Canadians Fare Well at Fair Hill

Source :  Equine Canada

Hawley Bennett & Livingstone

Hawley Bennett of Langley, BC, riding her own horse Livingstone, was the top Canadian, finishing in 14th place, at the prestigious CCI*** Fair Hill International in Elkton, MD, on Oct. 24-27, 2002.

Out of 65 starters, Bennett and her 12-year-old Canadian thoroughbred gelding Livingstone, were in 29th place after dressage with 53 penalty points. The pair jumped clear but with 34.4 time penalties on the cross country moving them up into 19th spot. Bennett and Livingstone performed the only clear ride out of 38 remaining horse/riders combinations in the jumping test on the last day placing them 14th over all with a score of 87.40.

“Fair Hill was the biggest cross-country course I have ever ridden,” remarked Bennett. “I am very pleased with my horse, and with no rails or time penalties in show jumping, I have to give credit to my jumper coach Pam Arthur. Her help has been instrumental in the training of Livingstone.”

Finishing close behind Bennett, in 15th place, was fellow Canadian Michael Winter, originally of Toronto, ON, and currently based in Newnan, GA, riding Balista, owned by Emeline Loughlin. Winter was in 52nd place after dressage but quickly moved up to 15th spot after a strong cross-country performance, adding only 14 time penalties. Winter accumulated eight show jumping faults, which kept him in 15th at the end of the competition with 88.60.

Gary Roque of Caledon East, ON, rode Drover, a 12-year-old Australian Thoroughbred gelding, to 25th place with 124.80 penalty points. Roque also rode Leatherhead, an 11-year-old Canadian Thoroughbred gelding, owned by Christine Merrill, to 27th spot in the final standings

David O’Connor won the competition aboard Custom Made with a score of 48.61. Second place went to Australian rider Phillip Dutton riding Dusky Moon with 51.60 penalty points. American Heidi White finished in third with a score of 52.41.

Complete results are available at www.fairhillinternational.com.

The Olympic sport of Eventing encompasses three separate tests: dressage, cross-country, and stadium jumping held consecutively. Each test ridden by the rider and horse in combination is scored individually but added together for the final results. The rider/horse combination with the fewest number of penalty points over the three days wins the competition.

The photo is courtesy of www.EquestrianNews.com