Ottawa, Ontario— Hawley Bennett of Langley, BC rode to a fourth place finish in the CIC 3* World Cup Qualifier at the CIC-W 3* Galway Downs Three Day Event, held March 30 – April 1 in Temecula, California, USA.

Riding her Olympic partner, and 2005 FEI Eventing World Cup Final mount, Livingstone, the 17-year-old Canadian Thoroughbred gelding she co-owns with her mother Gerry Bennett, Bennett earned her fourth place finish on a final score of 66.8.

A dressage score of 58.8 left the duo near the middle of the pack, in tenth place, but they moved up to sixth place after putting in a clear cross-country phase, in what would prove the fastest time of the day at six minutes and 19 seconds, over British course designer Michael Etherington-Smith’s demanding track. They finished off the competition on a high note, adding just eight jumping faults in the show jumping phase.

“I am so happy with Livingstone. He had a solid dressage test, and one of the best cross-country rounds I have ever had on him,” stated Bennett, who has been competing with Livingstone for 13 years. “I swear Livingstone keeps getting better with age. He came out this season better than ever, and you’d never know his age, he doesn’t look or act 17.”

Fellow Langley native Lisa Marie Fergusson and her nine-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Uni Griffon, tackled their first 3* advanced international horse trials with success, finishing in seventh position. Fergusson ended the dressage phase tied for ninth place on a score of 58.6. After completing the cross-country phase with no added jumping faults and only 3.6 time faults, Fergusson moved up to seventh place. Four show jumping rails came down in the final phase for an added 12 faults, which brought her final score to 74.2.

In the CIC 2* division, Bennett secured two top ten finishes. With SplendoroftheSun, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by Pamela Hudson, she earned a second place finish. After scoring 50.6 in the dressage phase, the pair put in a clear cross-country performance, which put them in the lead. An unfortunate rail in the show jumping dropped them one spot to their final placing of second, with a score of 54.6, just 0.8 points off the winner.

Bennett also earned seventh place, this time aboard the seven-year-old mare Gin N’ Juice. A score of 67.5 in dressage, as well as a clear cross-country phase left the pair in seventh place, which they would hold after four jumping faults in the show jumping phase brought their final score to 71.5.

“I was thrilled with Gin N’ Juice. This is definitely a horse for the future,” commented Bennett, adding that she would like to aim for the 2008 FEI Eventing World Cup Final with one of her up and coming horses.

Candice Hazenberg of Abbotsford, BC finished right behind Bennett in eighth place, paired with Sandra Malinoski’s 14-year-old Thoroughbred mare Carmanah Light. The pair’s dressage score of 63.5, along with 4.8 time faults cross-country put them in eighth place, which wasn’t changed by an additional eight jumping faults in the show jumping phase, leaving them with a final score of 76.2.

Also placing in the CIC 2* division was Manuela Propfe, who currently resides in Tucson, Arizona, USA. Riding Such Depth, her nine-year-old Quarter Horse gelding, Propfe finished the dressage phase with a score of 75.3. After adding no jumping, but 11.2 time faults in cross-country, the duo were sitting in 12th place, but moved up to 11th after putting in a clear performance in the show jumping phase for a final score of 86.5.

The CIC 1* division saw Canadian veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Miller, a current resident of Cave Creek, Arizona, USA finish in third place. Paired with her up and coming seven-year-old Oldenburg gelding Jeepers, Miller scored 55 in the dressage phase. The duo added no faults in the cross-country and show jumping phases, to keep their final score at 55 and move into third position.

Propfe also contested the CIC 1*, this time riding Chango Malo, her six-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. They placed 17th on a final score of 78.4.

 â€œThe organizer, Robert Kellerhouse steps up to the plate every time,” commented Bennett. “The West Coast has great horses, great competitions and great courses.”

For more information and full results, visit www.galwaydowns.com

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