Competition continued today with the exciting cross-country phase of the 2016 Jaguar Land Rover Bromont CCI3* Three-Day Event, the Todd Sandler Challenge, taking place June 9-12 at the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park in Bromont, Quebec. The Bromont Organizing Committee is proud to welcome Jaguar Land Rover back for the third year as title sponsor of the 2016 event.
CCI3* – Strong Rides Win the Day
On a cold and drizzly day that was unappreciated by the spectators, but provided perfect conditions for the horses, there was some considerable shuffling of placings in this division. The leader after dressage, Buck Davidson (USA), had 14 time penalties with The Apprentice to slip to 7th place; 2nd-placed Will Faudree (USA) incurred 20 penalties when his mount Pfun had a refusal on course plus time penalties to slip to 17th place; and Jennie Brannigan, another American who had been sitting in 3rd aboard Catalina, also incurred time penalties to drop to 5th.
The revised leaderboard showed Kylie Lyman of West Hartford, VT, in 1st and 3rd places with Lup The Loop and Sacramento, respectively. Sandwiched in between in 2nd place was Australia’s Ryan Wood and Woodstock Bennett. Both riders rode strong, forward rounds to make the 10-minute time allowed over the 5.7 km course.
This was Lyman’s first CCI3*, and the first for both her horses. “My first thought was just to get the job done today, but I also wanted to be competitive. I felt we had done our homework beforehand, so I didn’t want to be satisfied with just ‘getting around.’ I’m thrilled – they both stepped up to the plate so well.”
This was also the 9-year-old Woodstock Bennett’s first trip at this level. “He was pretty awesome out there,” said Wood. “He saved me a couple of times, but he was on the job, looking to go between the flags.”
Top Canadian in this division following cross-country was Rachel McDonough of Etobicoke, ON, and the 17-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Irish Rhythm, who made an incredible move from 15th to 4th place with a foot-perfect round, crossing the timers in 10 minutes flat. “He was awesome, he’s such a saint. He’s really nifty and a great cross-country horse,” said McDonough. “We get around because of the partnership we have and that’s the most fun about it all for me – we can help each other out.”
CIC3* – Canadian Championship Shaping Up
Former division leader Hannah Sue Burnett (USA) and Cooley Dream found themselves in third place following their cross-country trip due to a handful of costly time penalties. Ryan Wood (AUS) was happy to take advantage of this by posting a near-perfect round aboard Frankie, a 12-year-old gelding, moving the pair into the top slot.
Wood said of Frankie’s effort, “It was one of the best cross-country rounds I’ve had in a long time. He felt like he was on target today.” He described the little Thoroughbred as looking “pretty unassuming,” although he did win several hundred thousand dollars during his career at the racetrack. Wood found him in a field as a five-year-old with five other horses and negotiated the gelding’s purchase for $500 and a couple of riding lessons.
Local favourite Colleen Loach of Canton de Hatley, QC, had been stalking the leaders in 4th place, and moved up into 2nd with a terrific ride aboard Qorry Blue D’Argouges. She spoke about the excitement surrounding the inaugural $6,500 Stuart R. Horne Canadian Eventing Championships at Bromont. “It’s cool that they’ve started it, and especially nice for me because it’s my hometown. I’m thrilled to be top Canadian in it.” The grey Selle Francais gelding Qorry Blue D’Argouges is owned by fellow eventer and Quebec resident Peter Barry, who originally bought the horse to ride himself. Loach appreciates the boost she gets competing in front of an enthusiastic hometown crowd. “I love it; I love everybody cheering, and the horse loves it too.”
Anticipation regarding Jessica Phoenix being within striking distance of first place with two of her four mounts took a wrong turn today, however. The Cannington, ON, resident, who had been occupying 2nd and 3rd places after dressage with Bentley’s Best and Pavarotti, scratched both horses from the competition earlier in the day, then parted company with her first ride, Abbey GS, and although both horse and rider were uninjured, she chose to also withdraw her remaining horse, A Little Romance.
CCI2* – Canadian Peter Barry Nudged Out of First Place
Hometown hero Peter Barry was sitting comfortably in first place “until Boydie messed it up,” he said, laughing about his friend’s audacity. Barry’s 8 time penalties dropped him into 2nd place behind Boyd Martin (USA) and Tsetserleg (“Thomas”), a 9-year-old Trakehner gelding. Martin also placed third with Bonito, a new German import. “I wanted to bring them up here because I feel that this event is a real test and if you can get around the two-star here you should have a three-star horse [in the making].”
“Its a wonderful course for young horses,” Barry agreed. “When you do well here, you’re probably ready to move up to the next level.”
CCI1* – Sylvester Hangs On To 1st Place
Erin Sylvester (USA) and Mister Optimistic added no jumping or time penalties to their score to cling onto first place in this division, while their co-leader yesterday, Sara Kozumplik Murphy and L’Alezane, were a tad tardy and incurred a mere 1.2 time penalties on course to drop them to 3rd place.
Dominic Schramm (AUS) and Bolytair B, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, moved up from 3rd to 2nd place. “This is the first time I’ve really let him have a run,” Schramm said. “I was thrilled – I could barely hold him! I’m going to go home and re-evaluate my brake situation.”
The Jaguar Land Rover Bromont CCI3* wraps up with the show jumping finale on Sunday, June 12, at the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park. Come out and enjoy this unique opportunity to watch top eventing talent looking to secure a coveted spot on their country’s eventing squad in this last selection trial before the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 5-21.
Admission and parking are FREE; browse through the vendor booths, take part in the Land Rover Experience including the thrilling Land Rover Dynamic Display, or take advantage of a unique opportunity to test drive Jaguars. For directions, accommodations or other visitor information, go to BromontCCI.com.
Results following Cross-Country:
Place/Rider/Horse/Country/Score
CCI3*
1. Kylie Lyman, Lup the Loop (USA) 50.20
2. Ryan Wood, Woodstock Bennett (AUS) 53.70
3. Kylie Lyman, Sacramento (USA) 55.60
4. Rachel McDonough, Irish Rhythm (CAN) 58.30
5. Jennie Brannigan, Catalina (USA) 59.00
CIC3*
1. Ryan Wood, Frankie (AUS) 52.00
2. Colleen Loach, Qorry Blue D’Argouges (CAN) 52.90
3. Hannah Sue Burnett, Cooley Dream (USA) 53.10
4. Caroline Martin, Effervescent (USA) 55.80
5. Boyd Martin, Steady Eddie (USA) 56.40
CCI2*
1. Boyd Martin, Tsetserleg (USA) 49.50
2. Peter Barry, Long Island T (CAN) 50.50
3. Boyd Martin, Bonito (USA) 52.90
4. Jan Byyny, Urrem (USA) 53.20
5. Jennie Brannigan, I Bella (USA) 58.70
CCI1*
1. Erin Sylvester, Mister Optimistic (USA) 42.20
2. Dominic Schramm, Bolytair B (AUS) 42.90
3. Sara Kozumplik Murphy, L’Alezane (USA) 43.40
4. Brandon McMechan, Oscar ‘s Wild (CAN) 47.10
5. Annick Niemuller, FE Black Jack (CAN) 47.40
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