ROLEX 2010 - the official update and obsessive chat thread!

I'm so surprised there isn't a Rolex thread already - or perhaps there is and I'm just blind. :) Anyway, today was dressage day 1 at KHP, and since all 53 horses passed the first jog, everyone's got a shot.
Becky Holder and Courageous Comet produced a typically beautiful dressage test to net a score of 45.2 and take the morning lead. However, fellow Olympic teammates Karen O'Connor and Mandiba showed the hard work they've put in and nudged Becky into second place when they earned a 43.7. Phillip Dutton and his longtime partner The Foreman are sitting comfortably at third place with a 47.2, and Dianna Burnett and Manny are in fourth with a 51.3.
Although these are good first-day scores, some of the top riders are still to come tomorrow - including potential Grand Slam winner Oliver Townend, gold medalist Leslie Law, and British phenom William Fox-Pitt - so the lineup will inevitably change completely by tomorrow evening.
Who is everyone's favorite to win? As a Yorkshire gal by birth, and a longtime admirer of his, I'm hoping for Oli Townend to get his Grand Slam. Then he can use the spoils to marry me and sweep me away to our cozy cottage in the Shropshire countryside, where we'll snuggle and talk horses and...okay. Getting carried away... ;) If by some horrible twist of fate my hubbie doesn't win, I certainly wouldn't mind seeing WFP take the trophy, or NZ rider Jonathan Paget - he has the potential of being the next come-from-nowhere Mark Todd-esque rider, I think.
ALRIGHT PEOPLE, join this conversation so I'm no longer talking to myself! :)

Wait is there a channel I can watch it on. I'm in California so theres no way I'm getting out there.

Universalsports.com :) live streaming all day!!!!! I like Ollie to win, but I'm really rootin for Boyd Martian, I LOVE that Kewi cross over!
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I get there tonight! So excited! Just in time for XC and most of SJ. Unfortunately I won't be able to see the winning SJ round as my flight leaves too early but I'm super excited to be going for the first time!

I can't decide who I'm rooting for. I really like Becky and Comet. They are a great team and have been going for a long time but wow would it be cool to see another Grand Slam with Ollie!

I am really liking Phillip Dutton, too. I did a clinic with him and he's a great teacher and a fantastic rider.

But of course... my all time favorite BUCK DAVIDSON! Woot! I went to his farm in FL last year, I've ridden in a clinic with him, and I've helped with others. He even let me hold Ben (Ben Along Time) O.o. I'm hoping to see him when they are signing shirts and stuff. Let's see if he remembers my name this time!

Just want to say that I LOVE Phil Dutton, he gives me eternal hope that I can still make the Olympics in the next 20 years when I am approaching 50. What a legend. Go the Aussies ;)

I went last year it was soo much fun :) I got to see the most amazing riders and meet a ton of them it was great

I watched Becky Holder and her GORGEOUS steed ride their winning Dressage, CC, AND stadium a few years ago at the Richland Park Horse Trials. I got the chance to speak to her, and she is THE nicest person you'll meet. Well-spoken, knows her stuff, even let me say hi to Comet. Gorgeous team, I'm rooting for them alllll the way!

Drew, that is sooo exciting! :) You'll have to take lots and lots of pictures and post them here!! Especially of my hubbie.
I also have quite a soft spot for Boyd Martin - he's such a nice guy, so funny, and not half-bad to look at, either ;) Last year at Waredaca he was parked next to us on one side and Phillip was on the other - coming back from cross-country Boyd was in his trailer changing from his dressage shirt and tie to his jumping stuff - WITH THE DOOR WIDE OPEN. OMG. Talk about abs. That image has remained burned on my retinas ever since.
Buck's a great guy, too. Whenever I groomed for Phyllis at events all her 'connections' would just kind of start talking to me, so I've had lots of very random chats with him - his voice always cracks me up! Hopefully he doesn't have any issues with dogs this year...or, for that matter, exploding RVs...

Hahahahahaha! Buck and his stories..... Lol! I hope Ollie bumps up from 5th!
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Wait til his test with Cruise Master - that's the horse of his to watch. Love Master Rose, but I think Cruise has got it.
I love that Allison Springer and Arthur are doing so well - I've got to root for Arthur, as he's a Brandenburg's Windstar baby - Windstar, or Bounce as we know him, stands at Windchase and I've collected that big boy's 'goods' more times than I care to think about haha! His baby's are so, so nice.
On another note, I'm really bummed for Kelly Prather in her first Rolex. I haven't seen the test yet, but I know Ballinakill Glory (Pippa) was really tense, bucking and all that - Kelly kept a smile on her face and patted her horse throughout the test to try to get some relaxation but unfortunately they ended with a score of 91.5. Fingers crossed they have a double-clear so they can at least go home with a pretty cooler and a lot more experience and education to come back next year and do really well.