Kristin Bachman and Gryffindor posted one of four clear rounds on this morning’s cross-country course, taking over the lead on her dressage score of 48.2 for the time being. Wendy Schaeffer/Koyuna Sun Magic (57.6), Sara Mittleider/El Primero (60.4) and Jonathan Holling/Direct Merger (63.2) also posted perfect rounds.

Karin Donckers of Belgium stands in second place (55.6) after incurring just 3.6 time penalties, and Phillip Dutton is third aboard Connaught on a score of 57.1.

Theodore O’Connor and Karen O’Connor were first on course and made every question look easy as they finished just 11 seconds over the optimum time, crossing the finish line to a huge applause, to stand fifth.  First-time four-star riders Lynn Symansky and Melissa Hunsberger both jumped clear but just outside the time.

But the course didn’t ride so easily for everyone. Waterfront ran out at fence 9, the coffin at Uncle Frani’s Birch and again at the Brushes at fence 19AB with Jan Byyny. Kiltartan had a technical refusal at fence 30ABC, the Rail on the Mound and the Duck. Kiltartan hung a leg at the rail on top of the hill, and Molly Hooper wisely chose to circle him before presenting to the duck in the water.

Sharon White was having a stellar round until Ronaldo stopped at the Normandy Bank, fence 25ABC, and White came off over his head. She quickly remounted to finish the course.

Darren Chiacchia had a refusal at the Sycamore Corners at fence 5AB with Better I Do It.

Kristin Bond had a fall with Fleeceworks Blackout on the turn from fences 28-29, the Ducks On Bank, to the Rail on the Mound at fence 30. She wasn’t penalized with jumping faults, as the fall wasn’t related to a fence, but it did waste some time on an otherwise fast round.

Kristin Schmolze fell from Cavaldi at Uncle Frani’s Birch, fence 8-9, but remounted to finish.

Young rider Tiana Coudray and King Street were eliminated after falling into the Creek Oxer, fence 24, right after the Head of the Lake. There was a short hold while King Street was extracted from the fence, but they both walked away uninjured.

Private Treaty ran out at the final element of Uncle Frani’s Birch, the squirrel’s tail, and when he ran out again at fence 19, the Brushes, Buck Davidson decided to retire.

Missy Ransehousen was progressing well around her first four-star until Critical Decision ran out at the final element of the Normandy Bank.

Hannah Sue Burnett had a run-out at the final element of the first water, the Poplar Rolls at fence 7ABC.

John Williams withdrew Sloopy before the start of cross-country, as did Werner Geven and Klimax.

The dressage leaders have yet to take the course—the top three of Amy Tryon, Polly Stockton and Clayton Fredericks will run this afternoon.