Wow. The optimum time is 11:49. That is long. Especially in the mud.
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H&C TV screwing up again here–anybody else having problems connecting? It’s telling me I have no Internet connection, and yet, here I am!
H&C TV site has had a variety of problems–“No Internet connection” (even though I’m connected here) or “currently under maintenance.” Why did I have a feeling this would happen? [Update: I just kept refreshing and it finally kicked in.]
https://www.badminton-horse.co.uk/livestream/cross-country/ has the live video stream, but it’s blocked if you’re coming from one of the listed countries. The live radio coverage link is working for me.
I’m not in one of the blocked countries, and Badminton tv is working great.
The course is beautiful, riding really well, but time is very hard to make, it seems.
A hour in and I think there have been three horse falls so far. 
One hung a leg over a big log into water, another misjudged the Vicarage Vee, and one just fell on landing at the bullfinch jump.
All of the commentators and the riders in interviews are really stressing horse welfare.
It looks like a beautiful day but I guess they’ve had a lot of rain and the ground is sticky.
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So bummed! I’m trying to do a month subscription at H&C and the payment key is locked or something. I can’t seem to get past it.
We’ve had months of rain! It’s really only the last 3 weeks or so that everywhere isn’t completely waterlogged. Lots and lots of BE fixtures cancelled, it was touch and go whether Belton would run and it’s traditionally the pre-Badminton prep run for lots of the horses.
It’s even worse further North. Today is the first Scottish fixture that’s actually gone ahead.
Walking around yesterday, the ground was not bad at all, and no further rain overnight so the ground is probably riding well. Certainly not muddy.
Ugh, I’m trying croxyproxy that @Jealoushe suggested but it’s just buffering buffering buffering. And I can’t get my VPN to work. Sigh.
So pleased for Selena O’Hanlon - hope she has a good round tomorrow to secure her WEG spot.
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Selena - we didn’t see a lot of her round, but what they showed looked great
16 time penalties
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Riders reporting ground to be “sticky” but it doesn’t look to be cutting up badly…
Lovely round from Lauren Kieffer into 3rd
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So happy to see Lauren and Veronica have a smooth fast round! Go USA!
Some drama but didn’t seem to get off to the the usual “Carnage!” start that I associate with Badminton. Vicarage V seems fairly straightforward for most.
I think the Huntsmans Close is one of the most beautiful, quintessential cross country combinations ever.
H&C working reasonably well for me, but I had set it up earlier in the week. Occasional buffering but overall acceptable.
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Commentators on Badminton Radio are LOVING on Selena & Lauren’s rides. To the effect of …no one has done it like the North Americans.
WHAT!? That’s new 
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interesting visual pictures
petite Ros Carter on great big Allstar vs tall WFP on what looks like a tiny Fernhill Pimms
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I guess I’m one of the lucky ones. I’m in the US but able to watch the live stream on Badminton’s site. Well done Lauren.
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Interesting comments by Tina Cook and Andrew Nicholson on the removal of the dressage coefficient - both made comments to the effect that they don’t much like it so far - field too bunched going to xc, too much emphasis on time faults in xc and stadium on Sunday, and one of them said you shouldn’t be able to move up into contention if you have crappy dressage.
Huntsmans Close starting to become a bogey after riding pretty well early - wonder if a change in the lighting and/or footing is having an affect.
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