June 13, 2005

 

Bromont Returns With High Performance Riders!

 

By Tom Todaro

Pictures courtesy of Cealy Teatley Photo -  ctetley@videotron.ca

 

Once again, Sue Ockendon has succeeded in attracting high performance riders from across the continent.  Despite the 32-35ºC temperatures hovering over the 3-day event, riders, officials, volunteers, grooms, and observers came to witness the only Canadian Olympic eventing site do what it does best – represent and promote eventing in a setting worthy of international mention.

Bromont is the only site in Canada to hold a ** event.  This year, both the CCI and CIC versions were held in addition to the CCI*, and CIC* divisions.  Several participants present participated in the 2004 Olympic games over in Athens.   Darren Chiacchia (USA), Phillip Dutton (Australia), Ian Roberts (Canada), to name a few, were all thrilled to participate on this legendary course.  In addition to these, Martha Griggs, Gwen Lehari, Beth Perkins, Jennifer Irwin and many others, shared the common feelings about being in Bromont.

 

 Not to overlook, several local riders from Quebec such as Chantal Coutu and her daughter Erika Koczi, René Dumont, Sarah Moore, Lucy Davis, Stephanie Hewitt, André Gervais as well as Nathalie Guérin participated to show their interest and support of eventing in Quebec. 

 

 

A new level was added this year – Training level – with the anticipation of the Quebec Equestrian Games being held this coming September.  Pre-training and training levels will be included in this year’s edition of the games.   Congratulations go out to Jay Hambly who built the new training level course in record time without sacrificing any of his usual craftsmanship and keen eye for what riders look for in a challenging cross-country course.  Participants also got a kick out of seeing Jay ride his own course “hors-concours” along with the rest of the competitive riders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s next for Bromont?  As many have heard, Bromont has recently been declared not only a provincial park, but a provincial equestrian park which means it cannot be used for anything other than equestrian activities.  This former Olympic site is also protected under the “patrimoine du Québec” so that the park will continue to be available to the Bromont organizers – that is Sue Ockendon and her team.   This means that Bromont will continue to prosper and undergo transformation to ensure that the various equestrian disciplines continue to benefit from the years of investment that have been put into the site.  “I want to run another competition before the end of the season” said Ockendon over the weekend “so that people can enjoy and further the cause of eventing in Canada”.  As mentioned previously, the Quebec Equestrian Games will take place over a three-day period from September 16-18.  The driving association recently held their competition with huge success.  The Bromont International, a hunter/jumper competition will be held at the end of July as usual.

 

Because of its renewed lease on existence, various projects are planned in order to take advantage of this superb site.  Although several disciplines will move their activities to the Bromont site, everyone knows that it will always be the true home for eventing in Canada!

For more information on eventing in Quebec as well as on the Quebec Equestrian Federation, come visit us at: http://www.canadianeventing.com/accc/index_a.html  as well as: http://www.feq.qc.ca/