At Bromont, QC, the site of the 2018 World Equestrian Games (WEG), the Jaguar Land Rover CCI Three Day Event was held on June 5-8, 2014, and Canadian Olympian Jessica Phoenix was victorious the in CCI3* division.
Riding A Little Romance, Donald Leschied’s nine-year-old Canadian bred Thoroughbred Trakehner cross mare (A Fine Romance x Donaufurst) , Phoenix of Cannington, ON, was sitting in eighth on a dressage score of 55.80. The pair moved up to second place, less than a rail behind the overnight leader, following a double clear cross country performance. They took over the lead when they added only one rail in the show jumping round, finishing with a three day score of 59.80. Phoenix was awarded The Todd Sandler Challenge Trophy for the win.
“I could not have been happier with the performance of A Little Romance this weekend,” said Phoenix, who has represented Canada at 2010 WEG, 2011 Pan American Games and the 2012 Olympics. “It was an incredible feeling to ride a Canadian born and raised horse to a three star win on Canadian soil. I really want to thank Don and Anita Leschied, our Canadian Eventing Team, and all of our grooms and supporters for making this weekend possible.”
Also in the CCI3* division was Kendal Lehari of Uxbridge, ON, riding Totally Frank (Trust in Luck x Just a Tab), her nine-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. Tied for 15th after dressage, Lehari and Totally Frank moved up five spots, to 10th, after adding only two cross country time penalties. Four jumping and one time penalty in the jumping round moved the pair up to finish seventh overall with a final total of 69.40.
Cody Sturgess of Port Perry, ON, finished in 11th place riding Imperial Melody, his 11-year-old Canadian Thoroughbred mare, sired by Imperial Slew, on a final score of 81.60.
In the CCI 2* division, Colleen Loach of Dunham, QC was the top Canadian, finishing in fourth place riding Freespirit (Freedom Z x Primitive Rising), Peter Barry’s eight-year-old Canadian bred Warmblood mare, on their dressage score of 57.80. Placing sixth was Dasha Ivandaeva of Tottenham, ON, and her own Autorytet (Banita x Askar), her 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. Riding Naughty By Nature, sired by Sandana Kicl, Jessica Ruppel’s 17-year-old Appaloosa gelding, Natasha Keill of Collingwood, ON, finished in 13th place.
The top Canadian in the CCI 1* division was Samantha Elsenaar of Port Perry, ON, riding her seven-year-old Thoroughbred cross gelding, Banbury Sky, sired by Verdi. Sitting in 14th place after dressage on a score of 50.80, the pair moved up to finish in eighth place by only adding 0.8 cross country time penalties, to finish with 51.60. Peter Barry of Dunham, QC finished in 13th place riding Long Island T (Ludwig von Bayern x Heraldik xx), his eight-year-old Oldenburg Thoroughbred cross gelding with a score of 59.
The CCI Bromont Three Day Event proudly hosts The Todd Sandler Challenge in memory of an aspiring young event rider, Todd Sandler of Dollard des Ormeaux, QC. Todd at the age of 18 died tragically in a car accident on April 26, 1999 while returning home from the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event. He was one of Canada’s best eventing prospects.
For complete results of the CCI Bromont Three Day Event visit www.bromont3dayevent.com.
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