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Irishman leads after early stages of Maryland 5 Star cross-country plus one fall

Pippa Roome Pippa Roome

    • Austin O’Connor holds the lead after the early stages of the Mars Maryland 5 Star cross-country.

    The Irish rider was the pathfinder on his own and The Salty Syndicate’s seasoned campaigner Colorado Blue. He had a great round, finishing three seconds over the time having had to take a longer line to the final angled hedge element at the Mars Equestrian Crab Water (fence 22abcd).

    No one else has come near to equalling Austin’s time over Ian Stark’s Maryland 5 Star cross-country track, with US rider Hannah Sue Hollberg the next fastest (7.2 time-penalties) on Capitol HIM.

    Piggy March took the long route out of the Mars Equestrian Crab Water (fence 22abcd) on John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn’s five-star first-timer Brookfield Cavalier Cruise, finishing with 13.2 time-faults. Having been second after dressage, she is now second behind Austin on the leaderboard of completed riders, with Hannah Sue third.

    New Zealand’s Monica Spencer, fourth after dressage, demonstrated how to take on the direct route out of the Mars Equestrian Crab Water with Artist, but still came home with 15.2 time-faults.

    The home side’s Phillip Dutton had a fall with Azure when they didn’t get the stride they wanted into the second big corner at the Cecil County Corners (fences 18 and 19ab). Both were quickly up on their feet.

    Fellow US rider Booli Selmayr had a couple of problems in the first half of the course and was pulled up by the ground jury at fence 24 with Millfield Lancando.

    The leader after dressage, Oliver Townend (Cooley Rosalent), starts at 3.25pm local time (8.25pm British time).

    End of day update: Austin holds fourth overnight, Piggy fifth, Hannah Sue sixth and Monica ninth.

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    Pippa Roome
    Pippa Roome

    H&H magazine editor and eventing editor
    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.
    Pippa Roome

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