Erin Sylvester and Mettraise won the CCI2* at Bromont
Erin Sylvester pulled two rails with Mettraise in the CCI2* show jumping but still held on to her lead to seal the deal in a division where clear rounds were hard to come by. This pair came into the weekend scoring a 60 in the dressage to sit in 12th place. But trouble for many pairs across the country yesterday gave Erin and Missy the opportunity they needed to rocket up the leaderboard to first place after coming home with no jumping penalties and 2.4 time. Buck Davidson and Santa’s Keeper came into the show jumping in seventh place and ultimately moved all the way up to finish second after putting in one of five double clear trips in the division. This pair looked fantastic and stalked the leaders all weekend; I’m excited to see how their partnership continues to develop.
Buck Davidson and Santa's Keeper finished in second place.
Buck Davidson and Knight Lion also shot up the leaderboard from 20th place to second yesterday thanks to the only double clear cross-country trip in this division. Unfortunately, they pulled four rails in the show jumping, although that only dropped them down to third place to finish the weekend on an 82.4. Rails fell all around the course, with the last fence coming down five times to repeatedly play spoiler. The first fence fell twice — Erin and Missy were one of the pairs to have trouble here — and the rainbow plank fence halfway through the course also fell multiple times. The double clear trips went to Buck Davidson and Santa’s Keeper, Elena Ceballos and Nounours du Moulin, Alexandra MacLeod and Railroad Man Jim, Robin Walker and Rowdy Friend, and Abigail Wilson and Fernhill Flag.
Buck Davidson and Knight Lion finished in third place.
In a heartbreaking turn of events, Erin Freedman and Viola, a new friend of EN who came into the CCI2* show jumping in fifth place, had to pull up halfway through the course and retire. It looked like the mare tweaked her right front shoe after an awkward jump over the rainbow planks, and she instantly went hopping lame. Erin pulled her up right away and hopped off as Viola hobbled out of the ring, where a farrier immediately examined the foot and removed the shoe. The whole crowd sat in stunned silence empathizing with Erin. To travel so far and come just a few show jumps away from completing Bromont is devastating. We say it all the time, but that’s eventing — the highest highs and lowest lows all crammed into one crazy weekend. Best wishes to Erin and Viola, and I hope the injury isn’t anything serious. The ring is being dragged for the CCI3* riders now. Stay tuned for much more from Bromont!
