The 2013 Volvo CCI3* Bromont Three Day Event, The Todd Sandler Challenge, gets underway at the Bromont Olympic Horse Park in Bromont, Quebec, on June 6, concluding on June 9. Over the past 27 years, Bromont has attained elite status as one of North America’s most important three day events. It is the only competition of its kind in Canada, sanctioned at the three-star level by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).
In 2013, the Bromont Three Day Event has once again attracted many of North America’s top international eventing riders, including Olympic, World Championship and Pan American Games medalists. Among the entries for the home country is Canada’s top placed team member from the 2012 London Olympic Three Day Event, Jessica Phoenix of Uxbridge, ON.
“Bromont is a really important event for us Canadians. It is the closest event for us at that level and calibre of competition,” said Phoenix. “Bromont is a destination for our upper level horses, and doing this level in Canada is so exciting. We are very lucky to have this competition in Canada.”
Phoenix will compete with three horses at Bromont including Pavarotti, the horse on which she won individual gold and team silver medals at the 2011 Pan American Games in Mexico. The 11-year-old Westphalian gelding owned by Don Good will compete in the CIC3*, a division first offered at Bromont in 2012 at the request of U.S. and Canadian Olympic team selectors and an instant hit with competitors.
“I think Pavarotti is in really fine form, and I’m excited to be at Bromont with him,” said Phoenix. “I think the course will be very suitable for him. I am also pleased that his owner, Don Good, will be able to attend Bromont and watch his horse compete.”
Another Canadian team veteran competing at Bromont is Selena O’Hanlon of Kingston, ON. O’Hanlon was a member of Canada’s silver medal team at the 2010 World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Lexington, KY. O’Hanlon has three horses entered in the CCI3* division, including the horse with which she was Phoenix’s teammate at the 2011 Pan American Games, where Canada won team silver. Calgary native Kyle Carter, who was also a member of Canada’s 2010 silver medalist WEG team, will compete in the CCI3* with his 2010 WEG and 2008 Olympic Games partner, Madison Park.
Two winners from the 2012 Bromont Three Day Event will be returning in 2013, including the defending champion of the CCI3*, The Todd Sandler Challenge, Jonathan Holling of Ocala, FL. Holling won Bromont’s top division in 2012 riding a three-star rookie, Downtown Harrison. He will attempt to defend his title in the CCI3* riding another first-time three-star horse, Zapotek B, owned by Team Rebecca.
“This is my horse’s first season at this level, and Bromont will be his first three-star event,” said Holling, who isn’t taking the prospect of a second consecutive victory for granted. “Every horse is different, but I’m certainly not coming to Bromont to lose.”
Holling has had a number of successes at Bromont over the years, including winning his first ever CCI in 1998. “I love Bromont,” he said. “It’s my favourite place!”
Also returning to the Volvo CCI3* Bromont Three Day Event after victory in 2012 is Bruce (Buck) Davidson, Jr. of Unionville, PA. Davidson won the CCI1* division in 2012 riding Copper Beach. A member of the gold medalist United States 2011 Pan American Games team, Davidson has two horses entered in the CCI2* and one in the CCI1* division.
“Bromont is a beautiful and fun place to go at the beginning of summer,” said Davidson. “Every year the event gets better and better. The courses are fantastic and definitely up to the level. The horses seem to enjoy Bromont and the owners enjoy it too.”
Derek Di Grazia of the United States, Bromont’s resident course designer since 2009, will once again design the tracks for all four of Bromont’s CCI divisions this year. Di Grazia, an FEI 4* course designer, is widely considered to be one of the best in the world. He will be assisted by Canadian course builder Jay Hambly.
Volvo has returned for the second consecutive year as title sponsor of the Volvo CCI3* Bromont Three Day Event. Bromont has also been included for a third year in the PRO Tour Series. The Professional Riders Organization (PRO) is a non-profit group of accomplished event riders dedicated to promoting the sport and advocating safety for horses and riders.
The 2013 Bromont Three Day Event will play host to an FEI Course for FEI level Eventing judges, course designers, technical delegates and stewards. Participants from six countries will attend the Course, whose clinicians include the FEI’s Eventing Committee Chair, Giuseppe Della Chiesa of Italy.
The Olympic equestrian discipline of Three Day Eventing is often referred to as the triathlon of equestrian sport, with the phases of dressage, cross-country, and show jumping taking place over three consecutive days.
The highlight of the competition at Bromont is always the thrilling cross-country phase, which will take place on Saturday, June 8. In addition to watching some of the world’s most successful riders and most talented horses, spectators will have the chance to take in the uniquely beautiful setting of Bromont. Located just an hour’s drive east of Montreal in the heart of Quebec’s Eastern Townships, the beauty, culture and regional cuisine of Bromont draw visitors from around the world.
The Volvo CCI3* Bromont Three Day Event, The Todd Sandler Challenge, is made possible in part through a contribution from the Government of Canada. The organizing committee also wishes to thank the Gouvernement du Québec, Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport, for their support of this year’s event.
For more information about the Bromont Three Day Event please visit the bilingual website, www.bromontcci.com. Live scoring will be available throughout the duration of the event.
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