Karen O’Connor and Mandiba
The sun is shining down on a picture perfect day for cross-country here at Bromont. Overall, the CCI2* riders did a great job guiding their horses around an incredibly tough course. Riders took their time where their horses needed it and the score board reflects that in the many time penalties accrued today. Overnight leaders Karen O’Connor and Mandiba added four time penalties to move into a tie with last years’ Bromont CCI* champions Will Coleman and Zipp, who added 0.4 time penalties. Danielle Dichting and The Graduate moved into 3rd with 3.2 time penalties and Marilyn Little-Meredith stormed around the course double-clear to move from 7th to 4th.
Can you spot EN writer Abbie Golden and Arundel jumping in the above video?
There was a 20 minute hold on course when Arden Wildasin and Powderhound fell at the corner coming out of the two-star coffin. Powderhound was up quickly and walked back to the barns. Arden was transported to the hospital in an ambulance but I am relieved to report that the early official word from Bromont is that the Arden was just sent to the hospital for precautionary reasons and there doesn’t appear to be a serious injury.
Seven CCI2* pairs finished with a stop, one was eliminated, four retired on course, and four fell.
Will Coleman and Zipp
The only double-clear CCI2* cross-country ride belongs to Marilyn Little-Meredith who, after scratching RF Rovano Rex from the CIC3* lead, obviously wanted to make the best of one of her remaining XC rides. Marilyn finished 23 seconds under the optimum with Red Hill winner RF Smoke On The Water.
When I spoke with Karen on Friday she mentioned that Mandiba has filled in some previous holes in his training and hinted at higher goals for a comeback. Their successful ride today is another step on that journey. I’m a big Mandiba fan and I’d love to see him successfully return to the top level of eventing if that’s what he wants. He looked like he was really enjoying himself today.
Liz Millikin and Masterpiece were jumping for the lead but they suffered a heartbreaking fall at the last. Word from the course is that both horse and rider were up quickly. There were two other tumbles on the two-star but early word is that they were uneventful. Local favorite Ian Roberts was eliminated for missing a fence.
Last night’s rain has made the footing deep in a few low areas but it remains perfect around the jumps. The start of cross-country was delayed 30 minutes while we were waiting for the medics to arrive and we had one lengthy hold on course, meaning that the event is about 45 minutes behind schedule currently.
As a quick update on Jessica Phoenix, she is getting surgery to stabilize her broken collar bone with a plate today in Ottowa. I have heard that Exponential “Tucker” is fine following their fall jump schooling earlier this week. He will head to Virginia to work with coach David O’Connor and the word is that Jessica could be back to riding in as early as two weeks.
I’ll leave you with your daily moment of zen, in the form of DOC’s (aka LOC) blinged out motorbike:
Stay tuned for much more from Bromont as the CCI3* division gets underway shortly. Go eventing.
