Elkton, Maryland – October 24, 2003 - The Canadian Eventing Team is currently in second position following the opening phase of dressage at the 2003 Pan American Eventing Championships held October 22-26 during the CCIO*** Fair Hill International Three Day Event in Fair Hill, Maryland.

Canadian Eventing Team member Penny Rowland of Orangeville, ON, earned a score of 59.20 from the panel of three international judges. Riding the 14-year-old grey Canadian thoroughbred mare, Aberdare, a horse she bought off the racetrack seven years ago, Rowland is currently in twelfth position individually.

“I know she can still have a little more spark, but overall she was great!” commented a smiling Rowland, 47, a small animal veterinarian. “She feels ready for cross-country!”

The final rider in the competition arena, Bruce Mandeville of Puslinch, ON, earned a score of 62.40 and fifteenth position for his performance aboard Larissa, a 14-year-old Canadian-bred Trakehner mare. Remarkably, Mandeville and Larissa have successfully completed the 1999 Pan American Games, the 2000 Olympic Games and the 2002 World Equestrian Games.

Hawley Bennett of Langley, BC, rode her 13-year-old Canadian thoroughbred gelding, Livingstone, to a score of 64.60 penalty points and seventeenth position.

“I’m happy and disappointed all at the same time,” said Bennett, 26, immediately following the dressage. “He felt really good, but he knows the test and he knows when he gets to do the extended canter. He’s a smart cookie. I know if he is going to blow up, that’s when he is going to do it. It is just so hard to keep them focused when they are this fit.”

The first Canadian rider in the ring, Michael Winter, 29, originally of Toronto, ON, and now based in Newnan, GA, finished the dressage phase with a score of 69.20 penalty points and currently sits in nineteenth position.

“He was very good, he did some of the best trot work he has ever done and just got a little excited in the canter work,” said Winter of Balista, a 12-year-old American thoroughbred gelding owned by Emeline Loughlin. “We are really looking forward to the cross-country on Saturday, this is his type of track and he likes this type of terrain.”

While the United States is in the lead with a first-day score of 170 penalty points, Canada is in second position with 186.20 while Brazil is in third with 196.20. The best three out of four team member scores were counted towards the final total. In the individual standings, Darren Chiacchia, competing as an individual for the United States Equestrian Team, holds the lead with a score of 43.60, followed by Tim Collins of Bermuda with 44.40.

Similar to a triathlon, horse-rider combinations compete in three distinct phases held over three consecutive days. Following the conclusion of dressage, the competitors now move forward to Saturday’s demanding cross-country phase while the third and final phase of stadium jumping will be held Sunday afternoon.

As three day eventing was not included in the Pan American Games programme in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the Pan American Championships are being organized in conjunction with the annual CCI*** Fair Hill International Three Day Event in Fair Hill, Maryland. Countries not already qualified for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, will be hoping to earn their Olympic berth. Twenty-six horse-rider combinations representing Argentina, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the United States are competing in the Pan American Eventing Championships division.

In the non-Championship division, the CCI*** Fair Hill International Three Day Event attracted 70 entries including several Canadians. The top Canadian following dressage is Suzy Pettman, 25, who is currently in 18th position with a score of 60.20 riding Kilcoltrim. Pettman, a native of Westbank, BC, also earned a score of 63.20 with her second entry, Sambucca, to put her in 26th. Two-time Canadian Olympian Stuart Black enjoyed a strong dressage performance riding the 12-year-old American thoroughbred gelding, Polaris, to earn a score of 62.40 penalty points and move into 22nd place.

Proud supporters of the Canadian Eventing Team include Abbott Laboratories, Bayer Healthcare, Boogaloo Brushing Boots, Can-Pro Horse Equipment (Bahr’s Saddlery), E.W. Tack, Maui Jim Sunglasses, Merial Canada Inc., and Phoenix Performance Products.