Canadian Olympian, Colleen Loach of Dunham, QC, was the top-placed Canadian on the leaderboard at the PEDIGREE® Bromont CCI 3* Three Day Event, held June 8-11, 2017 in Bromont, QC.
Riding her Rio 2016 Olympic Games partner, Qorry Blue d’Argouges, a 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding sired by Mr. Blue and owned by Peter Barry, Loach took second place in the competitive CIC 2* division, which saw a starting field of 26 entries.
The duo kicked off with the dressage phase on June 9, earning a score of 43.40 penalties for an initial placing of fourth. The following day, they headed out on the cross-country course, which was designed by FEI 4* Eventing Course Designer, Derek di Grazia of the Unites States, with support from Canadian course builder, Jay Hambly. A clear cross-country effort moved the pair up to second place heading into the final show jumping phase on June 11. Another foot-perfect performance allowed Loach and Qorry Blue d’Argouges to finish on their dressage score of 43.40 penalties and take second place – less than one fault behind Boyd Martin of the United States, who won on a final score of 42.70 penalties aboard On Cue.
“I was very happy with our performance; we achieved a personal best dressage score and Qorry was his usual brilliant self in the jumping phases,” said Loach. “Qorry is an exceptional horse and I am lucky to be entrusted with the ride. I am very grateful for the support of Peter and Susan Barry.”
As the highest-placed Canadian in the CIC 2* division, Loach was also presented with the Stuart Horne Canadian Championship Award. The award program is sponsored by Bridget Coleman in memory of her father, Stuart Horne.
“I always love competing at home. There is so much positive energy from all my friends, family and the local horse community,” continued Loach. “Bromont is a top-class event and I’m always proud when I do well there. As usual Derek’s challenging, yet fair, course left my horse feeling confident and ready for the next competition.”
Alexis Murray, 19, from Barrie, ON earned the Reserve Championship as the second-highest placed Canadian in the CIC 2* division, having received eighth place on a score of 59.60 with My Principle, her 11-year-old Thoroughbred-cross gelding. After finishing the dressage phase in 19th place on a score of 58.00 penalties, the duo made a big leap up the leaderboard to 11th after adding no jumping and just 1.60 time faults in the cross-country phase. A faultless show jumping performance moved them up the standings once again to their final placing of eighth on 59.60 penalties.
Also finishing the CIC 2* division in the top 10 was Annick Niemuller, 19, from Goodwood, ON. Riding FE Black Jack (Blackstone x Severus), a nine-year-old German Sport Horse gelding owned by Karl Niemuller, she received a score of 48.30 penalties in dressage for an initial placing of ninth. After navigating the cross-country course with no jumping penalties, but 8.80 time penalties added, Niemuller moved into 10th place on a score of 57.10 penalties. She held on to her 10th place position on a final score of 63.10 penalties after four jumping and two time faults in the final show jumping phase.
In the CCI 2* division, Shelby Brost, 19, from St. Albert, AB was the highest-placed Canadian, taking seventh place, as well as the Stuart Horne Canadian Championship title, aboard Crimson (Etta x Cojak), her 14-year-old Thoroughbred mare. Brost and Crimson began in 10th place after a score of 50.00 penalties in dressage. They added no jumping, but 9.20 time penalties in cross-country before finishing on a high note with a clear show jumping round, putting their final score at 59.20 penalties.
“My overall experience at Bromont was surreal – I couldn’t be happier,” said Brost, who rode Crimson to an Individual Gold Medal at the 2016 FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC). “I know Crimson like the back of my hand, although she still continues to impress me with her big heart and how competitive she truly is. She was fantastic in all three phases, but on cross-country she couldn’t have been more bold, honest and rideable. She was jumping brilliantly, and always looked through the flags, which to me is huge for her first time around a track that big.”
Brost continued, “I am humbled to take home the Stuart Horne Canadian Championship Award in memory of Mr. Horne. It is impossible not to feel proud when given the opportunity to represent your country at an international event, and to be recognized for it is a dream come true.”
The Reserve Champion title in the Stuart Horne Canadian Championship Award program for the CCI 2* division went to Waylon Roberts of Port Perry, ON and Lancaster. In the CCI 1* division, Jessica Ruppel from Ravenna, ON won the Champion title with Hippique Abu, while Bradley Champagne of Guelph, ON was Reserve Champion with Wallaroo W. Jessica Phoenix of Cannington, ON was the Champion in the CCI 3* division aboard Bogue Sound.
For more information and full results from the PEDIGREE Bromont CCI 3* Three Day Event, visit
www.bromontcci.com.
PHOTO – Canadian Olympian, Colleen Loach from Dunham, QC was the highest-placed Canadian at the PEDIGREE Bromont CCI 3* Three Day Event, earning second place in the CIC 2* division aboard her Rio 2016 partner, Qorry Blue d’Argouges, owned by Peter Barry.
PHOTO – Up-and-coming eventing athlete, Shelby Brost, 19, from St. Albert, AB earned a top 10 finish in the CCI 2* division at the PEDIGREE Bromont CCI 3* Three Day Event aboard Crimson.