lovely dressage test.
10:30 a.m. Clare Abbott gets her second stop of the day at 11, the step up of the Pan Am Wall combination, and the horse actually jumps into the ditch briefly. They get out of there, and they clear the complex on second attempt.
10:26 a.m. France’s Karim picks up 20 at fence 12, the brush at the top of the step up. That’s riding pretty tough for many! They have a sticky trip through 17, but they stay clear there. Ireland’s Clare Abbott earns 20 of her own at fence 7 on Euro Prince.
We’re hearing Kathryn has been eliminated for three refusals on course, not her route through 8.
Karim gets 20 at the ski jump (fence 20) for France.
10:24 a.m. Carlos Munoz is HOME clear with time for Chile on Ranco. Lots of fist pumping and cheering from him.
10:22 a.m. We’re hearing Kathryn might have eliminated herself by jumping the wrong alternate at fence 8. We’ll update you as we hear more.
10:20 a.m. Next out is Karim Laghouag for France. Carlos for Chile is clear the straight route at fence 20, the ski jump.
Kathryn Robinson gets a stop at fence 8b, the horse looks like he just runs out of steam at the top of the hill, and then she takes the long way out the alternate fence 9. Bummer for Canada. This is the fence where it happened:
10:16 a.m. Carlos Munoz clear 8 and 9 for Chile. Kathryn Robinson leaving the box now on Let It Bee for Canada. She’s clear the first water at 4. This pair is experienced, and they jumped around this year’s Badminton CCI**** with just time penalties.
10:14 a.m. Alberto Hermoso, the only rider for Spain, is walking off course after getting three refusals.
10:12 a.m. Japan’s Ryuzo goes long at 24, which basically everyone seems to be doing, and they’re looking good there. Now out on course is Carlos Munoz on Ranco.
10:10 a.m. Alberto Hermosa gets a runout at the A of fence 6, and then he gets another 20 later in the same element. They make it out of there now and press on.
10:09 a.m. We’ve heard Ben Vogg had a stop at fence 9, but he’s looking good here later on the track. He goes the long way at the final water.
10:08 a.m. Albert Hermoso leaves the start for Spain on Hito CP. Here’s the start box itself:
10:06 a.m. Brazil’s Marcio very nearly comes unseated at the last water at fence 30, but he hangs on! Horse is just looking quite tired at this point. They take the long way out after missing the c element, but they’re almost home now. He finishes with plenty of time penalties, and that 20 from the last water.
10:04 a.m. Here’s a look at the skinny at fence 9 as Japan’s Ryuzo Kitajima leaves the box now.
10:02 a.m. Brazil’s first rider, Marcio Appel, is clear through the ski jump at 20, taking the long route there. Also out on course we have Ben Vogg for Switzerland on Noe Des Vatys.
9:59 a.m. And Boyd Martin is home CLEAR, just 3.2 time penalties. That’s a great start for the U.S. team.
9:58 a.m. Boyd Martin clear 27 as the trailblazer for Team USA. Come on, Boyd! Linda has galloped home, but we’re hearing she might be eliminated for stops.
9:56 a.m. Boyd has gone straight 20, the ski jump, and he’s gone well through there. Still clear! He’s looking like he’s hunting the time too. Linda gets a stop at 30, the last water, for Sweden. She’s headed for home now though.
9:54 a.m. Brazil’s first rider is out of the box now, Marcio Appel. The crowd is going crazy for him already at the start! Boyd is clear through 19, including the troublesome corner at 17.
9:52 a.m. Boyd Martin clear the first few fences. Linda Algottson clear fence 17 easily. She does appear to be having a good trip so far. Out of nine starters, there have been six completions and three eliminations so far.
9:50 a.m. Boyd Martin has left the box with Blackfoot Mystery! They’re not showing Linda at all on our stream, so we hope she’s going well. It’s possible that Sandra crossed her track in the last water; they’re currently crediting her with 20 there, but we’ll see if it stands. She’s almost home though for Germany.
9:47 a.m. Sandra and Opgun Louvo easily pop through fence 20, the ski jump, making that look like a gymnastic exercise basically. Linda Algotsson is next out for Sweden with Fairnet. Check out how skinny that 20b is!
9:45 a.m. And Tim Price tries to go to the long way at fence 24, and the horse slips and FALLS through the turn! Not even related to a fence. They’re quickly up and walking off, but that is some bad luck for New Zealand.
9:43 a.m. Sandra clear the keyhole at 10. Her horse seems to be going confidently now after their early blip.
9:42 a.m. And, shockingly, Sandra already has a stop at the water at 4! They continue on from there.
9:40 a.m. Tim Price and Ringood Sky Boy are clear the water at 16, having a good go so far. Next out on course is Germany’s Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo.
9:39 a.m. Theo attempts the straight way at 24b with Zindane, and the horse hangs a leg, and they both fall. They’re up and walking away. Gemma is home with her stops and some time.
9:37 a.m. We’re just a few riders and about 10 minutes from Boyd Martin leaving the box. Here’s what he had to say about the course earlier this week.
“It’s tough. It’s very tricky,” said Boyd Martin. “This course wouldn’t suit him [Blackfoot Mystery] much. I’m really going to have to ride well to get him around clear and fast. There’s a lot of angles and corners and narrows. One thing I do have up my sleeve is that he has tremendous speed and endurance. I think I can afford to take my time in some of the tricky fences and really get him to look at it and press him in the galloping lines. I’m quietly confident.”
9:36 a.m. Next out of the box is Tim Price on Ringwood Sky Boy for New Zealand.
Gemma’s taking the long routes as she continues along course, carrying her 40 penalties.
9:34 a.m. Griffiths and Paulank Brockagh home with just some time (17 seconds over) for Australia!
9:32 a.m. Sam Griffiths still going well for Australia. They’re clear through the latter part of the course as Theo van de Vendel leaves the box with Zindane for the Netherlands. Gemma gets another stop (and dramatic rear!) at fence 11b, the Pan Am walls. They clear the alternate route. Here’s 11, which is so far causing its fair share of problems.
9:30 a.m. Gemma has a stop at fence 4, the horse just runs out at the mound in the water, and then rears very dramatically! They get it the second time, but that’ll be a possible blow for Great Britain.
9:28 a.m. Gemma Tattersall is the first out for Great Britain on Quicklook V. Griffiths is through the troublesome 17 without any issue.
9:26 a.m. Luca has a stop at 17b after getting very very deep at 17a. They get it on the second try. Now out on course we have Australia’s Sam Griffiths on Paulank Brockagh.
9:24 a.m. Here’s a look at the first of the waters at fence 4, which is where Luca has just picked up 20 penalties. They’re continued on from there.
9:21 a.m. Next out of the box is Simon Porloe on Castlewood’s Jake. Padraig has a fall at the second of the corners at 17b with his horse, but they’re both up and walking away.
9:19 a.m. Astier still going super, and he’s almost home. It looks like he might get the time too! Yep, he’s got it. That’s a clear round for France.
9:16 a.m. Jessie Phoenix has finished with her stops and plenty of time. But that’s the first rider home for Canada! Nicholas Astier still going very well through the second half of the course.
Padraig picks up a refusal at 12 a, the first of the brush panels. The horse literally just refuses and slides into it, but they’re over on a second attempt.
9:14 a.m. Padraig McCarthy is out of the box for Ireland. Jessie Phoenix is heading for home, and she’s way off her time already, but I’m sure she’ll be happy to be home safely!
9:12 a.m. Jessie Phoenix has had a second stop at fence 17, but she’s clear through 23 now. A Little Romance looking tired, and they have another runout at fence 23. We’re hearing her penalties at the first water have been removed, so she’s sitting on just two stops at the moment.
9:10 a.m. Nicholas Astier through the first water, with big cheers from the crowd as he goes the straight route. He takes the straight way at the corners, and it’s a little wobbly, but they get it done!
9:05 a.m. Jessie Phoenix and A Little Romance we’ve heard did pick up an early stop somewhere. It sounds like it was at the first water. She’s now taking the long routes thorugh the next few complexes, and she’s through 16. Second of the day is on course now, Nicholas Astier for France.
9:00 a.m. Good morning, and welcome to live updates from the Rio cross-country! Canada’s Jessica Phoenix has just left the box and is over fence 2 with A Little Romance. She’s taken the long route at the 6ab corner question, which is one riders are anticipating will cause some issues today.
