Ottawa, ON— The start of the international eventing season in North America on the weekend of March 27-29th featured competitions on both east and west coasts.
Canadian Olympian, Sandra Donnelly and her Olympic partner, Buenos Aires, finished in fourth place in the CIC 3* division at Galway Downs International Horse Trials, in Temecula, CA.
Donnelly, a native of Calgary, AB, her homebred horse Buenos Aires, an 12-year-old Canadian Warmblood gelding sired by Bajazzo, were in seventh place following dressage with a score of 48.8 penalties. The pair only incurred 7.2 time penalties on the cross-country, and posted a perfect show jumping round finishing with a score of 56.0.
“Buenos Aires was fabulous and jumped great,” said Donnelly, who is preparing for the CCI 4* Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event on April 23–26, 2009. “The organizers did a fantastic job with the event. It was a great course to do before Rolex. I am lucky to have such a great horse.”
Olympian Hawley Bennett of Langley, BC, and Gin N’ Juice, a nine-year-old thoroughbred gelding owned by Hawley Bennett and Linda Paine, finished in sixth place with a total of 65.9 penalties. Sitting in eighth place following dressage with a score of 49.9, Bennett added four cross country time penalties and 12 show jumping faults to finish with a score of 65.9.
Chelan Kozak of South Surrey, BC, and her horse Tasman Sea, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred, finished in eighth place
The top score of the day in the CIC 3* division went to Amy Tryon of the United States riding Leyland.
In the CIC 2* division, Marissa Wolfe and The Maestro, her 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, placed fifth after posting a dressage score of 51.3, then added 20 jump and 2.8 time penalties on cross country and 12 faults in show jumping for a total score of 85.8.
American Julie Ann Boyer and Rumor Hazit won the CIC 2* division.
Therese Washtock of Summerland, BC, riding Incognito, her 11-year-old thoroughbred cross mare, was the top Canadian in the CIC 1* division finishing in sixth place. With her second horse Chesterland, a 10-year-old Thoroughbred cross gelding, Washtock finished in eighth place. Close behind in ninth spot was Manuela Propfe and her own Chango Malo, the eight-year-old thoroughbred gelding.
The CIC 1* division was won by Lindsay Connors of the US and Ballingowan Pizazz.
Across the county in Hamilton, GA, at Popular Place Farm, the Popular Place Horse Trials were also held March 27-29, 2009.
In the CIC 2* division, Sarah Green of Calgary, AB, and Wondaree Penelope, her 12-year-old Thoroughbred mare, finished in six place. With a dressage score of 60.8 penalties, the pair incurred six time penalties in show jumping and 7.6 time penalties on cross country to finish with a score of 74.4.
“It was really wet. It poured rain all day on Friday and the competition was cancelled due to thunder and lightning on Saturday, so we did both the show jumping and the cross country on Sunday,” said Green, who hopes to qualify for a CCI 2* later this year. “The organizers did a great job to make the cross country course footing as safe a possible, and my mare handled the good, technical course really well.”
Jessica Phoenix of Cannington, ON, riding Exuberant, her nine-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, placed ninth on a score of 82.3.
American Heather Morris, won the CIC 2* division aboard Slate River Lightning.
Joelle Baskerville, of Calgary, AB, and Malibu, an eight-year-old Thoroughbred /Warmblood cross mare. finished in sixth place in their first international competition the CIC 1* division. Sitting in 11th place after dressage with 58.0, Baskerville added one show jumping and 6.8 cross country time penalties to finish on a score of 65.0
Riding Without a Trace, a 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Katlyn Hewson of Minden, ON, finished in ninth place. Phoenix and her second horse Expression, eight-year-old Thoroughbred mare finished in 17th spot. Jacqueline Bradshaw of Sebringville, ON, rounded out the Canadian entries by finishing in 19th place riding her 10-year-old gelding, Rainbow Chasing.
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