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The Organizing Committee at Rolex Kentucky surely needs to be congratulated on making exactly the correct decision about running the Cross Country Saturday and about what changes to make in the time schedule. The radio and the Weather Channel were filled with dire predictions of thunderstorms and possible tornadoes.

A serious thunder storm struck a few minutes after 3:00 PM. Had Rolex stuck to its original time table, with a one hour and forty minute lunch break, the last five competitors would have had to ride ib outrageously bad weather or the competition would have had to be postponed. Well done Janie Atkinson, the Ground Jury, the Technical Delegate, and anyone else instrumental in deciding to run straight through and be finished by approximately 1:30 PM!

Oliver Townend's dreams of winning the Rolex Challenge very likely died at fence # 20 when Ashdale Cruise Master fell at The Hollow. Oli was helicoptered to the University of Kenticky Trauma Center. He was conscious as he was put into the helicopter. Ashdale Cruise Master sustained no injuries.
(There was talk of the pin at the fence not breaking.)

Oli is in seventh place with his first ride of Saturday ODT Master Rose. It is very likely that Oli will ride on Sunday if he is in any way able, though the climb from 7.8 faults out of first place to the leadership is a steep one, which calls for perfection from Townend and errors from those ahead of him.

William Fox-Pitt, Townend's compatriot, leads after the Cross Country riding Cool Mountain. Not a single rail down in the Show Jumping separates the top three finishers after the Cross Country phase. (William and Cool Mountain are pictured at the right at the second fence into the Head of the Lake.)

William commented, "I am naturally very happy. You never know what you are going to get with a horse at his first four star. My chap got a bit tired. He's very, very genuine and stayed on his lines. He finished easily within the time."

Regarding the course, William commented, "The polystyrene log at the Lake met with mixed reviews." (Editor's Note: There will be a picture of this fence in these pages when time allows.)

Kim Severson, who stands second with the grey Tipperary Liadhnan, 2 faults behind William, said, "I'm surprised to be here (particularly) with trotting the corner in the water. I don't know what happened there." When asked how Tipperary Liadhnan might Show Jump on Sunday, Kim answered, "If I can stay out of his way and if I don't "speak" too loud . . ." (Time will tell!) (Kim and Tipperary Liadhnan are pictured at the left at the fence after the Head of the Lake.)

Becky Holder is third with Courageous Comet 2.4 faults behind William. "I was determined not to pay too much attention to the clock. Phillip (Dutton) told me that The Foreman had a moment of not reading the fence out of the water (the short way at The Head of the Lake), so I went the longer option. Comet has started at eight four stars. When you start a four star competition you still have to go fence by fence," Becky stated.

(Above is a picture of the new styrofoam log used to build the second jump into the Head of the Lake. In this case Captain Geoff Curran's (IRL) horse, The Jump Jet, refused and leaned on the log breaking it in half. The use of this new material is somewhat controversial. Some people feel that teaching horses that fences that look sustantial are actually breakable is a dangerous idea, particularly if a log this size were to be a real tree trunk.)

The Final Veterinary Examination is at 8:00 AM on Sunday.

Final Cross Country Standings are as below:

1. William Fox-Pitt (GBR), Cool Mountain - 42.8 (DCXC)

2. Kim Severson, Tipperary Liadhnan - 44.8 (DCXC)

3. Becky Holder, Courageous Comet - 45.2 (DCXC)

4. Phillip Dutton, The Foreman - 47.6 (.4 time faults)

5. Phillip Dutton, Woodburn - 47.7 (DCXC)

6. Karen O'Connor, Mandiba - 48.1 (4.4 time faults)

7. Oliver Townend (GBR), ODT Master Rose - 50.6 (.8 time faults)

8. Boyd Martin, Neville Bardos - 51.8 (DCXC)

9. Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch (CAN), Port Authority - 52.0 (DCXC)

10. Selana O'Hanlon (CAN), Colombo - 52.7 (DCXC)

10 horse and rider combinations ran double clears on the Cross Country from 39 finishers. (7 horses were eliminated; 5 retired; and 2 withdrew.)

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Cross Country Standings at would have been the Lunch Break (11:40 AM - 26 horses having completed/25 horses still to go) were:

1. Becky Holder, Courageous Comet - 45.2 (DCXC)

2. Phillip Dutton, The Foreman - 47.6 (.4 time faults)

3. Karen O'Connor, Mandiba - 48.1 (4.4 time faults)

4. Oliver Townend (GBR), ODT Master Rose - 49.8 (.8 Time faults)

5. Boyd Martin, Neville Bardos - 51.8 (DCXC)

6. Stephanie Rhodes- Bosch (CAN), Port Authority - 52.0 (DCXC)

7. Hawley Bennett-Awad (CAN), Gin & Juice - 53.8 (DCXC)

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Change of Schedule for Saturday's Cross Country

Due to the threat of inclement weather (thunderstorms and possible tornadoes) there will be no lunch break. (There had been one originally scheduled for from 11:50 AM to 1:30 PM). The morning horses will run as previously scheduled; however, from 11:44 AM onwards horses will run a 4 minute intervals instead of 5 minute intervals as per the morning horses.

This means the Cross country will be completed by approximately 1:30 PM. (This estimated ending time does not allow for holds on course, so it may be a bit later.)

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