Ottawa, Ontario — The 21st annual Bromont CCI Three Day Event in Bromont, QC hosted the Todd Sandler Challenge June 7-10, 2007, drawing top riders from Canada and the United States.

Competitors contested both CCI and CIC divisions at the Bromont Equestrian Centre, the equestrian site of the 1976 Olympics. Highlighting the event was Colleen Loach’s win in the CCI 2* division. Paired with Longfield  Dougal, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Susan and Peter Barry, the Canton de Hatley, QC native earned top honours and was awarded the Todd Sandler Perpetual Trophy.

Sitting in second place after dressage the pair was flawless over Bromont’s famous cross-country course, newly re-designed by internationally renowned American course designer, Derek Di Grazia, and beautifully presented by course builder Jay Hambly and his team. Leading the field after cross country Loach repeated her fault-free performance in the jumping test finishing on her dressage score of 49.7.

“The new cross-country course is really nice. It’s challenging, but has a nice flow,” said Loach, who was competing at the CCI 2* with Longfield Dougal for the first time. “My horse goes best when he’s forward, and the new course favours forward horses. He was really rideable and everything fell into place.”

Earning fifth place was Canadian veteran Ian Roberts aboard his eight-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Tang. The duo scored 50.6 in dressage, before moving on to cross-country where they ran into difficulty, earning 20.8 faults. However, they bounced back in show jumping, only lowering two rails for eight faults, giving them a final score of 79.4.

Other Canadians in the standings included Robyn Miller of Milverton, ON, who placed seventh with Don J. Good’s 18-year-old Canadian Sport Horse gelding T’Jean, and Diana Burnett of Blackstock, ON, who rode her 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Sagacious King to an eighth place finish.

The CIC 2* division saw Martha Griggs of Kettleby, ON take second place with Susan Lang’s 13-year-old Irish Warmblood gelding Gregory. After scoring 62.8 in dressage, the duo tackled the cross-country phase, adding just 9.6 time faults. Just one rail came down in show jumping for four faults, bringing their final score to 76.4.

Burnett took third place, this time aboard her seven-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Manny, while Stephanie St-Pierre of Beaconsfield, QC received fourth place riding her nine-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Santo Domingo. 

Canadian veteran Penny Rowland of Orangeville, ON had a close second place finish in the CCI 1*, paired with Don J. Good’s 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse Charley Farley. The duo scored 51.1 in dressage, and added just 7.6 time penalties on the cross-country course. One rail in show jumping cost them four faults, and brought their final score to 62.7, just 3.96 points off the lead.

Junior Rider Sophie Laframboise of Montreal, QC earned a third place finish aboard her 17-year-old Thoroughbred-Appaloosa cross gelding Fleet Makani.  After scoring 53.6 in dressage, the duo finished cross-country, with 10 time faults, before finishing on a high note with a  clear show jumping round, making their final score 63.6. Mark Nelson of Ashton, ON placed fourth with Sokit2ya, a seven-year-old gelding owned by Ruth Allum. After riding to a dressage score of 55.7, Nelson piloted Sokit2ya to finish cross-country with just 7.6 time  faults added, and had just one rail fall in cross-country for four faults, making their final score 67.3.

Other Canadians in the ribbons included Vanessa Fenwick of Pefferlaw, ON who placed fifth  on a score of 73.1 riding her nine-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Justin Charge and Young Rider Hilary Popiel of Carleton Place, ON, who rode David Mattinson’s mare Dawn at Hidden Meadow to a sixth place finish, scoring 77.6.

In addition, Brandon McMechan of Shannonville, ON earned a fourth place finish in the CIC 1* division paired with Burle Summer’s seven-year-old Oldenburg mare Ryder’s Juliet.

Since 1999, the CCI Bromont Three Day Event proudly hosts The Todd Sandler Challenge in memory of an aspiring young event rider, Todd Sandler, 18, of Dollard des Ormeaux, QC who died tragically in a car accident on April 26, 1999, while returning home from the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event. Todd was one of Canada’s best eventing prospects for the future.

“Bromont is a beautiful event. It’s not stressful and has a really relaxed atmosphere, which is nice” said Loach. “Also, being held in memory of Todd Sandler makes it special. It’s nice that they remember him each year.”

For full results of the CCI Bromont Three Day event visit www.eventingnews.com.

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