June 15, 2006 – Bromont, Quebec – In one of those situations where if you didn't laugh you'd cry, the Bromont International Three Day Event took place under rainy skies from June 8-11.

Although sunny skies were reported in the surrounding area, the clouds hung over the site of the equestrian events at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.  Although Mother Nature was determined, competition organizers were just as determined to put on a good show, and the competitors were determined to do the same.

 Buck Davidson came north of the border to give the Canadians a run for their money and galloped home to Pennsylvania with the victory in the CCI** Division with Private Heart.  With clear cross-country and show jumping rounds, Buck ended his bid with a final score of 55.80 penalty points to take his first two-star victory at Bromont.

 While another American, Kristen Bond, finished as the runner-up riding Three Wishes and American-based British transplant, Robin Walker, took third with Loughnatousa Spot, the top Canadian was found in fourth position.  Gwen Lehari celebrated her 50th birthday by finishing second in dressage with a score of 52.60, then added 20 penalty points over cross-country before going clear in show jumping.  The winner of last year's CIC** section couldn't have been happier with the performance of her 12-year-old Canadian thoroughbred gelding, Daniel.

 "As usual, my horse was a star and we had our best dressage ever," said Gwen.  "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.  He was very fit after the cross-country, and was dragging me around, which is always great to see.”

 Four more Canadians finished in the top ten including Brandon McMechan who enjoyed a clear cross-country performance to place seventh with Montenegro, a horse owned by Equine Canada.  Selena O’Hanlon and Peanuts were eighth, while Canadian Olympian Garry Roque was ninth riding Leatherhead.  Mark Nelson and Power of 2 rounded out the top ten.

 The Americans again battled it out for victory in the CCI* Division with Will Coleman emerging the victor while Buck settled for second.  Canada's Erika Koczi placed third overall, and was also the top placed junior/young rider competitor after finishing on her dressage score of 60.  Erika, a local Quebec competitor, was riding Dare to Compare, a Canadian thoroughbred owned by Colleen Loach.  At the 2003 North American Young Rider's Championship, which was also held at Bromont, Colleen was a member of the Bronze Medal Team with Dare to Compare, and also finished eighth individually.  It is always great to see an experienced horse sharing its knowledge with a young up-and-comer, especially considering that this horse has three years on Erika - he is 18 while she is only 15!

 "I was quite amazed with our results," said Erika, who is clearly benefiting from the partnership.  "It was our first CCI*, so I wasn’t expecting it and still can’t believe it.  Competing at Bromont has been my goal since I started eventing and despite the lousy weather, I was very excited and had a lot of fun."

 Following in Mom's footsteps, Kendal Lehari was the second-highest placed junior/young rider competitor in the CCI* division riding Understudy.

 With one of the cutest horses on the Canadian eventing scene, Jessica Ruppel and Naughty By Nature took home the win in the CIC** Division.  Standing only 15hh, Naughty By Nature is grey and white Morgan/Arab/Appaloosa-cross gelding.  Jessica has been his only rider since breaking him as a three-year-old, and after finishing sixth individually at the 2003 North American Young Rider's Championship, the pair has continued to enjoy strong results at the Intermediate level.  Of course, the weather played a role in their results at Bromont with Jessica, 23, noting, "The mud was brutal, but I was so pleased with my horse, especially in the cross-country."

 The runner-up was Vanessa Fenwick riding Balista, the horse that Mike Winter rode at the 2004 Athens Olympics.  Vanessa purchased the 15-year-old American thoroughbred gelding this winter and has already completed some advanced level competitions with him.  Finishing third was local favourite Isabel Landry and Vaillante.

 Canadians dominated the CIC* Division with Michelle Mueller leading from start to finish with the seven-year-old gelding Amistad.  Canadian Olympian Ian Roberts was second with Myrddin’s Sabastion while Robyn Miller was third aboard T’Jean.

 Despite the challenging weather conditions, which kept cross-country course builder Jay Hambly busy making sure all the jumps were safe for take-off and landing, competition organizer Sue Ockendon and her team once again earned high praise for the 19th running of the event.

 "It was a great event as usual, with a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere," said Gwen Lehari.  "It’s a fabulous event and people who have never been don’t know what they are missing.  The more competitors that support it, the longer the event will be with us."

Plans are already underway to make 2007 even bigger and better.  Here's hoping Mother Nature will just be a little kinder next time around.

 

PHELPSSPORTS.COM DEBUTS THIS AUGUST!!!!

 

Look for the debut of this exciting new website in late August. PhelpsSports.com is a new and highly innovative equestrian sports website offering equestrians and fans of equestrian sports from around the world a single web address for the latest breaking news of the Hunter, Jumper, Dressage, Eventing and other High Performance disciplines. The website will include up to the minute audio reports, live video interviews and features from around the globe, photography, and the creative writing and reporting of some of the finest equestrian journalists in the world.