Press release from International Bromont

Irish rider Kevin Babington won the FEI Assante Classic today with Shorapur at the 2019 International Bromont at the Olympic Equestrian Park.

Course designer Michel Vaillancourt did not make it easy for the athletes on a course sanctioned by the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI). With only 81 seconds allowed, this course with 13 obstacles for 16 efforts, including three double combinations, beat a lot of pairs. The play on distances, especially inside the combinations, combined with the height of the obstacles resulted in many faults over fences. In the end, 6 pairs succeeded in avoiding penalties, but a time fault will prevent Jill Henselwood and Eblesse as well as Hyde Moffat and Gisborne VDL to access to the second round.

Christine McCrea, first rider to execute a clear round in the first phase with Jarcobond Van Den Oude Eik, comes in the jump-off going for a double clear. The goal reached in 40.37 seconds leaves enough margin for the other riders in the running: Kevin Babington and Shorapur, Jonathan McCrea and Aristoteles V as well as Andrew Kocher and Chacanntus. Babington and Shorapur execute the second round with confidence, and their steady pace pays off, as they finish with a clear round in just under 35.15 seconds. Both teams to come do not reach first place.

The 44th edition of the International Bromont will end in just two days. In addition to many family activities on the programme, tomorrow’s visitors will be able to watch the key event, the Modified Grand Prix, scheduled for early afternoon. The competition will end on Sunday with the presentation of the U25 Grand Prix, the Canine Equine Challenge, as well as the long-awaited CSI3* Grand Prix.

International Bromont presents its 44th edition in the picturesque setting of the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park, in the heart of the beautiful region of the Eastern Townships. For more information and details about the program, visit the web site at: www.internationalbromont.com.