Waylon Roberts of Port Perry, Ont. rode to an impressive top-three finish in the CCI 3* division at the 2015 Jaguar Land Rover Bromont Three-Day Event, held June 4-7 at the Bromont Equestrian Park in Bromont, Que.
Riding Kelecyn Cognac, a 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by Anthony Connolly, Roberts earned Canada’s best result in the CCI 3* competition. Sitting in 10th following dressage, the pair went double clear on cross-country to move up to fourth position. Despite the challenge presented by a difficult stadium course, which didn’t see a single horse/rider combination escape without penalty, Roberts and Kelecyn Cognac managed to earn just four jumping faults, moving them into third place overall on a total score of 56.70 penalty points.
Fellow Canadian Selena O’Hanlon of Elgin, Ont., and Foxwood High, a 12-year-old Canadian Sport Horse gelding owned by John and Judy Rumble and sired by Rio Bronco W, posted the best score in dressage to lead the pack heading into cross-country. A clear jumping performance, but eight time faults incurred on cross-country dropped them to fifth place. Show jumping saw the pair finish within the time, but two rails came down for eight faults, putting them in sixth place on a final score of 62.70 penalties.
Rachel McDonough, currently residing in The Plains, Va., aboard Irish Rhythm, her 16-year-old Thoroughbred gelding sired by Vice Chancellor, rounded out the top 10 for Canada after finishing on a score of 66.80 penalties.
It was O’Hanlon who would bring home the best result for Canada in the CCI 2* division, capturing 10th place aboard A First Romance, the 13-year-old Canadian Sport Horse gelding sired by A Fine Romance she co-owns with her mother Morag. The pair were tied for 21st position following dressage but made a huge leap up the standings thanks to clear rounds in both cross-country and show jumping.
Caileigh Levely-Connolly of Carlisle, Ont. earned an impressive sixth-place finish in the CCI 1* aboard West River (Westporte x Graf Royale), a seven-year-old Canadian Warmblood mare owned by Skye Levely. The pair went clear in cross-country and lowered just one rail in show jumping for a total score of 56.50 penalties. Jen Thompson and Lucy In the Sky (Espiritu x Crystal Goblet), her 10-year-old Thoroughbred-cross mare followed in eighth place with a score of 62.60, narrowly edging out fellow Canadian, Alexis Murray who took ninth place (64.10) with My Principle, her nine-year-old Thoroughbred gelding.
But it was the CIC2* competition where Canadians really shone. Seven of the top 10 riders were representing the maple leaf, with Roberts leading the charge. He and Bill Owen, an 11-year-old gelding sired by Money Talks he co-owns with his mother Kelly Plitz, claimed victory with an impressive dressage performance coupled with the only double clear cross-country round. Even with four faults in show jumping, this explosive pair just could not be caught, finishing with a total score of 48.40 penalty points.
Colleen Loach of Dunham, Que., came closest to catching Roberts aboard Qorry Blue D’Argouges, an 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding sired by Mr. Blue and owned by Peter and Susan Barry, earning a total score of 54.00 penalties. Stuart Black, a Canadian currently living in Texas, and Tre’ du Kernat (Jeff d’Or x Remus des Isles), an eight-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Orin Tre’ Book, brought home third, scoring 56.40 penalties. Shawn Ferguson and Cruising Guy (Loughehoe Guy x Cruising), his seven-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, and April Simmonds, riding Quebec NZPH (Frisbee Kerellec x La Roux), a 12-year-old Warmblood gelding she owns with Faydon Enterprises, claimed fifth and sixth, respectively. Simmonds also captured eighth with Impressively Done, a 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding sired by Eulogize, also co-owned with Faydon Enterprises, while Sarah Wilson and partner Ovation W (Oberon x Garfield W), her 10-year-old Canadian Warmblood gelding, finished 10th.
For further information on the 2015 Jaguar Land Rover Bromont Three-Day Event, including full results, visit www.bromontcci.com.
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