Equestrian Canada – Ottawa, ON, June 12, 2018 – Canadian Olympian Jessica Phoenix of Cannington, ON emerged victorious in the CIC 2* division at the renowned MARS Incorporated Bromont Three Day Event, held June 8-10, 2018, in Bromont, QC.

Phoenix and Bentley’s Best (Hirtentanz 2 x Eichendorff), an 11-year-old Trakehner gelding owned by The Bentley’s Best Group, began the competition locked in a tie for third with 30.00 penalty points after the dressage phase on June 8. The pair broke into second after completing a double-clear run of Derek di Grazia’s (USA) challenging cross-country course the following day. Phoenix remained calm and collected on June 10 to earn another double-clear in the show jumping phase, securing the win on her dressage score of 30.00 penalties.

“It feels great for Bentley’s Best to have had such a wonderful weekend,” said Phoenix. “He felt so solid in all three phases, and it’s so much fun to be able to win in front of the hometown crowd and have my whole family cheer us on. It really means a lot.”

In the long format CCI 2* division, Dana Cooke, who resides in Mooresville, NC, represented Canada on the leaderboard with Kingfisher Park’s eight-year-old Dutch Sport Horse mare, FE Mississippi (Cassini II x Legaat). She started the competition in eighth place, but double-clear cross-country and show jumping rounds boosted Cooke to a third-place finish on her dressage score of 33.60.

“It was probably my best performance in general, as well as on FE Mississippi,” said Cooke. “It was her second 2* and she’s only eight. She stepped up in every phase, so I’m pretty happy with her. There’s a reason we call her Miss Perfect, even though her name is FE Mississippi!”

FE Mississippi was also selected by the ground jury as the CCI 2* Best Presented Horse, groomed by Tesla Parker (USA).

Holly Jacks-Smither of Hillsburgh, ON was the top Canadian out of 40 strong entries in the CCI 1* division. She piloted her eight-year-old British Sport Horse gelding, Candy King (Grafenstolz x Moothyeb), through double-clear cross-country and jumping rounds to finish on her dressage score of 27.20 penalties for second place.

“Bromont is always a really good test,” said Jacks-Smither. “Candy King had colic surgery when I first got him, so it’s been a long road. He was so settled (in the show jumping phase), I was very proud of him.”

Canadian Olympian Colleen Loach of Dunham, QC also had an impressive record at Bromont, riding a total of four horses to a top-10 finish in the CCI 1* division. She earned fourth place on Peter Barry’s seven-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Foreign Quality (Warrant x Calvados) on an even score of 30.00; sixth with Barry’s six-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Vermont (Van Helsing x Heraldik XX) with a score of 31.20; seventh on her own six-year-old Hanoverian gelding, FE Golden Eye (Goldfever x Contendro I) with a score of 32.30; and eighth on Britt Roden’s nine-year-old Thoroughbred-cross gelding, Rune Stone (sired by Amorex) on a score of 32.40.

The Canadian commitment to excellence was also recognized in the efforts of Loach’s groom, Janie Lussier. She was presented with the Best Groom Award in light of her exceptional efforts readying Loach’s four mounts for competition, each of whom were impeccably presented and boasted maple leaf quarter marks.

“I am very touched by this,” said Lussier of her award. “It was definitely a team effort. I want to thank everyone who helped over the last few days: Brooke Massie; Britt Roden and Nick Moyer; Colleen’s mom and my groom number two, Maureen Lemay; Osama Alansari; and Marie-Gabrielle Bronsard.”

For full results from the MARS Incorporated Bromont Three Day Event, click here.

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PHOTO – Jessica Phoenix of Cannington, ON and Bentley’s Best topped the CIC 2* division of the MARS Incorporated Bromont Three Day Event, held June 8-10, 2018, in Bromont, QC.

PHOTO CREDIT – Cealy Tetley

MARS Incorporated Bromont Three Day Event – Top 20 Canadian Results

CCI 3*
Placing / Athlete / Horse / Owner / Final Score
11th / Holly Jacks-Smither / More Inspiration / Bruce Smither and Holly Jacks-Smither / 76.50

CIC 2*
Placing / Athlete / Horse / Owner / Final Score
1st / Jessica Phoenix / Bentley’s Best / The Bentley’s Best Group / 30.00
11th / Dasha Ivandaeva / Autorytet / Daria Ivandaeva / 47.60
12th / Samantha Elsenaar / Banbury Sky / Samantha Elsenaar / 48.40
16th / Jessica Phoenix / Humble GS / Charlotte Schickedanz / 73.40

CCI 2*
Placing / Athlete / Horse / Owner / Final Score
3rd / Dana Cooke / FE Mississippi / Kingfisher Park / 33.60
4th / Shelby Brost / Crimson / Shelby Brost / 33.70
11th / Brandon McMechan / Oscar’s Wild / Brandon McMechan / 45.20

CCI 1*
Placing / Athlete / Horse / Owner / Final Score
2nd / Holly Jacks-Smither / Candy King / Holly Jacks-Smither / 27.20
4th / Colleen Loach / Foreign Quality / Peter Barry / 30.00
6th / Colleen Loach / Vermont / Peter Barry / 31.20
7th / Colleen Loach / FE Golden Eye / Colleen Loach / 32.30
8th / Colleen Loach / Rune Stone / Britt Roden / 32.40
9th / Katlyn Hewson-Slezak / Fernhill Choco Royale / Katlyn Hewson-Slezak / 35.50
14th / Shelby Brost / Bo Brown / Shelby Brost / 38.60
16th / Jessica Phoenix / Wabbit / Jessica Phoenix / 40.90
18th / Jessica Ruppel / Hippique Abu / Jessica Ruppel / 41.30
20th / Holly Jacks-Smither / Finely Brewed / Holly Jacks-Smither / 43.10