CIC* Stonehill Horse Trials Sees Huge Entries

July 5, 2004 – Mono, Ontario – A huge field of 278 competitors contested the Stonehill Horse Trials held June 26-27, in Mono, ON, which offered the first CIC* division ever held in Ontario.

With 45 entries in the CIC* division, the organizers were forced to split the competition into two divisions. In the CIC* A Division, sponsored by Greenbrier Farm, Gary Roque of Caledon East, ON, topped the 22-horse starting field. Riding Sharon Patchett-Lomere’s 10-year-old grey Canadian Sport Horse stallion, Hakuna Matata, Roque opened with a dressage score of 46.13 penalty points to take the early lead. Fault-free cross-country and show jumping phases allowed Roque to finish the three phases of competition on his dressage score.

“He was really good right from the beginning, the dressage felt really good and when I left the ring, I felt like we really had a chance,” noted Roque of the homebred Hakuna Matata who is by his own stallion, Raj Kapoor. “The cross-country was amazing, he left the start box like he really wanted to play that day. People were having trouble making the time, but he kept running and had no problems. The course was really great, and the rolling hills made for some fun jumps! Back in the show ring, he was really good. The show jumping offered a challenging course, it had some roll-back turns and the time was tight to make.”

Wendy Southam of Stouffville, ON, also finished on her dressage score of 50.63 penalty points to take second place with the flashy grey Hannoverian mare, Ruba Z, as did Jane Patterson and Sir Casper, who placed third with a final score of 53.63. Quebec’s Isabelle Landry placed fourth riding Vaillante while Anne Zander and Dr. Broom rounded out the top five.

Twenty-three horses contested the B Division of the CIC*, sponsored by Rider Farm in the Valley, and once again, the winner finished on her dressage score. Michelle Foster of Hammond, ON, rode Benneton, her 10-year-old thoroughbred gelding, to the early lead with an opening score of 40.50 penalty points, and finished the three phases almost a full 12 points ahead of her nearest competition.

Runner-up Meghan Bailie also finished on her dressage score of 52.13 penalty points riding Jagger while Roque enjoyed a third place finish in the B Division with another mount, Last Call. Veteran competitor Momo Laframboise finished fourth with Revere Road while relative newcomer Karl Slezak did rather well to place fifth aboard none other than Rather Well.

“The Stonehill Horse Trials offered the first CIC* division ever held in Ontario,” noted Peter Gray who organizes the event with Paul Delbrook. “We tried to raise the standard of our preliminary division by running as an FEI-sanctioned CIC. It helps to prepare our riders for when they go down to the U.S. and compete in big events, and it is also provides a positive experience for the horses. With the changes that the sport has been undergoing, CIC’s are becoming important qualifiers for the future, and offering this division will help our riders to advance to other international events.”

Jordan MacDonald and Top Drawer, owned by ‘Masters’ sponsor Frank Tucker, topped the Open Preliminary division, sponsored by Manning Equine. After opening the dressage phase with a score of 52.50 penalty points and adding nothing to his score after cross-country, MacDonald knocked down one rail in the show jumping phase and also incurred one time penalty to finish the three phases with a final score of 57.50 penalty points. Megan White, 24, and Simon Says were the runner-ups with a score of 61 penalty points after having one rail in show jumping while Sarah Graydon and Mainau placed third with 63.50 penalty points.

For the first time, the Stonehill Horse Trials offered ‘Masters’ divisions that were open only to amateur riders over the age of 40. Frank Tucker and Monique van de Merwe sponsored both the Preliminary and Training ‘Masters’ levels. In the Preliminary ‘Masters’ Division, Nicole Robertson and Unexpected Time took top honours with a final score of 49.50 penalty points. Solar, ridden by Cathy Lesperance, finished second while Margorie Patterson and Rocket were third.

Olympic Eventing Team Manager Greg Paull of Toronto, ON, had the Midas touch to win the Training ‘Masters’ division riding his six-year-old thoroughbred, Midas, in his first Training level event with a final score of 42.14 penalty points. Gwen Lehari and Understudy were indeed the understudies, placing second, while Jim Phillips and Ginboy were third.

The Open Training division, sponsored by the Abernant Veterinary Clinic, saw Sarah Irving and So Unique take the red ribbon. Ken and Rita Dann sponsored all the Pre-Training divisions offered. In the Young Rider ‘A’ division, Katlyn Hewson and Without a Trace came out on top, while Samantha Clark and Lady Marmalade won the Young Rider ‘B’ division. Susan Miles made her journey from Louisville, KY, worthwhile by riding Bennington to victory in the Pre-Training ‘Masters’ division.

“We’ve always been known for attracting a large number of entries,” noted Gray who previously ran the event at his Stonehill Farm in Hillsburgh, ON, before selling the property and moving the competition to Jack and Kathleen Weir’s Highland Farm in 2003. “We offer $7,000 in prize money, try to have fun courses, organize parties for our competitors and sponsors and donate proceeds to the Headswater Hospital. I think all of these factors help explain why people enjoy showing at our event.”

Gray also did ‘double duty’ as course designer, while Hugh Moreshead acted as the course builder. Members of the ground jury included Lise Johnston, Doreen Murphy, Nancy Tapley, Kelly Towers and Jo Young while Sue Ockendon acted as the Technical Delegate.

The Presenting Sponsor of the Stonehill Horse Trials was Al and Nicole Shinton of Greenbrier Farm. Additional jump sponsors included Jorge and Mandy Bernhard, Country Living Realty, Ken and Rita Dann, the Davies Charitable Foundation, Graeme Thom, and Dr. Audrey Wipper.

Held for the benefit of Headwaters Hospital in Orangeville, ON, the 2004 edition of the Stonehill Horse Trials raised $4,000 in proceeds.