Due to the intense heat the course was shortened in the week leading up to the event with the loop at Victoria Park deleted from the three courses so that the combinations only went through the area for the last couple of jumps.  While the shortened course resulted in the horses galloping in the heat for less it also resulted in no long gallop stretches making the course even tougher than expected.  The four star class had a huge new obstacle this year in the Normandy Bank as fence 12. New Zealand Trans Tasman team member Clark Johnstone & Oakley Vision were the first pair through and having already had a run out at the 'ducks' jump they jumped up onto the bank and had a refusal at the rolltop before turning and taking the option before having a third refusal at the ditches and brushes combination at fence 17 and elimination.  Australian team member Wendy Schaeffer and Koyuna Sun Dancer were next to go and also stopped at the Normandy Bank with Koyuna Sun Dancer getting momentarily caught up on the jump resulting in Wendy dismounting before there was a chance of a horse fall but it ended their competition.  The fence was now starting to cause concern and when Tallara Barwick and Chief Justice refused at the rolltop (hitting it so that the new knockdown pin system designed for safety broke away).  Chief Justice stood quietly on top of the bank as the rolltop was taken apart and he was safely backed off with the pair allowed to continue and finish their round (for safety officials had Tallara dismount and back Chief Justice down the landing side of the bank) later having a refusal at the Double Brush Corner the second last fence.  The Normandy Bank jump was left for the rest of the field without the rolltop at its peak and only caused a problem for one other pair Deon Stokes and Le Directuer who retired from the event shortly after the obstacle.

The tough cross country resulted in major changes to the overnight leader board and while the hot conditions resulted in the expected time faults as riders looked after their mounts some high profile combinations had runouts.  Overnight leader Megan Jones & Kirby Park Irish Jester had a runout at the pair of ducks that were set at an acute angle just out of the water, dropping to 6th overall on 83.50 penalties, as did Heath Ryan and Mystery Whisper who then went on to two further refusals resulted in elimination.  Sonja Johnson & Ringwould Jaguar were another combination that found trouble with a run out at the ducks and then another refusal at the Double Brush Corner.  Shane Rose & All Luck had no luck in the run having refusals at fence 7 and 13 before retiring at  fence 19 the Sunken Road while Chris Burton & Holstein Park Leilani had gone clear until a slip at the ditches and brushes resulted in the pair parting company.  Megan Jones and Kirby Park Allofasudden meanwhile went through the course without a problem and with only 18.8 time faults jumped up to second position overall on 66.10 penalty points.  Stuart Tinney had one refusal on courses with both Panamera (fence 17) and Ari De Gwaihir (fence 10 the ducks) but Vettori sailed around the course in faultless manner and recording only 11.6 time faults for an overall penalty of 65.80 leaping up to be a narrow leader from 14th after the dressage.  Of Wendy Schaeffer's remaining two horses Koyuna Sun Shine was eliminated after three refusals (the ducks, stag bar and fence 24 the Double Brush Corner) while Koyuna Sun Magic recorded two refusals (fence 13 the medals and fence 24).  The great improver after the cross country phase was Luke Jones and Soul who were 26th after the dressage but with a faultless country country display and only recording 6 time penalties rocketed up to third place on 74.00 with Amanda Howell and Koyuna Tora Bora moving up from 11th to 4th recording 26 time penalties for a total of 79.20.  Blair Richardson riding Spend Up and Jenna Mahoney riding Santos the only NZ Team members still in contention both went clear on jumping in the cross country recording 22.4 and 28.8 time penalties respectively to be 5th and 7th.  Other rounds clear on jumping and only record time penalties were Emily Anker * Keniski and Clark Johnstone & Orient Express who finished in 8th and 9th respectively.  While fence 10 the ducks resulted in 7 refusals the second last fence over at the former Victoria Park Racecourse jump 24 the Double Brush Corner seemed to be the bogey fence with 9 refusals of the 22 combinations that made it that far.          

The CCI**  class was the first out in the morning when the conditions were still very warm but not oppressive and this was the only class to have combinations that were clear on time as well as jumping.  The first 5 placed combinations after the dressage all went clear on jumping and time to hold their positions with Katja Wiemann & Pluto Mio leading on 42.40 from Emma Scott & Jenbern Monyana on 46.00 with Shane Rose & Koko Black in third on 47.60.  Fence 16 the Cheese Corner combination was reportedly causing some problems and resulted in the fall of Rebecca Foster & Carisbrooke Cool Bananas and Natalie Blundell & Algebra (7th after the dressage) with Fence 19 the Apex resulting in a refusal for Edith Kane and ESB Irish Justice while Jayne Hanson & Brookfield Sabre who had been 6th after the dressage fell.

The CIC** saw the heat of the day set in with only Andrew Helestine & Warrego Windchester getting near the time with only 1.2 time penalties for their cross country round jumping from 24th after the dressage to third overall on 68.40.  Shane Rose & Statford Novalis held the top position with only 8 time penalties to finish on 60.50 with Claudia Graham & Park Street Vision recording 8.4 time penalties to hold second position on 61.20.  Megan Jones & Westbury Park Irish Grove moved up from 10th to 4th position with only 11.2 time penalties to finish on 70.20.  Alex Townsend & Syracuse who were third after the dressage were eliminated after a fall at fence 20 the ditch and brush.  Brett Davey and Goolcoola Montage dropped to 17th position after a refusal at Fence 4 the Bee Hives while Amanda Habjan & Ellesmere Storm clear on jumping but their 23.6 time penalties proved costly dropped from 5th to 9th on a conjested leaderboard.  Fence 23 the Mushroom proved to be the bogey fence in the course with 4 combinations recording a refusal while many horses seemed to lose concentration over the first element of the Bee Hives (fence 4) resulting in one refusal and Mark Slater and Astro parting company on landing.  Fence 20 the Ditch and Brush also resulted in two refusals in addition to the fall.