Bromont Three-Day Event CCI3* Preview

Susan Beebee and Wolf will contest the Bromont CCI3*.

It’s Bromont time! One of the premier events in North America and the only CCI3* in Canada, Bromont has long been hailed as one of the top fixtures on the USEF Eventing High Performance Calendar. The only event to be held at a former Olympic site, Bromont offers world-class facilities and an unforgettable competitor and spectator experience. Derek Di Grazia, this year’s Rolex cross-country course designer, has once again designed the course at Bromont with help from course builder Jay Hambly. Bromont is known for it’s beautiful galloping lanes and challenging fences, and cross-country day on Saturday is sure to be thrilling.

Bromont added a CIC3* division last year, and the CIC3*will run again this year along with the staple CCI3*, CCI2* and CCI1* divisions.  A total of 109 competitors are competing across all four divisions. Barring any travel complications, Samantha and I will be on the ground at Bromont this afternoon to bring you full coverage from the first horse inspection. Be sure to check back throughout the weekend for much more from Bromont. In the meantime, here’s a detailed look at the recent competition highlights of the 25 competitors who will be contesting the Bromont CCI3*. Go eventing.

[Website] [Entry List] [Schedule]

Susan Beebee and Wolf — Susan and Wolf have had a fantastic spring preparation for Bromont, most recently winning their Advanced division at CHC International. They were also seventh at The Fork in the CIC3*. This is Wolf’s first CCI3* and first CCI this year; he was 10th in the CCI2* at Fair Hill. I think this pair is well prepared to tackle this challenge. Expect great things from them.

Emily Beshear and River King — River King ran his first Advanced this year at Pine Top Spring Advanced, where he finished eighth. Since then, he was 22nd in Advanced at The Fork and seventh in the CCI2* at Ocala. He most recently finished in seventh place at Jersey Fresh CIC3*, leaving this pair with a solid final prep before contesting Bromont.

Kyle Carter and Madison Park — Madison Park returned to international competition at CHC International last month for the first time since his 2011 tendon injury at Blenheim. Parker finished the CIC3* in sixth place and has looked fantastic since making his comeback this year. Kyle told me after Red Hills that in many ways the horse feels even better than he did before his injury.

Emily Beshear and River King at Jersey Fresh.

Kate Chadderton and Collection Pass — Kate and Cole have had a solid spring, finishing seventh in the CIC3* at Fair Hill in April and most recently winning their intermediate division at the same venue. There were 17th at The Fork in Advanced, where they had to perform their dressage test in absolute pouring rain. This OTTB is a real trier, and it’s always a privilege to watch this pair go.

Leslie Chelstrom and Cecelia — Leslie and Cecelia have had a super spring season, with the major highlight being winning the Advanced at The Fork in a very competitive division. This pair also finished fifth in their Advanced division at Southern Pines II in March. They’ve been fairly quiet since The Fork, but I think we’ll see a very solid performance at Bromont.

Darren Chiacchia and Amendment 15 — Bromont will be the horse’s first CCI3* and his first international start since the CIC3* at Plantation Field last year. Darren and Amendment 15 have had a quiet spring prep, finishing fourth in their intermediate division at Rocking Horse Winter III and seventh in intermediate at the Rocking Horse Spring HT. They unfortunately picked up a technical elimination on cross country in the Advanced at CHC International.

Leslie Chelstrom and Cecelia at The Fork.

Darren Chiacchia and Dibelius — Dibelius has had a quiet spring, with Fred Scala competing him in preliminary at the Ocala Horse Properties Winter I HT in January to finish 11th. He ran intermediate at Rocking Horse Winter III with Fred in the irons, finishing second. Darren took over the ride at CHC International, where Dibelius finished sixth in his intermediate division.

Will Coleman and Obos O’Reilly — Obos has looked really solid all spring, finishing 11th in Advanced at The Fork and winning the CIC3* at Fair Hill in April. He and Will most recently finished fifth in the CIC2* at Jersey Fresh. This is the horse’s first CCI3*; he was 10th in the CCI2* at Bromont in 2011.

Sally Cousins and Tsunami — Sally withdrew Sue from Rolex after the mare came down with a cold following a rough trailer trip. They rerouted to Jersey Fresh and finished sixth in a very competitive CIC3* field. Sue has been steady all spring, finishing 16th in the CIC3* at The Fork. Sally will be looking for a solid trip here to prep the mare for a hopeful trip to Burghley this fall.

Sally Cousins and Tsunami III at Jersey Fresh.

Phillip Dutton and William Penn — William Penn had a year off after sustaining an injury in the early part of 2012 and is making a steady comeback this season. He was 12th in his intermediate division at Southern Pines II in March and most recently finished 10th in the CIC3* at CHC International. The horse was third in the CCI3* at Bromont in 2011.

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive — Fernhill Fugitive has had a very active spring season, finishing in fourth place in Advanced at Red Hills, fourth in Advanced at Southern Pines II and eighth in the CIC3* at The Fork. This pair had a scary fall on cross country in the CCI3* at Jersey Fresh, but they bounced back to win the CIC2* at Virginia last month.

Alex Green and Fernhill Cubalawn — This horse can be very good across the country, and we’ve seen some super trips from them in the last 12 months. They most notably finished 14th in the CCI3* at Fair Hill last fall. This year, they were 21st in the CIC3* at Red Hills and 26th in the CIC3* at The Fork. They most recently retired on cross country at CHC International.

Jon Holling and DHI Zatopek B at The Fork.

Jon Holling and Zatopek B — Jon and Zatopek B had some bad luck in the water complex at Jersey Fresh and retired on course in the CCI3*. But they made a comeback a week later at CHC International, where they finished seventh in the CIC3*. They finished 11th in the CCI2* at Bromont last year. Can Jon claim victory in the CCI3* for a second year in a row and continue the tradition of celebratory streaking? Stay tuned.

Jeff Kibbie and Loki — Jeff and Loki most recently won their intermediate division at Fair Hill last month and were 10th in the CIC3* at Fair Hill in April. This is the horse’s first CCI3*, but he is no stranger to Advanced competitions.

Lauren Kieffer and Veronica — Lauren Kieffer and Veronica are on a three event winning streak, with their victories coming at the Ocala CCI2*, Jersey Fresh CIC2* and CHC International CIC3*. This is the mare’s second CCI3*; she placed fifth in the Jersey Fresh CCI3* with Karen O’Connor last year.

Selena O'Hanlon and Foxwood High at The Fork.

Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High — Foxwood High has had a solid spring season, finishing fifth in the CIC3* at Red Hills as one of just two horses to make the time on that course. They had an unfortunate stop on cross country to finish 33rd in the CIC3* at The Fork and most recently finished third in their Advanced division at MCTA last month.

Selena O’Hanlon and Bellaney Rock — Bellaney Rock finished 10th at Red Hills in the CIC3* and had a stop on cross country at The Fork CIC3*, where he finished in 34th place. He most recently finished in fifth place in his Advanced division at MCTA last month. Selena has three mounts in the CCI3* at Bromont — more than any other rider.

Selena O’Hanlon and A First Romance — A First Romance finished 12th in the CIC3* at Red Hills and was one of two horses that made it home inside the time on cross country at that event. Selena retired him on course in the CIC3* at The Fork and at their most recent outing in Advanced at MCTA last month. She’ll be looking for a solid cross-country trip here.

Nicole Park and Lexus at The Fork.

Nicole Parkin and Lexus — Nicole and Lexus were ninth in Advanced at Red Hills, and most recently retired on course in the CIC3* at The Fork and and the CIC3* at Jersey Fresh. They’ll be looking for redemption in the CCI3* at Bromont, where they won the CCI1* in 2008.

Liz Riley and It’s The Truth — Liz took an unfortunate tumble in show jumping in the CIC3* at The Fork, but she came back to place fifth in the CIC3* at Fair Hill in April. She most recently finished fourth in the Advanced at MCTA and withdrew before the cross country at Virginia.

Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against — West Coasters Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against traveled East for the Jersey Fresh CCI3* only to have a disappointing mandatory retirement on course. They stayed on the East Coast to contest the CCI3* at Bromont. They’ve had a good spring prep on the West Coast, most recently finishing ninth in the CIC3* at Galway Downs in March.

Lizzie Snow and Coal Creek at The Fork.

Lizzie Snow and Coal Creek — Lizzie and Coal Creek have had a quiet spring prep for Bromont, finishing 15th in their Advanced division at Southern Pines II in March and 15th in Advanced at The Fork. She most recently took a tumble on cross country at CHC International in the CIC3* and will be looking for a good cross-country trip at Bromont.

Allison Springer and Copycat Chloe — Allison has been working hard to forge a partnership with Chloe since taking over the ride from Kelly Pugh this winter. They were 26th at The Fork in the CIC3* after an unfortunate stop on cross country. They re-routed to Fair Hill and finished fourth in the CIC3* in April. They are coming off an 11th place finish in the CIC3* at CHC International.

Rick Wallace and Ultimate Victory — Rick Wallace, the mastermind behind the Road to Bromont videos, had a bit of a rocky early spring season with Ultimate Victory, but has turned things around since retiring on cross country in the CIC3* at The Fork. He’s since finished sixth in intermediate at Poplar Place and ninth in the CIC3* at CHC International last month.

Katie Willis and Polar Storm — Katie and Polar Storm have had a quiet spring, finishing third in the intermediate at Morven Park in March and ninth in the CIC3* at Fair Hill in April. They most recently suffered a technical elimination on cross country at MCTA and will be contesting their first CCI3* since Fair Hill in 2010.

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