Phillip Dutton’s three-year run of the Bromont CCI came to an end when Mara Dean and Nicki Henley claimed the two-star title, June 9-12 in Bromont, Que.

Dutton had won the event in 2001, 2002 (placing first through third) and in 2003. (The event was not held in 2004).

Dutton had to settle for second place this time around. Riding Handyman Hughie in the CCI** division, he finished just 1.7 penalties behind his student.

Dean, of Round Hill, Va., knew she had to establish a good dressage lead over Dutton. “I knew I could be competitive in the dressage, but you have to be far enough ahead of Phillip because you know he’s going to finish on his dressage score,” she said with a laugh. “You never think you’ve got a good shot at beating Phillip.”

Dean and her 10-year-old Irish Thoroughbred brought plenty of experience to Bromont–Dean rode her veteran Hopper in the 1996 Olympics, and Nicki Henley had already claimed two three-day titles. Dean bought “Nick” from Jan and Craig Thompson in 2001, and the pair won the 2001 Morven Park CCI* (Va.).

But Nick was injured the next spring, followed by Dean breaking her own leg that summer. So when Nick won the 2002 Radnor Hunt CCI** (Pa.), it was with David O’Connor in the irons. After his win at Radnor, Nick completed two advanced events but then suffered another injury. “It was a minor enough soft tissue injury, but it took a long time,” Dean said.

When Nick returned to work this spring, the pair picked up even better than they’d left off. They did one preliminary event, one intermediate and one advanced before Bromont. “After David rode him at Radnor, he said he was one of the strongest horses he’d ever ridden,” said Dean. “I had to learn to ride him.”

And work with Dutton over the last year has advanced Dean’s cross-country with Nick. “I’ve been lucky to ride with a lot of great people, but Phillip has put a lot of ‘go out and do it’ in me,” she said. “He’s not a horse you can control–you have to let go.”

Nicki Henley started the competition at Bromont strongly, finishing the dressage with a score of 45.6 penalties, which left them in second place behind Darren Chiacchia and Gaspar II. But when Chiacchia withdrew his mount before cross-country, Dean took over the lead and never relinquished it.

“He’s a very fancy mover, but he can be quirky,” said Dean. “His test lacked a little brilliance at Bromont, but I have to keep him relaxed. He can be quite explosive.”

The cross-country course, designed by Great Britain’s Michael Tucker and built by Canadian Jay Hambly, was challenging as always, and the oppressively hot and humid weather was a major factor. Technical Delegate Bridget Parker (Great Britain) and FEI Ground Jury members Jo Young (Canada) and Van deVater (Ireland) agreed to remove jumps 14, 15 and 16 from the CCI** course on the eve of cross-country day. These included some of the most challenging obstacles and terrain located on the hillside above the main arena. The changes reduced the optimum time by approximately 1 minute.

“I love the course, and it’s a really good prep for a horse to move up to do Fair Hill [CCI*** (Md.)] in the fall,” said Dean. “It does test their gallop and endurance.”

Dean agreed with the ground jury’s decision to shorten the course. “It was unbelievably hot–I’ve never been in New England or Canada and had it be that hot,” she said.

Twenty-one of 28 starters finished cross-country, and eight horses completed without jump or time penalties in the CCI**, which was held for the first time without steeplechase.

Dean (nee DePuy) is aiming both Nicki Henley and her other top horse Good Stuff for the Fair Hill International CCI*** in October. Originally from Vermont, Dean has been living in Virginia for 12 years. She and her husband Peter currently live at their family-owned Willow Bend Farm. They celebrated
their one-year wedding anniversary during the Bromont Event.

Dean also claimed second place in the CCI*, aboard Genial. Chiacchia, of Springville, N.Y., rode Kaitlyn Habermehl’s 7-year-old, Dutch Warmblood gelding Roux to the victory. With just one rail added to their dressage score, Chiacchia and Roux finished with 47.9 penalties.

Habermehl, of Huntsville, Ont., rides with Chiacchia. Roux was purchased for Habermehl from event organizer Shelley Lambert, and Habermehl is currently competing the horse at training level with plans to do a one-star in the fall. Roux and Habermehl won the training division at Genesee Valley (N.Y.) the previous week. Chiacchia commented that Habermehl had “tuned Roux up last week” for Bromont.

Canadian riders dominated the CIC, winning both the one-star and two-star divisions. Gwen Lehari, winner of the CIC**, was competing for just the third time at this level.

“It’s wonderful to see Canadians doing so well. Bromont is a lovely event; it’s our only three-day event in Canada, and it’s important that people push to keep it going,” said Lehari.

Kettleby, Ont., resident and former Canadian team member Martha Griggs captured the CIC* division aboard Wendy Judd’s 8-year-old, Thoroughbred gelding, Sir Judd. “I was delighted with Sir Judd. He has matured this year and is very brave to the jumps,” said Griggs. “He is part Dutch Warmblood, so I wasn’t sure how he would handle the heat, but he was brilliant, especially in the show jumping.”

Griggs posted only one of three clean show jumping rounds to finish with a score of 58.8 penalties.

Bromont is dedicated to the memory of aspiring Quebec rider Todd Sandler, who died in a car accident in 1999. A beautiful bronze of Sandler and his horse was created this year and will continue to serve as a perpetual trophy for Bromont.