Competition wrapped up today with the stadium jumping phase of the 2016 Jaguar Land Rover Bromont CCI3* Three-Day Event, the Todd Sandler Challenge, June 9-12 at the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park in Bromont, Quebec. The Bromont Organizing Committee was proud to welcome Jaguar Land Rover back for the third year as title sponsor of the 2016 event.
CIC3* – Inaugural Canadian Championship Awarded to Quebec Rider
Rain rain, go away … the weather continued to refuse to cooperate on Sunday at the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park, with chilly temps and torrential downpours throughout the morning. The excellent footing in the Bromont rings stood up perfectly, however, providing safe footing for the competitors making their final bid for top placings in four divisions.
In the CIC3*, the top three placings after the cross-country stood their ground in the show jumping phase. Ryan Wood of Australia and his ‘$500 Thoroughbred’ Frankie can now add a 3* win to their resumé. “He’s just a champion; he wants to win and he wants to please. He’s got great owners, Steve and Kari Guy, who believed in us and backed us all the way.”
Colleen Loach of Canton de Hatley, QC, placed second – just .90 pp behind the winner – riding Qorry Blue D’Argouges, and also nailed down the inaugural Stuart R. Horne Canadian Eventing Championships as top Canadian in the CIC3*. “I’m thrilled, I’m so happy with my horse. I couldn’t have asked for better from him,” she said. And what’s next on the calendar for her? “I hope to be selected for the Olympics – it’s been a lifelong dream of mine. We’re pretty close, so we’ll see!”
Reserve Canadian Champion was Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High, who placed seventh. The $2,500 Horne Training Grant, awarded to the high-point Canadian at Bromont on the 2015 FEI World Eventing Rankings list, went to Waylon Roberts. Rounding out the top three was Hannah Sue Burnett (USA) and Cooley Dream.
CCI3* – Ryan Wood Does it Again
The Australian national anthem “Advance Australia Fair” was a recurring melody on Sunday, with three Aussies leading the victory gallops (four if you count Boyd Martin, who was born in Australia with dual citizenship and now rides for the US). Aussie Ryan Wood and his mount Woodstock Bennett slipped ahead of Kylie Lyman (USA) who had been sitting in first place with Lup The Loop, but had an unfortunate rail in the show jumping. Wood also clinched the Todd Sandler Challenge title for his efforts, while Lyman was third with her second horse, Sacramento.
“It’s pretty awesome to win both of them; I’m speechless,” Wood said. “I’m grateful to have the opportunity to compete these horses and bring them through the levels. I have amazing owners and supporters, mentor and coach Phillip Dutton, great friends Dom Schramm, Boyd Martin – a couple of Aussies that are over here right now, and Boyd’s wife Silva for helping me improve my dressage.”
Lyman commented on the single rail that Lup The Loop lowered during the stadium. “He was a little tired today, but he’s only eight and hasn’t been at it very long – but neither have I,” she said with a laugh. Placing second and third in her first CCI3* was really an amazing feat. “I don’t think I could have dreamed of a better first three-star. They [both horses] were both pretty incredible.” She looks forward to coming back to Bromont again. “No question. We’re lucky to have this event so close.”
Top Canadian in the CCI3* division was Rachel McDonough of Etobicoke, ON, riding Irish Rhythm, her 17-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. They had a couple of close calls during the day, first being held for re-inspection during the morning jog, then having a few ‘interesting’ fences during their show jumping round. This long-time partnership pulled it off, however, going clear over a course that saw few fault-free rounds. “We got in a little tight spot in the triple and he just has springs in his feet.”
She relived her cross-country trip from the previous day. “I had a lot of fun – he’s such a great cross-country horse, he just loves it and he eats it up.”
CCI2* – Boyd Martin Dominates
Boyd Martin (USA) packed a one-two punch in the CCI2*, winning the division with Bonito and placing second with Tsetserleg. Peter Barry and Long Island T had to settle for third spot when a single rail dashed his chances of winning, much to the disappointment of the throngs of supporters of this Dunham, QC, rider.
“I think this is a really, really good horse,” said Martin of the 9-year-old Hanoverian gelding Bonito. “I was very lucky that Steven Blauner and Nancy Hathaway were able to purchase him last year out of Germany. He’s very green, but he’s got all the criteria and the tools and I just need to train him. I felt like I was water-skiing out there a bit today, but he was good and he left all the rails up.” Martin also picked up the Eaman Perpetual Trophy for winning this division.
CCI1* – Changes at the Top
Fortunes can change in a heartbeat in the show jumping phase of a three-day event. Witness Erin Sylvester (USA) and Mister Optimistic, leading after cross-country, who lowered three rails for 12 jumping faults, dropping the pair to 10th place overall. This allowed Dominic Schramm (AUS) and Bolytair B to move up into number-one position with a flawless trip around the course. Hometown favourite Colleen Loach and the 6-year-old Thoroughbred-cross mare Liberty placed third with a double-clear round.
Schramm was “stoked” about his successful weekend. “Bromont is by far my most favourite event I’ve ever been to,” he said. “It’s an excellent course, a fantastic atmosphere, a sort of relaxed vibe, but at the same time it’s a proper international show. Any time I have a horse ready, I will be here.” Schramm also took home the Law Family Trophy for winning the division.
Brandon McMechan of Toronto, ON, won the $1,000 Ledger Family Award, presented to the top amateur rider in the CCI1* division, for his 4th-place finish aboard Oscar`s Wild, a 7-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. He purchased the horse from the eventing barn of Gwen and Kendal Lehari. “They’ve helped me put the training on him from pre-training up to one-star,” he said, adding that he spends two hours each day making the trek to the Kendal’s farm in Uxbridge, ON, to train, in addition to running a chiropractic business – both human and equine. Although it makes for a busy life, McMechan says it suits him just fine. “The best part about being an adult amateur is that there is no pressure [to upgrade], so I can keep doing one-stars and only move him up when he’s ready and I’m ready.”
One other special recognition in this division, the Hamelin-Martineau Award, presented to the best young rider or junior in the CCI1* division, went to Annick Niemuller of Goodwood, ON, who rode FE Black Jack to 6th place.
Quebec’s Peter Barry retired his advanced-level event horse Kilrodan Abbott (Eddie), a veteran of many major international events including the 2012 London Olympics and 2014 World Equestrian Games as part of the Canadian Eventing Team, in a special ceremony on Sunday afternoon. (Cealy Tetley photo)
The Jaguar Land Rover Bromont CCI3* Organizing Committee wishes to thank all of its generous sponsors, hard-working volunteers, officials, competitors, and eventing fans who make this annual three-day event so successful. For more information, go to BromontCCI.com.
Final Results
Place/Rider/Horse/Country/Score
CCI3*
1. Ryan Wood, Woodstock Bennett (AUS) 53.70
2. Kylie Lyman, Lup the Loop (USA) 54.20
3. Kylie Lyman, Sacramento (USA) 55.60
4. Rachel McDonough, Irish Rhythm (CAN) 59.30
5. Erin Sylvester, Mettraise (USA) 64.60
CIC3*
1. Ryan Wood, Frankie (AUS) 52.00
2. Colleen Loach, Qorry Blue D’Argouges (CAN) 52.90
3. Hannah Sue Burnett, Cooley Dream (USA) 53.10
4. Boyd Martin, Steady Eddie (USA) 61.40
5. Caroline Martin, Effervescent (USA) 63.80
CCI2*
1. Boyd Martin, Bonito (USA) 52.90
2. Boyd Martin, Tsetserleg (USA) 53.50
3. Peter Barry, Long Island T (CAN) 54.50
4. Jennie Brannigan, I Bella (USA) 58.70
5. Jan Byyny, Urrem (USA) 61.20
CCI1*
1. Dominic Schramm, Bolytair B (AUS) 42.90
2. Sara Kozumplik Murphy, L’Alezane (USA) 43.40
3. Colleen Loach, Liberty (CAN) 49.40
4. Brandon McMechan, Oscar ‘s Wild (CAN) 51.10
5. Kaelen Speck, Sweet Rebellion (USA) 51.20
Complete results available at EventEntries.com
