Some new names top the leaderboard at the MARS Bromont CCI, running June 9-12 in Bromont, QC, following Saturday’s cross-country test. Jennie Brannigan of Kennett Square, PA riding Nina Gardner’s homebred 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Twilightslastgleam, moved from 8th place after dressage into top spot in the CCI4*-L with the fastest clear cross-country trip in the division, adding just 1.6 time penalties to their score to total 34.2pp. Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp (USA) and Cooley Moonshine sit in 2nd place with 37.0, while Canadian Jessica Phoenix is third riding Wabbit (40.3) going into Sunday’s show jumping phase.
The CCI4*-S division saw only five of the dozen starters get through the finish flags, and Dominic Schramm (AUS) withdrew Bolytair B afterwards. Valerie Pride (USA) and Favian moved up from 6th after dressage to first ahead of Ryan Wood (AUS) and Cooley Flight. Canadian Kendal Lehari is in third spot with her 9-year-old Oldenburg/TB gelding Audacious. The leader, who has both ridden and judged at this event in the past, plans to be based at William Fox-Pitt’s facility near Sturminster Newton in Dorset, UK this fall and compete at Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials.
Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp retained the lead in the CCI3*-L but it was aboard her second horse, Cooley HHS Calmaria, who had one of just two double-clear rounds of the day to overtake her dressage leader Shanroe Cooley. She commented that the 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare “was a beast” and she was totally thrilled with her. “She has really stepped up and suddenly become the horse I believed she was.”
Halliday-Sharp heads to Luhmühlen right after Bromont for the last in a series of US team selection trials and she plans on taking four horses to Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana next month. As for Bromont, “It is gorgeous, I will definitely be back. This is one I have been trying to come to for years, and years, and years!”
In the CCI2*-L Halliday-Sharp held onto first place aboard Miks Master C, but is now sharing the lead (24.7pp) with fellow American Phillip Dutton and Denim. Top Canadian in this division is Brooke Massie in 5th riding Major Chase; Massie won the 4*-S here in 2019 with Serendipity.
In CCI2*-L U25 action, first-time attendee Ayden Schain (USA) on Fernhill Hole Shot remains in first place with 27.5, just 3.1 penalties – less than a rail – ahead of Cassie Sanger (USA) and Fernhill Zoro going into the show jumping phase.
Sunday morning at 8:00am is the final horse inspection followed by a challenging show jumping course designed by Sarah Roberts (CAN).
Live results HERE.
~ with files from Red Bay Group, LLC
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