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| Distance | Speed | Optimum Time | Time Limit | ||
| Meters | M/Min | Mins. | Secs. | Mins. | Secs. |
| 62701 | 570 | 11 | 00 | 22 | 00 |
| 1 - Approximate | |||||
THOUGHTS ON THIS YEAR'S CROSS-COUNTRY COURSE
For the last time Course Designer Mike Etherington-Smith shares his thoughts on the design of this year’s Cross-Country Course. Mike is retiring from the Course Designer position at Rolex Kentucky. Please read the Program Dedication in the front of this program as we salute an individual that has brought the Kentucky Three-Day Event, through the design of its Cross-Country Course, to the level of sporting excellence for which it is now recognized.Mike E-S, as he is known around the world, is a resident of Banbury, Oxfordshire in England and a former Event and ShowJumping rider. Mike has a remarkable ability to think like a horse as well as a rider when it comes to the design and placement of cross-country obstacles.
He retired from his post as Event Director and Course Designer at the Blenheim CCI***, in which he served from that event’s inception, to become Sport Director for British Eventing, the counterpart in England to our U.S. Eventing Association. He currently holds the highest post at British Eventing, that of Chief Executive. He served as technical advisor for the Eventing World Championships of the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games and is the first Course Designer to be named a second time to design an Olympic course, first at Sydney in 2000 and for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
He is the Course Designer for the Eventing discipline of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 at the Kentucky Horse Park, so we will see him again in September and October as riders and horses from all over he world are fortunate enough to experience what competitors at Rolex Kentucky have done these last 18 years, a Mike Etherington-Smith Cross-Country Course.
THOUGHTS ON THIS YEAR'S CROSS-COUNTRY COURSE
By MICHAEL ETHERINGTON-SMITH (GBR), COURSE DESIGNER
OBSTACLE ILLUSTRATIONS BY YVONNE TODD
All the talk will be about two points of interest at this year’s event on top of who wins the coveted Rolex Trophy – will Oli Townend become only the second person to win the Rolex Grand Slam and who will catch the eye of the selectors to go forward to represent USA at WEG in September?
Riders will need to pull out all the stops if they wish to be considered to represent their country later in the year and so we should expect to see some exciting competition. We shall see those who cope with pressure, those who can rise to the big occasion, and those who are in good form. The challenge is big, the goal is enticingly close yet so far away.
The challenge for the design and build team is to produce two courses with different feel and characteristics and as soon as this year’s course has been jumped there is a quick turn around time to get the WEG course prepared.
I am trying not to give too much away for the WEG course and so this year’s course uses quite a few of our existing permanent and portable fences with some new additions.
As always the early fences should allow horses and riders to settle the nerves whilst at the same time affording them the opportunity to get ‘up in the air’ and jumping well.
The Flower Box (#1) and the Walls (#2) are straightforward and you will see riders using them to give the horses a good feeling. The Mushroom (#3) with its big ditch underneath should present no real issues at this level although it looks impressive and this is then quickly followed by the new Covered Bridge (#4), again there to get the horses and riders into the course.
The Angled Rails (#5ab) is the first question (albeit not a difficult one) on the course and presentation and line are key to this. It would be very frustrating to have a run out here! Riders can walk the course as many times as they want before they ride it whereas the horses see the fences for the first time as they go around. Some will walk a course as many as five times so that they know exactly what line to take and the optimum distance through related fences/combinations that suits their particular horse.
The HSBC Duck Pond (#6abc) is the first real question where riders have to make their minds up whether to take the quicker, more difficult route or use up valuable time but opt for the slightly easier option. The quick route requires confidence and athleticism from the horse and positive and committed riding from his partner. The quick line will happen very quickly for the riders – once over the rails there are three strides to the duck in the middle of the water followed by another four strides to the duck at the top of the slope. Any horse that is a bit suspicious of water early in a course may be advised to go long here.
A bit of a breather then as they cross into the infield and come to the Walnut Tables (#7), a big straightforward fence, as they progress to the two slightly offset Cottages (#8ab) using a new piece of ground with a dip in between them. The three strides between the cottages should unfold well but riders have to get the line right or a run out will be all too easy.
On then to the Trakehner (#9), another straightforward fence although the ditch underneath it makes it look very impressive before turning back to head to the Park Question (#10/11ab), with a big set of rails, one stride down the slope to the ditch, and then another one stride to the big curved brush at the top of the slope. This is a classic cross-country fence that always requires good riding combined with confidence and athleticism on the part of the horse. For those who are not quite so confident there is the longer time consuming route which is easier but does use up valuable time.
A bit of a stretch up the hill to the Oxer (#12) which is at maximum height and top spread before heading down towards the new Creek Challenge (#13abc), a big brush oxer followed five strides later by the ditch and palisade which looks pretty big also, and then another four strides to another brush oxer, all on a turn. This is a test of the horses’ scope and should give the riders a really good feeling.
The big Cordwood Pile (#14) is a galloping jump just before the Head of the Lake (#15abc/16ab).
The Lake fences for this event are a little different to last year. The Suspended Log (#15a) coming down the hill should help set up for 15b, the brush and 6' 6" drop (max permitted) into the water. Everyone has to jump these. Then there is a choice – either the brush corner (15c) in the water which will come up very quickly and needs accurate riding and honesty on the part of the horse, or if this does not work out for whatever reason it is possible for the jetty to be jumped instead.
Then it is quickly back into the water again, this time over some logs (#16a) without an alternative, followed by another choice whereby riders can opt to jump the brush (#16b) at the top of the slope at an angle and save time or go around the unjumpable rails and have an easier fence – accuracy and honesty are again the key here.
The Squirrels (#17/18), offset to each other and therefore asking for the line to be held, have moved back to the mounds again, this time with four strides between them for those taking the quick route. They look big sitting as they are, and for anyone who wishes to make them easier, given the numbering, they can be jumped without having to go on a straight line – it is possible to jump the first one and then circle without being penalised to jump the second one.
The Sheep Shelter (#19) is straightforward as they head to The Hollow (#20/21abc) where this year they are coming down the steps. The rails at the top of the steps (#20) mean that rider judgement of pace is important so that their horses have time to understand the question. The plan for the quick route is that horses pop over the rails at the top of the steps (#20), jump down the two steps (#21ab) and then move forward up the slope to jump the left hand of the two triple brushes (#21c). There is the easier option of not having to jump the rails at the top of the steps by choosing to jump the rails to the left and then coming back to the steps down but again, this will use valuable time.
Back down from The Hollow to #22ab near one of the driving hazards. The Dray (#22a) looks as big as ever and then six or seven strides to a big brush corner (#22b). Riders will have to work out how many strides they want between the two elements which will then determine how they are going to ride this combination. It will be very easy to have a run out at the corner and, as at many of the other fences, there is an alternative which will take time but is easier. This time riders can, if they wish, jump the other corner but heading back in the direction from which they have just come.
Two big, straightforward fences come next as they begin to head home. The Keeper’s Brush (#23) looks as big as ever and then the Bar (#24) follows as they make their way to the HSBC FEI ClassicsTMNormandy Bank (#25abc), another regular on the course. This time they jump up the step (#25a) and over the rail (#25b) followed by a curving three strides to the right over the Cabin (#25c). the line is important as is being in control, and so the reason for this fence is to check that horses and riders are still switched on. For anyone who may have a refusal at the rail on top of the bank there is another cabin that they can jump so that they do not have to have another go at the rail.
Once here most riders will be thinking that they have jumped the more difficult fences and that they should get home from here without any run outs. They should have kept some gas in the tank for the end of the course since there is still some jumping to be done.
There is a bit of a breather as they go to the Cottage (#26) and the Offset Brushes (#27/28) which are as last year with a minor tweak. The Cottage is big but it will help set up for the two brushes which, if to be jumped on the quick line, have to be jumped at an angle.
A run out at this stage of the competition would be infuriating and this is the sort of fence that would be jumped day in, day out, but when it comes to the excitement of competition it is very easy to make a silly mistake. It is possible to jump the first brush and circle around to the second one without being penalised since they are numbered separately as opposed to ab.
The last two fences, the Hedge (#29) and the Blooming Bonanza (#30) should bring them home well after what will hopefully be an enjoyable and beneficial experience. It is a world class competition and as such, whoever does well will have done a good job.
My overriding hope is that everyone has a good ride, enjoys the course, and that we are all fortunate enough to see some terrific riding.
My thanks go to Mick Costello and the team for the building of the course and Sheila Woerth and her ‘flower’ team who dress the fences so well.