Allison Springer and Lord Willing. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
It was a very busy, blustery day at the 2017 Pedigree Bromont CCI Three-Day Event. Prior to this afternoon’s CCI3* finale, the CCI*, CIC2* and CCI2* divisions all show jumped over Marc Donovan’s course.
Allison Springer and Lord Willing have added another win to this talented young horse’s FEI record. From their dressage score of 37.8, they added 4.4 cross country time penalties and one rail in show jumping today to finish on top in the CCI2* with a 46.2.
“It was my goal to come here and have a really good dressage test and try to finish on that score. I’m disappointed I didn’t do that but pretty thrilled of course with the win and how confident and fun he was to ride,” Allison said of the 9-year-old Holsteiner owned by the Lord Willing Syndicate.
She said “Liam” felt great on cross country but there were a few places she felt like she could have been more efficient in the turns. Today’s rail was the result of a moment of distraction.
“I can certainly flirt with some Advanced maybe this next season,” she said. “Derek di Grazia is just a wonderful course designer and I think it’s really confidence-building for all the horses. I know I have such a better horse coming out of the weekend.”
Allison’s longtime four-star partner Arthur retired at Rolex this year, but she’s staying busy with a lovely group of up-and-coming youngsters. “I think my best thing is producing them from the get go. I think you build such a good partnership down the line.”
“It’s neat to have the stack of horses that you can practice competing well and riding well. I want to see my dreams come true and I’m not getting any younger!” Allison laughed.
“You definitely are better with age in this sport. It comes down to so much wisdom and being relaxed and happy about competing and that comes with mileage. I’m feeling pretty blessed with the group of people around me and my family and friends and the horses I have. And my dog.”
Bobby Meyerhoff and Rascal Rap. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Will Coleman and the Off the Record Syndicate’s Off the Record were one of just two pairs in the CCI2* division to finish on their dressage score. Adding no additional penalties to the initial score of 46.9 put them in second place overall in the 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse’s first CCI2*.
Coming third was Bobby Meyerhoff and Diane Kearney’s 9-year-old Oldenburg Rascal Rap. They added 5.2 time penalties on cross country yesterday for a final score of 49.1.
“I was really pleased with the dressage. It was our best test to date,” Bobby said. “On cross country I knew he could do the job; I know he can jump all the jumps. The horse has loads of scope and a huge gallop and plenty of stamina. The hard thing about him is he’s a big horse with a huge step and it takes a lot to package him together.
“Show jumping was amazing. He’s never had a clear round at this level. For him to pull off a clear today was a super reward because it’s been a lot of practice and a lot of hard work.”
The horse actually came to Bobby’s barn to sell as a show hunter, but he was not quiet enough for that job. Bobby’s wife Danica show jumped him some but the horse found his niche in eventing. “He’s really matured and he’s learning. That’s what makes it so fun.”
Finishing fourth in the division was Boyd Martin and the Ray Price Syndicate’s Ray Price, adding just one rail to their score to finish on 50.5. Cornelia Dorr and her own Sir Patico MH round out the top five on 56.8.
Boyd Martin and On Cue Jump Fault-Free to Win the CIC2*
Boyd Martin and On Cue. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Boyd Martin moved into the lead in the CIC2* with Christine Turner’s On Cue after a fast and clear cross country round yesterday. They left all the rails up today to finish on their dressage core of 42.7 for the win. Boyd began working with the 11-year-old Anglo mare earlier this year and he feels, especially after this competition, that she is one for the future.
“She oozes with class, is very elegant on the flat, brave cross country and has a good jump,” he said. “I think she’s really special and I hope I can keep going with her.”
There were only four other fault-free cross country rounds in the CIC2* besides Boyd and On Cue — Colleen Loach and Qorry Blue D’Argouges, Will Coleman and Don Dante, Rebecca Braitling and Walterstown Don, and Bobby Meyerhoff and Fortuna.
Boyd described Bromont as one of the best three-day events in North America.
“Derek di Grazia builds a wickedly awesome track. I’ve ridden around three-stars all over the world and this is bigger than Boekelo and felt bigger than Luhmuhlen CCI4* to be honest. I think any horse that runs well in the two-star and three-star here you know you’ve got a proper horse that can cope with four-star.”
“It’s very hard to evaluate how gritty your horse is. There’s only a couple times a year you really make them tired and experience if they keep trying when they’re tired and when there is question after question. It’s a bit of an unknown sometimes. It’s important to come and face this type of challenge to see if you have one that digs deep and keeps fighting.”
Colleen Loach and Qorry Blue D’Argouges. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Colleen Loach and Qorry Blue D’Argouges have finished in second place in an FEI division at Bromont now three years in a row. They have also won a Stuart Horne Canadian Championship Award for two consecutive years. Colleen and the 13-year-old Selle Français earned a personal best in dressage and finished on that score of 43.3 after two clear jumping rounds.
“This event is special to me because it’s my hometown,” Colleen said. “I love being here and competing here and doing well in front of friends and family. It’s a good aura. I’m honored to be able to represent Canada and win the Championship.”
Colleen rode Qorry for several years before his owner Peter Barry began competing him earlier this season. Sadly Peter suffered a stroke during the Carolina International in March and Qorry came back to Colleen while Peter recovers. We were thrilled to see Peter at Bromont watching the competition this weekend.
“Peter’s happy to see him go with me since he can’t be the one on him. I’m very happy to be back with Qorry. He’s a great partner and we get along well.”
Clayton Fredericks and FE Bowman. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Clayton Fredericks had a busy time riding three in the CIC2* and finished with two of them in the top five. Clayton led after dressage with FE Bowman but dropped to third place after adding four time penalties on cross country. One rail today gave them a final score of 47.4 and to finish in fifth place with the 9-year-old Wurttemberger owned by Clayton, Amanda Bernhard and Diana Crawford.
Kingfisher Park’s 10-year-old Zweibrucker mare FE Ophelia started the competition behind her stablemate in second place with a dressage score of 42.5. She and Clayton added 1.6 time penalties on cross country and show jumped double clear today to finish third overall on 44.1.
Clayton explained that FE Ophelia has been with a couple of different riders but has finally found her perfect match with Clayton. “I think we’re building a good relationship and I’m very pleased with the way she went,” he said.
Both FE Ophelia and FE Bowman are likely headed to compete in Montana at Rebecca Farm, so the competition this week was a good challenge for them.
“(The cross country) made them blow and there was enough in there to test them,” he said. “It’s always hard to show jump in this ring. It’s really tight and the time is normally tight, so it’s hard to produce a clear in there.”
Finishing in fourth place and adding nothing to their dressage score was Will Coleman and Team Rebecca LLC’s 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse Don Dante, finishing on a 46.9.
Great Expectations Lives Up to His Name in CCI*
Rachel Wilks and Great Expectations. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Rachel Wilks and her 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse missed out on an FEI win at The Fork in April by a fraction of a point, but this weekend all three phases came together and they won the CCI* division on their dressage score of 41.3.
They entered the ring in second place behind Kelli Temple and Metallica, and produced one of just six double clear rounds out of 32 that show jumped in the division. With 10 points between her and first place, the pressure was off.
“I thought ‘it will be what it will be.’ I just have to do the best that I can and give him a good ride,” Rachel said. Then Kelli and Metallica pulled three rails and Rachel and Great Expectations were leading the victory gallop.
“This was the big event of the season and he was fabulous; this is what we’ve been working up to all year and he was absolutely amazing,” Rachel said. “He surpassed every expectation and lived up to his name!”
Kelli and Kara Angulo’s 7-year-old Holsteiner mare Metallica finished in second place in the mare’s first FEI event on a final score of 43.9. Holly Payne Caravella and the CharmKing Syndicate’s CharmKing added one rail to their two phase score of 41.4 to finish third.
Valerie Vizcarrando and her own Favian also added a rail for fourth place on 48.3. Boyd Martin and The Fonz Himself, owned by Bonnie Stedt, moved into the top five after a double clear round.
Stuart Horne Canadian Championship
Bruce Lamb and Gamble. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Bromont also serves as the Stuart Horne Canadian Championship. The award is offered by Bridget Colman in memory of her father, Stuart Horne. Here are the 2017 Champions and Reserve Champions across the four divisions:
CCI3* Champion: Jessica Phoenix and Bogue Sound
CCI2* Champion: Shelby Brost and Crimson
CCI2* Reserve Champion: Waylon Roberts and Lancaster
CIC2* Champion: Colleen Loach and Qorry Blue D’Argouges
CIC2* Reserve Champion: Alexis Murray and My Principle
CCI* Champion: Jessica Ruppel and Hippique ABU
CCI* Reserve Champion: Bradley Champagne and Wallaroo W
Another special award, the Ledger Family Award, is given by Dr. Gaby Ledger, her husband Alex and their daughters Mia and Briar to the top amateur rider in the CCI* who has a full time job outside of horses and balances all the challenges that comes with such a schedule.
Receiving a bronze trophy, commemorative cooler and a check for $1,000 was Bruce Lamb, of London, Ontario. Bruce is the President and CEO of Avalanche Search Marketing and he finished 27th in the CCI* riding his 11-year-old Thoroughbred Gamble.
And that’s a wrap on the 2017 Pedigree Bromont CCI Three-Day Event! You can click here to catch up on all our coverage. Thanks for reading. Go Eventing.
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