Maryland 5 Star cross-country – Oliver Townend takes lead for Britain

Oliver Townend has taken the lead after the Mars Maryland 5 Star cross-country day, with the extraordinary veteran five-star campaigner Ballaghmor Class.

“It’s a correct five-star – for me Maryland is true up there with Badminton, Burghley, Kentucky, the others are a degree much less. That is the highest, high of the game and it’s not straightforward,” mentioned Oliver after piloting the three-time five-star winner spherical with 4.8 time-penalties.

“I attempted to take care of him all the best way and ended up a bit sluggish due to it,” mentioned Oliver, explaining he took a calculated gamble in choosing the lengthy route on the second of the Sawmill Slices – brush corners over a ditch – at 18ab. “After which I taken care of him all the best way residence… we all know what he’s completed, he’s particular.”

Reflecting additional on his spherical and Ballaghmor Class’s return to five-star degree after a deep-rooted hoof abscess within the spring, Oliver advised H&H: “I’m very, very happy and relieved with ‘Thomas’ and really pleased for his homeowners Karyn Shuter, Val Ryan and Angela Hislop, who’ve been on a tremendous journey with him.

“To have him again at what’s turned out to be a really powerful five-star may be very emotional for all of us as we all the time wish to do the fitting factor for him and he’s turned up once more and put in one other superb efficiency. He felt keener than ever and it wasn’t the smoothest spherical I’ve probably ever had on him as he was actually excited and eager early on, however each time I wanted him he locked onto the traces and did his job amazingly, as he all the time does.

“He appears all okay in the mean time and completed in all probability higher than he’s ever completed a five-star by way of freshness. I minded him most of approach and saved him as a lot as I might. It was all the time the plan to leap the lengthy route at fence 18 as a result of I used to be advised within the warm-up not one of the good horses had been sighting the second half in any respect. I used to be already forward of time there and I attempted to thoughts him as a lot as I might down the hills, however he’s completed contemporary and really properly.

“Tomorrow’s one other day, however I couldn’t be happier with the best way he’s on the minute so fingers crossed we keep that approach. I’m very pleased with him and the workforce behind him who’ve acquired him again to the extent.”

Tim Worth and Falco at Maryland 5 Star 2024. Credit score: Amy Dragoo

The time-faults Oliver Townend incurred over the Maryland 5 Star cross-country left the door open for world double bronze medallists Tim Worth and Falco to slide forward of him. However the New Zealander’s 7.2 time-penalties on his personal and Sue Benson’s horse dropped him into third, behind each Oliver and David Doel, who has moved as much as second from sixteenth after dressage with Galileo Nieuwmoed, having posted the one spherical contained in the time right this moment.

Tim mentioned: “It’s a tricky monitor, a beast of factor. My horse has completed quite a bit however just one five-star and no offence however Pau is just not a patch on what you’ve acquired right here and the terrain.

“I had to consider my horse – the previous adage of using the horse earlier than the course – and I do know the extra you maintain in reserve firstly, the extra you’ll be able to spend on the best way residence. He felt incredible coming residence and it’s not nearly right this moment, it’s about tomorrow too. Hopefully that’s left us in good stead for a great three phases.”

The final heading in the right direction, Colleen Loach, might have claimed in a single day second for Canada had she gone clear within the time, however FE Golden Eye ran-out on the arrowhead off a bounce distance out of the YANMAR Sunken Street at fence 7abcd and was eradicated after two extra issues additional around the monitor.

Bubby Upton has solely slipped two locations to fifth with Cola, regardless of incurring 11 penalties for a damaged frangible and 12.8 time-faults right this moment, whereas residence aspect rider Buck Davidson (Sorocaima) sits fourth having had 5.2 time-faults.

Harry Meade was the one Brit to have an unsuccessful day – he pulled up his first trip Away Cruising after which took a fall from five-star debutant Et Hop Du Matz on the triple brush arrowhead out of the Irish Horse Board Coffin Query at fence 12abcd.

Eight pairs of the 21 starters completed right this moment over Ian Stark’s cross-country course – the final one the Scot will design as he’s retiring from the function.

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H&H journal editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a real eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand expertise of competing as much as British Eventing intermediate and worldwide CCI2*-L degree, and has labored within the business on a high occasion yard. Pippa enjoys nothing greater than immersing herself within the sport on the highest degree, reporting from the five-stars and worldwide championships, together with the Olympics.