Whistler Real Estate Co Ltd, #137- 4370 Lorimer Road, Whistler, BC V0N 1B4

Canadians compete at CCI*** Fair Hill International Three Day Event
Fair Hill, MD
Photo: Anthony Trollope/EWBNews.com

Four Canadians successfully completed the CCI*** Fair Hill Three Day Event held in Fair Hill, MD, from October 14-16. A total of six Canadians took part in the event.

The Canadian contingency was comprised of Leslie Grant, Dr. Penny Rowland, Athens Olympians Garry Roque and Ian Roberts, three-time Olympian Peter Gray, Young Rider Ashley Minion, and newcomer Mark Nelson – all of Ontario. They were coached by American Olympic gold medalist, David O'Connor.

In a field of 78 competitors representing four nations, Dr. Penny Rowland of Orangeville, ON aboard Don Good's Windswept, finished in 20th position with 82.20 points. Windswept is a 10 year-old, 16.1hh gray Connemara/Thoroughbred gelding.

He is the most personable horse I have worked with. He is half pony, very clever and lovable. I do this for fun and my horse wouldn't do anything for me if it wasn't fun", commented the full time veterinarian.

Sitting in 17th place after dressage with a penalty score of 53.00, Penny and Windswept successfully faced the challenge of Derek DiGrazia's Cross-country course of 28 obstacles over the rolling terrain of Maryland, adding only 13.2 time penalties to their score and maintaining their 17th place position. Four costly rails in show jumping dropped to pair to complete the competition in 20th place.

"The show went very smoothly. There were no injuries and everything was very safe. Cross-country was very technical but not huge, much more technical than it has been in the past. Show jumping is becoming bigger and more technical than before and riders are required to think more. I think that that this is the general direction things are heading with the short format (no steeplechase)," stated Rowland.

Garry Roque and Olympic partner, Waikura, his own and Gustav Quast's 14 year-old New Zealand bred Thoroughbred gelding and Ian Roberts with Napalm, a 9 year-old Irish bred gelding co-owned by Roberts, Tracey Newman and Kelly Plitz, finished in 33rd and 35th place respectively. Peter Gray, former National Coach of the Canadian Eventing Team, finished in the event in 45th place with Balladeer Ted, Equine Canada's 12 year-old chestnut Irish Sport Horse. Ashley Minion with her own Taylor Made withdrew before the show jumping phase while Leslie Grant with her own and her father's Timber Spirit, and Mark Nelson with Ruth Allum's Power of 2 did not complete the Cross-country phase of the competition.

The winner of the CCI*** was Nathalie Pollard (USA) aboard West Farthing with 44.40 penalty points. Not far behind in second place, with a score of 47.90 was American Will Faudree. In third and fifth position was Australia's two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Phillip Dutton, riding Hannigan and Connaught. Canadians compete at CCI*** Fair Hill International Three Day Event.