Lisa Fergusson Successful at Galway Downs CCI 2* International

Lisa Fergusson of Langley, BC was the highest placed Canadian in the CCI** division at the Galway Downs International Three Day Event, held November 2 –5 in Temecula, California.

Riding Uni Griffon, her eight-year-old Canadian bred Thoroughbred-cross gelding, Fergusson finished in sixth place with a total score of 59. After scoring 55.0 in dressage, Fergusson was tied for ninth place. After adding no faults cross-country, she moved up to ninth position. After lowering a single rail in show jumping for four jumping faults, and no time faults, Fergusson solidified her sixth place finish overall.

Fellow west-coast rider Kathryn Duke of Calgary, AB finished in 14th place aboard Patricia Duke’s 14-year-old Selle Francaise gelding Eliot III. With a dressage score of 61.9, Duke was tied for 21st place, but moved up to 12th after adding no cross-country faults. Two show jumping rails came down for a total of eight jumping faults, bringing Duke’s total score to 69.9.

Hawley Bennett, also of Langley, BC rounded out the Canadian results, receiving a total score of 98.2 to place 22nd aboard Chaos Theory, owned by Jessica Burch.

In the CCI* division, Classic Format, which featured the traditional roads & tracks, as well as steeplechase phases, Jamie Kidston of Maple Ridge, BC took sixth place riding The Rock, a seven-year-old Thoroughbred/Cleveland Bay gelding owned by her coach, Therese Washtock. The duo was standing in third place after receiving a score of 52.10 in dressage. After adding no faults in roads and tracks, steeplechase or cross-cross country, they held onto their third place position. After lowering three rails in the show jumping phase, they finished with a score of 64.1 for sixth place.

“I was happy with our dressage, and although the course was tough, The Rock is very reliable cross-country,” commented Kidston, who in addition to riding and competing, is currently in university, working toward a law degree. “The Rock put in a great effort for me, and I was really happy with our performance.”

The CCI* Olympic Format saw Karyn Smith of Chilliwack, BC finish in eighth place, paired with her nine-year-old Canadian Thoroughbred/Warmblood gelding Apollo. After scoring 57.50 in dressage, they moved on, putting in a faultless cross-country round to stand in ninth place. Adding just four jumping faults in the show jumping phase, they finished with a total score of 61.5. Manuela Propfe, who currently resides in Tucson, Arizona wasn’t far behind in 11th place. Riding her eight-year-old Quarter Horse gelding Such Depth, Propfe scored 69.60 in dressage, before moving on to cross-country where she added just 3.6 time faults, putting her in 15th place. She moved up to her final placing of 11th after adding no show jumping faults.

Other Canadians in the standings included Stephanie Montalban of Vancouver, BC who placed 12th aboard First Impression, and Abbotsford, BC native Chelan Kozak, who claimed 18th place with Tasman Sea. Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch of Summerland, BC finished in 28th riding Port Authority.

The CCI** division was won by American rider Amy Tryon, who had a total score of 45.1 aboard Leyland. Fellow American Tamra Smith took the CCI* Classic Format with a total score of 52.5 riding Gem Dandy, while Heather Morris of the USA claimed the CCI* Olympic Format, earning a score of 41.1 with Genial.

“This was my second time competing at Galway Downs, and is a very well run, and well organized event,” commented Kidston, “It is always a pleasure to compete here.”

For full results, please visit vahorsetrials.com.