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Rain Doesn’t Dampen Spirits at Bromont CCI Three Day Event, The Todd Sandler Challenge

June 14, 2006

Ottawa, ON --- Despite a weekend of torrential downpours, the 19th annual Bromont CCI Three Day Event, in Bromont, QC drew in a field of talented riders for its Todd Sandler Challenge, held June 8-11.

The CCI Bromont Three Day Event is proud to host The Todd Sandler Challenge in memory of an aspiring young event rider, Todd Sandler, 18, of Dollard des Ormeaux, Québec who died tragically on April 26, 1999. Todd was one of Canada’s best eventing prospects for the future. The entire equestrian community and his friends at Bromont sadly miss him.

Competitors from Canada, the US and Great Britain came to contest both CCI and CIC divisions at the Bromont Equestrian Centre, the equestrian site of the 1976 Olympics, including a large number of juniors and young riders competing for provincial team spots for the North American Young Rider Championships being held Virginia USA this August.

American veteran Buck Davidson came out on top of the CCI 2 star division with a final score of 55.80, but Canadian Gwen Lehari, of Uxbridge, ON gave him a run for his money aboard her 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Daniel. With a dressage score of 52.60 and a clear show-jumping round, it was just their 20 cross-country penalties holding the pair back from the lead, and putting them in fourth place with a final score of 72.60.

“My horse was a star as usual, and we had our best dressage ever. The cross-country was wet and sloppy, and due to the footing, they took out some of the jumps and adjusted the time. I made a pilot error, but I couldn’t be happier with Daniel,” commented Lehari, who was the winner of the CIC2* at Bromont last year, also aboard Daniel. and who celebrated her birthday during the event “He was very fit after the cross-country, and was dragging me around, which is always great to see.”

Brandon McMechan of Shannonville, ON finished with a score of 78 and placed seventh aboard Equine Canada’s Montenegro. Close behind in eighth place was Selena O’Hanlon of Elgin, ON, who scored 84.80 aboard Peanuts, Garry Roque of Caledon East, ON earned ninth with a score of 89.20 riding Leatherhead and Ashton, ON native Mark Nelson and Power of 2 rounded out the top ten with a score of 90.60.

In the CCI*/CCIYJ* division, Erica Koczi of Ayers Cliff, QC put in a stellar performance aboard Colleen Loach’s 18-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Dare to Compare. After scoring 60 in dressage, the pair went on to incur no other penalties in cross-country or stadium jumping, earning them third place. The division was won by American Will Coleman with K du Manoir.

“I was quite amazed with our results. It was our first CCI*, so I wasn’t expecting it and still can’t believe it,” exclaimed Koczi. “Competing at Bromont has been my goal since I started eventing, so despite the lousy weather I was very excited and had a lot of fun.”

Success runs in the Lehari family, as Kendal proved with a sixth place finish, after receiving a final score of 74.71 on Understudy. Meghan Bailie of Enniskillen, ON was close behind, finishing in eighth with a score of 83.11 aboard Mata-Riki, while Stephanie Boudreau of St-Constant, QC, partnered with Finn Mac Cumhail scored 83.32, to place ninth. Denise Lukacs of Shelburne, ON came in tenth with a score of 85.11 on Apollo.

The CIC2* division saw Jessica Ruppel of Ravenna, ON take home the win, partnered with her 9-year-old Morab/Appaloosa gelding, Naughty By Nature. The pair scored 54.30 in dressage before continuing to the cross-country phase where they finished with the lowest amount of faults, at 12.60. Their show jumping round, in which just one rail fell from the cups to incur four jumping faults sealed the winning deal, bringing their final score to 70.70.

“I was so pleased with my horse, especially in the cross-country. The mud was brutal, but he was so good,” commented Ruppel.

Vanessa Fenwick of Pefferlaw, ON was hot on Ruppel’s heels, securing second place with a final score of 100.10 aboard her 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Balista. Next in line in third place was Isabel Landry and Vaillante, who had a final score of 103.60. Young Rider and Puslinch, ON native Samantha Forsyth rounded out the top five with a score of 125.20 riding News Flash.

Canadians captured the top four spots in the CIC* division. Michelle Mueller of Port Perry, ON took the top spot, riding the 7-year-old gelding Amistad, owned by Julie-Anna Pring. The pair had an early lead after scoring 46.43 in the dressage phase. After winning the cross-country phase as well, receiving just 16.80 faults, the pair finished the division with 12 jumping faults, bringing their final score to 75.23.

Ian Roberts of Port Perry, ON came second with Myrddin’s Sabastion, after finishing with a score of 90.10. Next, in third place with a score of 102.49 was Robyn Miller of Milverton, ON aboard T’Jean. Oshawa, ON native Jenna Kuzenko placed fourth with Renegade.

“It was a great event as usual, with a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere. We need to get more people out for this event,” commented Lehari. “It’s a fabulous event and people don’t know what they are missing. The more competitors that support us, the longer the event will be with us.”

Ruppel also had praise for the event. “Although the conditions were horrendous , the course designers, officials and jump judges just kept on trucking. Everyone really came together and pulled it off, despite the odds,” she stated.

About Canadian Eventing

Canadian Eventing is a committee of Equine Canada responsible for the sport of Eventing in Canada from the grassroots to the international level. The Canadian Eventing Committee is comprised of 12 members, including two rider representatives elected by the Elite Riders Association. Directed by the Strategic Plan for Eventing, all Eventing activities are administered by this committee via six sub-committees with the support of an Eventing Manager based at the Equine Canada office in Ottawa. For more information about Canadian Eventing, visit www.canadianeventing.com. 

CCI2* Results

Rider / Horse / Score / Placing
Buck Davidson (USA) / Private Heart / 55.80 / 1
Gwen Lehari / Daniel / 64.00 / 4
Brandon McMechan / Montenegro / 78.99 / 7
Selena O’Hanlon / Peanuts / 84.80 / 8
Garry Roque / Leatherhead / 89.20 / 9
Mark Nelson / Power of 2 / 90.60 / 10
 
CCI*/CCIYJ* Results
Rider / Horse / Score / Placing
Will Coleman (USA) / K Du Manoir / 48.01 / 1
Erika Kocze / Dare to Compare / 60.00 / 3
Kendal Lehari / Understudy / 74.71 / 6
Meghan Bailie / Mata-Riki / 83.11 / 8
Stephanie Boudreau / Fin Mac Cumhail / 83.32 / 9
Denise Lukacs / Apollo / 85.11 / 10

CIC2* Results
Rider / Horse / Score / Placing
Jessica Ruppel / Naughty By Nature / 70.70 / 1
Vanessa Fenwick / Balista / 100.10 / 2
Isabelle Landry / Vaillante / 103.60 / 3
Samantha Forsyth / News Flash / 125.20 / 5
Diana Burnett / Sagacious King / 137.20 / 6
Diana Burnett / Manny / 178.90 / 7

CIC* Results
Rider / Horse / Score / Placing
Michelle Mueller / Amistad / 75.23 / 1
Ian Roberts / Myrddin’s Sabastion / 90.10 / 2
Robyn Miler / T’Jean / 102.49 / 3
Jenna Kuzenko / Renegade / 126.79 / 4
Ian Roberts / Kovac / 139.60 / 6

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