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As the afternoon progressed 6 more double clears went up on the Score Board - Boyd Martin and Ying Yang Yo for Australia (60.2) ; and Jessica Heidemann, of Bellingham, Washington, and the 15 year old Thoroughbred/Belgian Warm Blood Cross gelding French Twist (50.6); Nathalie Pollard and West Farthing (55.0); Young Rider Sara Mittleider, of Kuna, Idaho,with El Primero (65.4); Karen O'Connor on Upstage (58.0); Polly Stockton (GBR) with Tom Quigley (48.2) and Andrew Hoy (AUS) with Master Monarch (53.1).

Becky Holder, who leads by 4.5 faults after the Cross Country Phase, said, "I feel like Cinderella at the ball - I keep waiting for the coach to turn into a pumpkin!" (Becky and Courageous Comet are pictured at the right at Uncle Frani's Birch (Fence8/9ab).

Regarding preparation for Sunday's Show Jumping, Becky continued, "I will try to sleep tonight and stick to the warm up I've been using all spring. Today, I tried to set a positive pace, but not too agressive. By the five minute marker he had grown up a lot.

Courageous Comet belongs to Tom Holder, Becky's husband, of Mendota Heights, Minnesota; but, had been bought off the race track by Fay Wolf, who had owned Becky's great old horse Highland Hogan, who had been travelling reserve for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Courageous Comet and Becky went to the Luhmuhlen CCI**** (in Germany) last year and ". . .got a good eduction there."

Great Britain's Polly Stockton, who stands in second place with Tom Quigley on 48.2, has been here before. She said, "The course was probably harder this year This horse isn't as experienced as Tangleman, whom I brought here before.He is going to Badminton and is probably my main hope. Tom Quigley has been 20th in the European Championships at Blenheim and 12 in the CCI**** at Luhmuhlen. I like Mike's (Ethrington Smith) courses - that's why we brought him here. (Polly and Tom Quigley are pictured at the left jumping into the Head of the Lake.)

Heidi white said, "Last year we went to Badminton. It was overwhelming! (Today) - it was as good as I have ridden him and as good as he has ever gone."

Less fortunate were the reigning Olympic Champion Leslie Law (GBR), who withdrew Shear L'Eau after refusals at Uncle Frani's Birch (Fence 8, 9ab); the reigning Olympic Silver Medalist Kim Severson and Royal Venture, who was unable to stay in the tack at the drop into the Head of the Lake (20abc, 21); Olympic Team Bronze Medalist Darren Chiacchia, with Tim Holekamp's Trakehner stallion Windfall II, who had refusals at Uncle Frani's Birch (fences 9ab), The Head of the Lake (Fences 20abc and 21),(Darrenis pictured at the right, in trouble at The Head of the Lake.) and the Banks and Splash (Fences 26abcd), where he finally retired; and William Fox Pitt (GBR), the only person eligible to to win a second leg on the Rolex Challenge, with both Coup de Coeur (see pictures below) and Mr. Dumbledore, whom he retired just before the Head of the Lake.

At the End of the Day the Leader Board Looked like this:

1. Becky Holder, Courageous Comet, 43.7 (DCXC)
2. Polly Stockton (GBR), Tom Quigley - 48.2 (DCXC)
3. Heidi White, Northern Spy - 49.4 (DCXC) (Heidi and Northern Spy are pictured at the left jumping into The Head of the Lake.)
4. Jessica Heidemann, French Twist 50.6 (DCXC)
5. Amy Tryon, Woodstock - 51.1 (DCXC)
6. Andrew Hoy (AUS), Master Monarch - 53.1 (DCXC)
7. Nathalie Pollard, West Farthing - 55.0 (DCXC)
8. Andrew Hoy (AUS), Yeoman's Point - 55.8 (1.2 time faults XC)
9. Buck Davidson, Hyperlite - 57.5 (1.2 time faults XC)
10. Karen O'Connor, Upstage - 58.0 (DCXC)
11. Will Faudree, Antigua - 58.2 (1.2 time faults XC)
12. Steve Bradley, Brandenburg's Joshua - 59.7 (2.8 time faults XC)
13T. John Williams, Sloopy - 59.8 (2.2 time faults XC)
13T. Phillip Dutton (AUS), Connaught - 59.8 (2.4 time faults XC)

At the Lunch Break the Leader Board looked like this:

1. Becky Holder, Courageous Comet, 43.7 (DCXC) (Becky and Courageous Comet are pictured at the right at the second Duck in The Head of The Lake.)
2. Heidi White, Northern Spy - 49.4 (DCXC)
3. Amy Tryon, Woodstock - 51.1 (DCXC)
4. Andrew Hoy (AUS), Yeoman's Point - 55.8 (1 time fault XC)
5. Buck Davidson, Hyperlite - 57.5 (1.2time XC)

Meanwhile things went badly for William Fox-Pit (GBR) and Coup de Coeur as the below pictures show:

(All's well that ends well!!! Both Coup de Coeur and William are up and unhurt.)