August 3, 2004 – Orangeville, Ontario – Laframboise of Orangeville, ON, took the early lead in the Bahr Saddlery Preliminary Division, offered for the first time at Will O’Wind Horse Trials, following dressage with a score of 47.25 penalty points, and a rail down in show jumping proved to be the only penalties she would add to her score to finish with a total of 51.25. Laframboise was riding Unexpected Time, an eight-year-old thoroughbred gelding owned by Nicole Robertson.

A member of the Silver Medal Team at the 1997 Pan American Games, Laframboise’s successful weekend also included a third place finish with My Good Man. A good man indeed, as the eight-year-old thoroughbred gelding, like Unexpected Time, added only four penalty points for one rail in show jumping to his dressage score.

Martha Griggs broke up Laframboise’s domination by placing second riding Sir Judd who was bred and raised by his owner, Wendy Judd. The seven-year-old gelding by the Canadian sire, Eastern Ruler, added four penalties to his dressage score with a rail down in show jumping as well as 6.8 time faults over cross-country to bring his total three-phase score to 69.30 penalty points.

“I was thrilled with my horse, he tried very hard and was brave at the bank and water complex,” noted Griggs of Kettleby, ON. “The testament to a good course is that a green horse will have a look but still try. It was a well-built course, quite challenging and very similar to the ones we see in the States. The Will O’Wind Horse Trials always offer good, challenging courses - ones that make the riders’ eyes grow wide but that the horses come off confidently because they ride well.”

Lindsay Pearce of Tecumseh, ON, who also won Sunday’s System Fencing Open Training division riding the thoroughbred mare, Sexy Date, placed fourth with Rollick In The Sun, a 12-year-old chestnut quarter horse gelding, after enjoying a clear cross-country ride while Ruth Armstrong of Orangeville, ON, and Girl Interrupted, her 11-year-old bay thoroughbred mare, did the same after recovering from a 24-penalty point show jumping round that kept them out of second place.

Jay Hambly of Guelph, ON, took on the dual role of course designer and builder of the inaugural preliminary course, preparing a beautiful yet challenging course for competitors.

Saturday’s Lafarge Canada Training Division was won by Jim Phillips riding Gin Boy while Anita Nemtin-Gilmour of King City, ON, topped the Open Training Division riding Folton IV after finishing on her dressage score of 38.57, more than 20 penalty points ahead of her nearest competitor. C. Palmer Benson emerged at the top of the 19-horse field in Sunday’s System Fencing Training Division riding Werther’s Original.

The Pre-Training Junior Division was sponsored by Doonaree Tack and saw Rachel McDonough ride Ice Tea to an impressive dressage score of 37.5 penalty points, the best dressage score given at this year’s competition, and add just six time penalties to her score over cross-country. The division, open to riders aged 18 and under, attracted thirty entries in total.

Ali Miletic finished on her dressage score of 55.85 penalty points to win the Nobleton Feed Mill Pre-Training Senior Division riding My Guy while Will Dell and Benoit did the same in the Pre-Training Open Division.

The three categories of the Entry Division, Presented by the Wong Family, were won by Sean Mitchell riding Miss Easy (Junior), Cassandra Jones riding Dahlia (Senior) and Barr Betteridge riding Colby (Open).

Over 170 horses enjoyed competing at the 2004 edition of the Will O’Wind Horse Trials, hosted and organized by Ann and Geoff Morgan with the help of numerous volunteers. For complete results, please visit, www.eventingnews.com.