Bromont, QC, June 14, 2022 – In the first return to full international competition since the beginning of the pandemic, horse and rider combinations representing Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and the United States joined fellow Canadian eventers in the foothills of Mount Brome in southern Quebec for a stellar MARS Bromont CCI June 9-12, 2022.
Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge had a clear round on cross country
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
Lindsay Traisnel of Maidstone, Ontario earned Canada’s best result with a second-place finish in the CCI4*-L division riding Bacyrouge (Mylord Carthago x Clyde De La Combe), an 11-year-old Selle Français gelding owned by her mother, Patricia Pearce.
Starting out with two days of heavy rainfall, the dressage test saw competitors brave the elements to complete the first phase. Happy to be back at one of their favourite eventing venues, the weather didn’t seem to damper anyone’s spirits or affect their scores.
Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge during the dressage phase
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
Ninth after dressage, Traisnel and Bacyrouge jumped double clear, incurring only 9.6 time-penalty points on cross-country and then a mere 0.8 additional from running the clock to 76 seconds in the show jumping phase to finish second behind the USA’s Jennifer Brannigan and Twilightslastgleam.
A true galloping and jumping horse who Traisnel lovingly calls ‘Dreamy’, the pair were in fine form at one of their favourite venues. “We love Bromont!” said Traisnel when asked how things went for them. “He did his first four-star here last year and he goes so great here.”
Organizers and Ground Jury led by Event Director Sue Ockendon and Olympic course designer Derek di Grazia, became concerned about how the amount of rainfall was affecting the quality of the footing out on cross country and spent much time and attention reviewing the course and adjusted four of the obstacles prior to Saturday’s test. The team made it clear to everyone that the safety and well-being of the horses, and their riders, was paramount.
Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge secured second place with a clear show jumping round
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
“It’s good for him when the cross country is really tough and a real endurance test,” continued Traisnel. “He didn’t feel the mud. People were coming back saying it was deep, it was heavy, but mine didn’t feel it. Obviously, there was a bit of mud, but it didn’t tire him out. I got to the finish thinking I should have gone faster!”
As the highlight of the event, the cross-country saw 16 of 17 starting combinations in the CCI4*-L head out early to contend with the heavy footing. 13 pairs completed the 5.75-kilometre track of 27 obstacles including a challenging fairway question at 7ABC and Oxer to Curving Brush at 5AB that stopped two from continuing on course.
Fellow Canadians Jessica Phoenix and Jamie Kellock finished in seventh and eighth respectively, both happy with their horses’ performances throughout the three phases. Phoenix’s mount, a 12-year-old Thoroughbred Wabbit (Line of Departure x Great Gladiator) that she co-owns with Jim Phillips achieved the best dressage score of his career. He also performed well on cross-country moving them from 15th place to third going into the jumping phase. “His cross country was the fastest he’s ever run in very deep footing. And he finished so strong, I was so proud of what he did.”
Jessica Phoenix and Wabbit, Jamie Kellock and Summer Bay
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
Fresh off her second-place finish in the CCI4*-S at Tryon in May, Kellock, who has previously groomed for Phoenix at Bromont, had a great experience riding her first CCI4*-L with Summer Bay, her own 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding. “I had a ton of fun cross country. The footing was super muddy, so I went a little bit slower than I wanted to but was very happy with him, and he tried really, really hard.”
Veterans of the event agreed that the weather and conditions are a part of the challenge of the discipline. “It’s what our sport is about. We forget that sometimes,” said veteran Holly Jacks-Smither of Erin, Ontario when talking about her experience this year. Jacks-Smither took sixth place riding Donna Van Beek’s Canadian Sport Horse Josephine (Holberg x Pub Night) in a field of 30 entries in the CCI2*-L.
Holly Jacks-Smither and Josephine
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
“A huge kudos to the grounds crew,” Jacks-Smither continued. “They did such a good job keeping the jumps safe. Every take off and landing was amazing. There was mud and heavy footing on the track, but you can’t do anything about that. A great day of cross country is where there are a lot of issues but no serious injuries to horses or riders. And this one was a great day for our sport.”
Also riding in the two star was multi-entry rider Phoenix with Canadian Sport Horse Alekhine (Checkmate x Tango Selune) owned by Dr. Usha Knabe. The young mare competed just days before her seventh birthday and took fifth place paired with the gifted eventer. “She’s a super exciting horse for the future,” said Phoenix. “I think when you come to Bromont and you run a two-star here in that type of footing, you really learn if the horses are all the way in – and she’s all the way in.”
Jessica Phoenix and Alekhine, Brooke Massie and Major Chase
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
Young Brooke Massie of Saint-Lazare, Quebec, was happy to be back competing close to home and placed eighth in the two-star long with Janice Clinton’s 15-year-old Thoroughbred Cross Major Chase (Irish Park Caraway Finn x Grey Major). “The competition is always run so well at Bromont and the team did a great job. I am also so grateful to Janice and Don Clinton for their continuous support.”
Kendal Lehari and Audacious
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
The biggest challenges were faced by combinations in the four-star short. Canadian Kendal Lehari of Uxbridge, Ontario placed third out of a field of 13 with her nine-year-old Oldenburg/Thoroughbred gelding Audacious (Iron Man x Rumlum Star). With two withdrawals and seven pairs out of competition on cross country, the pair were pleased with their fourth fastest time on the track. “This was his first time at the four star level and he really stepped up. The footing added another element of difficulty, but it was great practice to see how he dealt with it,” said Lehari. “Huge thank-you to the Bromont team. We are so lucky to have an event like this in Canada!”
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