Harbour Pilot, the ride of Hannah Sue Hollberg (née Burnett), was sent to the holding box at the Mars Maryland 5 Star final trot-up this morning, but passed on re-inspection.
The 19-year-old horse, owned by Jacqueline Mars, is due to retire after this competition. He will start this afternoon’s showjumping phase in eighth place.
Twenty-one horses were brought forward in front of the ground jury – president Christian Landolt (Switzerland) and members Judy Hancock (Great Britain) and Gretchen Butts (USA) – this morning.
One horse was withdrawn before the horse inspection – Canada’s Lisa Marie Fergusson did not present her own Honor Me. The pair went clear across country with 23.2 time-faults and lay 21st overnight.
Harry Meade presented US competitor Jennie Brannigan’s two horses as well as his own Superstition and raised a laugh when he curtseyed to the ground jury in a mock attempt to pretend to be Jennie.
With the Maryland 5 Star final trot-up over, thoughts turn to the showjumping, with the five-star starting at 2pm local time (7pm British time).
The top five riders – New Zealand’s Tim Price (Coup De Coeur Dudevin), the USA’s Tamie Smith (Danito), Britain’s Oliver Townend (As Is), the USA’s Phillip Dutton (Z) and his compatriot Buck Davidson (Carlevo) – are all within one showjump down on their current penalties, so it promises to be a tense finish to the second running of the US autumn five-star.
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Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.
