Apr.28Rolex.jpgOttawa, ON – Four Canadian riders, Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch, Selena O’Hanlon, Hawley Bennett-Awad and Michele Mueller finished in the top 10 at the 2010 edition of the CCI 4* Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event, held April 22-25, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, USA, the site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Competing in her first four star three day event, Rhodes-Bosch, 21, of Summerland, BC, sat in 15th place following dressage with a score of 52.0 riding Port Authority, her Canadian bred 12-year-old Selle Français/Thoroughbred gelding. The pair then tackled Michael Etherington-Smith’s (GBR) cross country course where none of the obstacles proved to be a problem. They crossed the finish line with no jumping or time faults, moving them up the leaderboard and into ninth place. Rhodes-Bosch’s success continued as she and Port Authority also had a fault free jumping round to finish on her dressage score for fifth place overall, only one of four riders out of 53 starters to do so. In addition to her fifth place finish, Rhodes-Bosch was also awarded The Best Conditioned Horse Trophy, a prestigious award determined by the Ground Jury and Veterinary officials , and The J.D. Reeves Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the highest-placed young rider (18¬–21 years of age).  She also received an HSBC Training Bursary for being the best placed first time 4-star competitor.

“I am glad that I went to Rolex as a spectator last year, because I knew what to expect,” said Rhodes-Bosch. “Competing was the most fun I have ever had, and I was so excited and grateful to be there. David O’Connor (the Canadian Eventing International Technical Advisor) said that I was ready, so I believed him and he was right.”

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