Mueller and Phoenix Top Canadians at Fair Hill CCI 3* / CCI 2* International

Ottawa, ONâ€”Competing in her first ever three star level three day event competition Michele Mueller of Port Perry, ON, finished in 11th place at the Dansko Fair Hill International CCI 3* Eventing Championship, held October 16â€“19, 2008, in Elkon, MD USA.

Mueller was the top Canadian rider with Amistad, the nine-year-old Thoroughbred Belgium cross gelding, owned by Julie-Anna Pring. After dressage, Mueller was tied for 20th place in the field of 53 starters, on a score of 57.8. The pair recorded one of the 10 double clear cross-country performances which moved them up to ninth place but three costly rails added 12 show jumping penalties to finish with 69.8, less than one point shy of a top ten finish.

â€œThe cross-country and show jumping courses were huge, and Amistad was unbelievable. I am really proud of him,â€ noted Mueller. â€œHe is going to have some down time, and we will see how thing go. Our plan is to head south in March.â€

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Canadian Olympian Michael Winter of originally of Toronto, ON, and now residing in Newnan, GA, rode Wonderful Will, Sher and Elliot Schwartzâ€™s 10-year-old American Thoroughbred gelding to 18th place. Sitting in 29th place following dressage on a 62.2, the pair rode a clear cross country round, with only four time faults, to move up into 19th position. Two rails in the show jumping round, which saw few clear performances, moved him up one place to finish on a final score of 74.2.

Close behind Winter was Karl Slezak of Tottenham, ON, and Kachemak Bay, the 14-year-old thoroughbred owned by Frankie Simpson, who finished in 21st place with a score of 80.7. Jessica Hampf, originally from London, ON, and her 12-year-old Australian Thoroughbred gelding, High Society III, finished in 32nd place.

American Olympian Amy Tryon and Coal Creek won the CCI 3* division with a score of 51.0.

Jessica Phoenix was the top Canadian rider in the inaugural CCI 2*competition. Phoenix of Cannington, ON, and her horse Exponential, a 10-year-old thoroughbred gelding, were tied for 23rd place following dressage, but flawless performances in both the cross-country and show jumping moved them up to finish in seventh place overall, out of 86 starters, finishing on their dressage score.

â€œExponential was amazing the entire weekend. He was really happy to be at Fair Hill, and he handled Derek De Graziaâ€™s cross-country course with ease. The galloping lanes really suited his style, and he felt really calm on course,â€ remarked Phoenix, who was a member of Canadaâ€™s silver medal winning Eventing Team at the 2007 Pan American Games with her horse Exploring. â€œI would love to move Exponential up to the advanced level in 2009, and maybe we could compete in a three star in the fall.â€

Waylon Roberts, also a member of Canada silver medal 2007 Pan American Games team, finished in 19th place. Sitting in 52nd position after dressage, Roberts, of Port Perry, ON, and his eight-year-old Canadian Sport Horse gelding, Myrddin’s Sebastian, easily moved up the standings when they added only 1.6 cross-country time faults to their final score, finishing with 67.2.

Other Canadians completing the two star competition were Kerri Short of Caledon, ON, partnered with her own nine-year-old Westphalian mare, Fantasia, who finished in 24th place on a score of 72.3. Penny Rowland of Orangeville, ON, rode Charley Farley, Don J. Goodâ€™s 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, to a 27th place finish with a score of 74.2. In 33rd place, on a score of 79.6, was Anne Zander of Cookstown, ON, riding her 11-year-old Thoroughbred mare, Caliente Kisses. Peter Barry of Dunham, QC, and his nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, Kilrodan Abbott, finished in 42nd place with 92.4, and close behind, in 44th place, was Danica Moore of Salmon Arm, BC, and her gelding, Dunlavins Token. Rounding out the Canadian entries was Bob Holman of Hawkestone, ON, who finished in 54th place with Glendening Phoenix, and 55th spot with Catmantoo.

Kelly Prather of the United States and Ballinakill Glory won the CCI 2* division with a score of 46.6.