Canadian Eventing Team Wins Silver at WEG

The Canadian Eventing Team won the team silver medal on October 3, 2010, at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG)—Eventing Championships, held in Lexington, KY.

The team, comprised of Hawley Bennett-Awad, Kyle Carter, Selena O’Hanlon and Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch, entered the show jumping phase in third place on a combined score of 147.50. With the best three of the four scores to count, they added only one rail, for four faults, to a final total of 151.50 finishing in the silver medal position. This result was not only Canada’s first eventing team medal at a World Championships in 32 years, but also qualified the Canadian Eventing Team for the 2012 London Olympics.

“This team was full of poise and grace all the way through this competition,” said International Technical Advisor, David O’Connor. “They have been real grown up, and I thought they were class yesterday and class today with only one rail down. It is a really exciting time for all of us—the program, the riders and for where we go in the future.”

Great Britain won the team gold medal with a team total of 151.50, and New Zealand was less than one rail behind Canada with 154.80 for bronze.

“We are thrilled and it was a great team effort. We finished four points off our dressage score, so it does not get any better than that,” said Graeme Thom, chef d’équipe of the Canadian Eventing Team. “David O’Conner did a fantastic job and everyone on the team was wonderful.”

Rhodes-Bosch, 22, of Summerland, BC and Port Authority, a 12-year-old Canadian-bred Selle Français/Thoroughbred gelding that she co-owns with her mother, Patricia Bosch, was the top Canadian adding one rail at fence 11, the Liverpool, to finish with a three-day total of 48.20 for ninth place overall.

“I, for my own individual result, would have loved to be clear, but with only one rail, I was able to contribute to a really great team result,” said Rhodes-Bosch. “I am super excited. This is a really great day for Canada.”

With a clean show jumping round, O’Hanlon of Elgin, ON moved up six placings to finish 12th overall on her dressage score of 50.8 riding Elaine and Michael Davies’ 16-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding, Colombo.

“I did not want to let anyone down today. It is a lot more pressure when it is your teammates that are counting on you for a medal,” said O’Hanlon who also rode Colombo at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. “Colombo is a fantastic horse. He always goes as well as I can ride him.”

Also clear in show jumping was Bennett-Awad of Langley, BC riding Gin & Juice, the 10-year-old bay American Thoroughbred mare owned by Bennett-Awad and Linda Paine, who finished in 17th place on their dressage score of 52.50.

“It was a great feeling knowing how fit my horse was today,” said Bennett-Awad. “She is a young horse, so the more miles she gets the better she is going to be. Gin & Juice is just amazing”

Riding Caroline Bazley’s Canadian-bred nine-year-old Canadian Sport Horse gelding, Riddle Master, Howard of Salmon Arm, BC, added one rail to her score to finish with 61.20, which was good for 23rd place individually.

“He really came here and went to work this week,” said Howard of her young horse. “I noticed that he was a bit spookier in the ring today, but he was a really good boy.”

Carter of Calgary, AB rounded out the Canadian team with two rails riding Madison Park, a 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by Carter and Jennifer Carter. The pair finished in 35th with a score of 76.90.

“The mistake that happened was mine. With Madison Park, you only have one option, and that is to ride him like he will never knock a fence down,” said Carter. “He jumps well, but I tried to protect him too much. I am thrilled with him.”

Jessica Phoenix and Exponential, who were competing individually, withdrew before show jumping due to a minor injury incurred on Saturday.

At the end of the competition Bennett-Awad added on a final thought from the Canadian Eventing Team. “In the next few years we are going to continue to develop and continue to be a team to look out for—just a heads-up.”

Eventing is comprised of three phases of competition held consecutively — dressage, cross country and show jumping. At the 2010 World Equestrian Games, 80 horses representing 18 nations competed in the eventing competition.