Ottawa, ON—Rebecca Howard of Salmon Arm, BC, was the top foreign rider in both the CCI 3* and the CCI 2* divisions at the rain soaked Dansko Fair Hill International Three Day Event held October 15–18, 2009, in Elkon, MD, USA. Throughout the competition, competitors braved cold temperatures, heavy rain and high winds. Despite the organizer’s extensive efforts, many competitors chose not to run on cross country day and withdrew from the competition.
Howard finished in ninth place in the CCI 3* division with Riddle Master, the eight-year-old Canadian Sport Horse gelding, owned by Caroline Bazley. After dressage, Howard was tied for 33rd place in the large field of 66 starters, on a score of 56.4. The pair added just 11.2 time penalties over the rain soaked, shortened cross country course which saw only the division winner make the time and then jumped a fault free show jumping round to achieve a final score of 67.6 penalty points.
“I think that Riddle Master could not have performed better,” noted Howard. “His dressage has been the hardest phase, but this time we were able to take our great warm-up right in to the dressage ring.”
Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch of Summerland, BC, rode her 11-year-old Selle Français gelding, Port Authority to 12th place. Sitting tied 27th place following dressage, on a score 54.2, the pair rode a clear cross country round with only 10 time faults move up into eighth position. One rail in the show jumping round had them finish on a final score of 68.2 penalties.
Karl Slezak of Tottenham, ON, and Charley Farley, Don J. Good’s 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, finished in 19th place with a score of 91.8. Canadian Olympian, Ian Roberts of Port Perry, ON, and Napalm, a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Roberts, Kelly Plitz and Tracey Newman, finished in 28th place.
American Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos won the CCI 3* division with a score of 55.0.
Howard was also the top Canadian rider in the CCI 2*competition. Riding Roquefort, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Howard and Mrs. Mary Clague, Howard was in first place following dressage with a score of 42.2. With 11.6 cross country time penalties and two rails in show jumping, the pair finished in third place overall, out of 73 starters, with 61.8 penalties.
“I have never ridden in such deep going,” added Howard of the state of the cross country course designed by Derek de Grazia. “It was quite an experience to ride in those conditions. The owners of both horses were at the event, and it was great to have everyone’s support.”
In addition to winning trophies for the best foreign rider in both divisions, Howard and Roquefort were recognized for the achieving the best dressage score in the CCI 2* division.
Edie Tarves, also a Canadian Olympian, finished in 10th place. Sitting tied for 12th position after dressage, Tarves, of Zephyr, ON, and Robin Campbell’s 11-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare, Arwen, moved up the standings adding just 18.8 cross-country time faults to their final score, finishing with 70.2.
Other Canadians completing the two star competition were Kendal Lehari of Uxbridge, ON, partnered with her mother Gwendalyne Lehari’s nine-year-old Canadian Thoroughbred gelding, Daily Edition, who finished in 15th place on a score of 80.0. Slezak rode his second horse Watson’s Shelbreen, Frankie Simpson’s 10-year-old Canadian Sport Horse mare, to a 22nd place finish.
Hannah Sue Burnett of the United States and St. Barths won the CCI 2* division with a score of 55.9.
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