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Ottawa, Ontario--- Canadians enjoyed great success with many wins and top five finishes in all divisions at the CCI Bromont Three Day Event, The Todd Sandler Challenge, held June 9-12, 2005 in Bromont, QC,

In the most prestigious division of the event, the CCI**, Jennifer Irwin of Puslinch, ON and Don Leschied’s 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Rangitiki fought the heat and humidity to finish fourth out of a field of 30. (Jennifer and Rangitiki are pictured at the left. Cealy Tetley Photo.)

After an impressive score of 49.5 in Dressage, the pair moved on to the Cross-Country phase, where they completed a faultless course to move into second place. In Sunday’s Stadium Jumping, Irwin and Rangitiki received an unfortunate eight faults, making their final score 57.5, and securing their fourth place finish.

“I was really thrilled with Rangitiki. He performed so well and was very consistent,” said Irwin.

Other Canadians in the CCI** included Wendy Southam of Stoufville, ON and Ruba Z, who finished in 10th place with a final score of 70.8.; 2004 Olympian, Ian Roberts of Port Perry, ON, who finished in 12th place with a score of 74.2 aboard Napalm; Samantha Taylor of Richmond, BC who placed 14th with a score of 82.7 on Livewire, Mark Nelson of Ashton, ON who was 16th with a score of 94.9 on Power of 2; and Vanessa Fenwick of Pefferlaw, ON and Dalliance, who finished 18th with a score of 98.1.

The CCI** division was won by American Olympian Mara Dean aboard Nicki Henley.(Mara is pictured at the right with the Todd Sandler Challenge Trophy. Cealy Tetley Photo.)

In the CCI* division, 2004 Olympic team member Garry Roque of Caledon East, ON finished 3rd with the 8-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Last Call, owned by Don J. Good. The duo finished the Dressage phase with a score of 55.7, and went on to have an outstanding Cross-Country ride, receiving no faults and putting them in fifth place. After picking up 4 jumping faults in the Show Jumping, the pair finished with a final score of 59.7.

“I’m very proud of Last Call, this was his first time competing at the CCI* level. It’s nice to be successful in international competition with a horse that was home bred and raised,” said Roque.

The winner of the CCI* was American Darren Chiaccchia aboard Roux, a seven-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Canadian, Kaitlyn Habermehl.

Kerri Short of Estey’s Bridge, NB finished with a score of 65 and received sixth place with Fantasia. She was followed by Brandon McMechan of Shannonville, ON in eighth place with a score of 70.6 aboard Montenegro. Penny Rowland of Orangeville, ON was close behind, finishing with a score of 71.8 in 10th place with Marmara. Young Rider Cheryl Cnoop-Koopmans of Whitby, ON and Brewster rounded out the Canadian contingent in the CCI*, finishing in 12th place with a score of 103.7.

Canadians dominated the CIC International Horse Trials, winning both the one star, and two star divisions.

“It’s wonderful to see Canadians doing so well. Bromont is a lovely event, it’s our only Three Day Event in Canada, and it’s important that people push to keep it going,” said Gwen Lehari, winner of the CIC** division.

Bromont was only her third time competing at this level. Lehari and Daniel, her 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, led the divison from start to finish, receiving a score of 49.5 in the Dressage, moving on to complete Cross-Country with only 10 time faults.

“I was scared in the start box. After seeing CCI level horses having problems, I wasn’t sure if Daniel was fit enough for the heat, but he was amazing and though we were a bit slow, he crossed the finish line in great shape,” said Lehari.

Lehari and Daniel increased their first place lead to secure the win after finished the Stadium Jumping course with four jumping faults and four time faults, making their final score 67.5.

“I never thought I’d be competing at this level, so it’s a thrill to have won,” said Lehari. “I’m ecstatic with my horse.”

Canadians rounded out the top three, with Calgary, AB native and Young Rider, Talia Wells finishing behind Lehari in second place with a final score of 86.5 on her 10-year-old Thoroughbred mare, New Heights. Jessica Ruppel of Ravenna, ON came third with a final score of 87.9 aboard her eight-year-old Appaloosa gelding, Naughty By Nature.

Lehari’s coach, Martha Griggs of Kettleby, ON, captured the CIC* division aboard Wendy Judd’s 8-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Sir Judd. After a Dressage score of 53.6, the pair went on to finish the Cross-Country phase with 5.2 faults, putting them just out of the lead in second place. However, after being one of only three clear rounds in Show Jumping, they took the lead with a final score of 58.8. (Martha and Sir Judd are pictured at the left. Cealy Tetly Photo.)

“I was delighted with Sir Judd. He has matured this year and is very brave to the jumps,” said Griggs. “He is part Dutch Warmblood, so I wasn’t sure how he would handle the heat, but he was brilliant, especially in the Stadium Jumping.”

McMechan followed Griggs, finishing with a score of 60.5 in second place with another mount, Canterdown Folly, a 12-year-old Hannoverian mare owned by Burle Summers. Stephanie Hewitt of Mont-Tremblant, QC came third with a score of 63.9 on her nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Oway.

In the Open Training division, Phillipa Bate of Fergus, ON rode to the win with a final score of 45.9, her score in the Dressage phase, which she followed with faultless performances in both Cross-Country and Stadium Jumping with her seven-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Private Banker. Mark Nelson of Ashton, ON came in second place with a score of 49 on Oh Chez, a six-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, owned by Ruth Allum. In third place was Rene Dumont of Cowansville, QC aboard Equine Canada’s 14-year-old Hannoverian gelding, Starman.

The CCI Bromont Three Day Event, The Todd Sandler Challenge was held in memory of Sandler, 18, from Dollard des Ormeaux. Sandler was an aspiring young event rider and a 1999 Canadian Eventing Team Talent Squad member, who died tragically in a car accident on April 26, 1999.

Sandler’s riding and athletic abilities made him a force to be reckoned with in competitive circles. With his beloved Dudley Do Right, Sandler competed in the one star division of the 1997 North American Young Riders Championships, and the pair was also named the Quebec Preliminary Champions. In 1998 they competed in the Canadian Young Rider Three Day Event Championships in Winnipeg and represented Canada at the 1998 Team Challenge Horse Trials in Lexington Kentucky.

Full results are available at www.eventingnews.com.

The Olympic sport of Eventing encompasses three separate tests: dressage, cross-country, and jumping held consecutively. Each test ridden by the rider and horse in combination is scored individually but added together for the final results. The rider/horse combination with the fewest number of penalty points over the three days wins the competition.

Canadian Eventing is a committee of Equine Canada responsible for the sport of eventing in Canada from the grassroots to the international level. The Canadian Eventing Committee is comprised of 12 members, including two rider representatives elected by the Elite Riders Association. Directed by the Strategic Plan for Eventing, all Eventing activities are administered by this committee via six sub-committees with the support of an Eventing Manager based at the Equine Canada office in Ottawa. For more information about Canadian Eventing, visit www.canadianeventing.com, or www.canadianeventingteam.com.

Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley