Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch Leads Canadian Eventing Team at WEG

Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch, 22, of Summerland, BC, is currently the top-ranked member of the Canadian Eventing Team following day two of dressage at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) held in Lexington, KY September.

Dressage, the first of three phases in the eventing competition, was held on Thursday, September 30 and Friday, October 1. At the conclusion, Rhodes-Bosch was the highest placed Canadian, sitting in 17th position with a score of 44.2 penalty points riding Port Authority, a 12-year-old Canadian-bred Selle Français/Thoroughbred gelding that she co-owns with her mother, Patricia Bosch.

“He was perfect today. We struggled all week with our dressage training, but he went right to work and was great in our final warm-up,” said Rhodes-Bosch. “He let me ride him throughout the whole test, and did not react to any of the distractions around the ring. I am really please with how today went.”

“I am planning to take all the direct routes on cross country tomorrow. The time will be very tight, but I am really looking forward to riding the cross-country course,” she added.

Olympian Selena O’Hanlon of Elgin, ON, rode Elaine and Michael Davies 15-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding, Colombo, to a score of 50.8, good for 41st place. O’Hanlon competed on Thursday, as did Hawley Benntt-Awad of Langley, BC, who currently ranked 48th with a score of 52.5, is riding Gin & Juice, 10-year-old bay mare owned by Bennett-Awad and Linda Paine.

Rebecca Howard of Salmon Arm, BC, and Caroline Bazley’s Canadian-bred nine-year-old Canadian Sport Horse gelding, Riddle Master, earned a score of 56 for 57th place. Jessica Phoenix of Uxbridge, ON is currently ranked 67th with a score of 60.2 riding Exponential, 12-year-old bay Canadian Thoroughbred gelding, and Kyle Carter of Calgary, AB, is currently in 73rd place with a score of 63.5 riding Madison Park, a 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by Carter and Jennifer Carter.

Saturday’s cross-country phase will begin at 10:04 a.m. and consists of 28 numbered obstacles and 48 jumping efforts jumping efforts designed by Michael Etherington-Smith of Great Britain. With time allowed of 11 minutes and 14 seconds, it is anticipated that competitors will have difficulty crossing the finish line within the optimum time.

After dressage, the Canadian team, comprised of Rhodes-Bosch, O’Hanlon, Benntt-Awad and Carter, has a combined score of 147.50, which places it ninth overall among the 14 nations fielding teams. Germany currently leads the way with a score of 114.30 penalty points followed by Great Britain in second with 128.50. Sweden sits third with 131.20.

In the Individual standings, Michael Jung of Germany is at the top of the leader board with 33 penalty points following his dressage test with La Biosthetique-Sam FBW. Italy’s Stefano Brecciaroli is second with 35.5 riding Apollo van de Wendi Kurt Hoeve while Germany’s Simone Deitermann is third with 36 penalty points riding Free Easy NRW.

2010 World Equestrian Games — Provisional Individual Eventing Standings Following Dressage Day 2
Rider – Country – Horse – Score
1. M. Jung – Germany – La Biosthetique-Sam FBW – 33
2. S. Brecciaroli – Italy – Apollo van de Wendi Kurt Hoeve – 35.5
3. S. Deitermann – Germany – Free Easy – 36.0
4. K. Donckers – Belgium – Gazelle de la Brasserie CH – 38.8
5. R. Holder – United States – Courageous Comet – 39.3
17. Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch – Summerland, BC – Port Authority – 44.2
41. Selena O’Hanlon – Elgin, ON – Colombo – 50.8
48. Hawley Bennett-Awad – Langley, BC – Gin & Juice – 52.5
57. Rebecca Howard – Salmon Arm, BC – Riddle – 56.0
67. Jessica Phoenix – Uxbridge ON – Exponential – 60.2
73. Kyle Carter – Calgary, AB – Madison Park – 63.5