AUGUST 2023 THE RIDER /27


American Olympic Veteran Peter Leone Tops in the Grand Prix at International Bromont CSI2*


BROMONT, QC - July 31, 2023 - It was an American Olympic veteran vs young local rising star Sunday af- ternoon at the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park, and with the difference of just one rail down, Peter Leone of Wellington, FL captured the win in the $45,900 CSI2* Grand Prix presented by the Govern- ment of Quebec. Riding Donner for the


Lionshare Farm of Bedford, NY, Leone was one of only two riders to successfully navigate Michel Vaillan-


is a talented and very fast young rider, especially on [Cidanos Z],” remarked Leone. “I knew if she went clear it would be difficult for me to beat her against the clock. I was lucky today that she had a pole down and then I played a bit of chess. I went for a neat clear and I had a lot of confidence that Donner would leave the jumps up for me.” Fortunately Donner


did leave the jumps up, crossing the finish timers in a jump-off time of 49.96 seconds,


considerably


of the number of entries. But he made a very good track. Very challenging and beautifully presented. He used the ring well. I take my hat off to Michel. “I love the atmosphere


[at the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park]” Leone continued. “The people, the enthusiasm, the crowd… is so much better here than al- most any other show we go to. The energy and the peo- ple really bring out the best in the horses and in the rid- ers.”


Having to go first in


at the FEI level. “I was just hoping for


a good round and a positive experience,”


laughed


Thibault of her second place finish. “A clear round com- pletely surpassed my expec- tations!” The pair had great re-


sults all week, finishing sec- ond to America’s Kama Godek in the 1.40m Soltek Equestrian Speed Class and third behind Olympic veter- ans Leone and Mac Cone (Canada) in the 1.45m Open Welcome presented by As- sante Group El-Chaer. “Having brought him


along myself it’s really grat- ifying having him jump at this level successfully. He’s quite a character and can be feisty in the warm up ring. But once he’s in the show ring he’s naturally fast and really knows his job. “Going first in the


jump-off, I thought I might as well give it my all. The time was there and he likes going fast. I think he also re- ally likes the crowd. The ambiance was really great - having the crowd back in Bromont after the past few years is wonderful.”


About decades,


American Olympic Silver medalist Peter Leone and Donner en route to the win in the CSI2* Grand Prix presented by the Government of Quebec, at the International Bromont tournament week one at the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park. © Tom Von Kapherr Photography


court’s challenging first round course to move for- ward to a


jump-off.


Boucherville, Quebec’s Alexanne Thibault and her own Cidanos Z were the


slower than Thibault’s time of 42.85 but her one rail down adding four faults to her score. Leone made particular


mention of the strength of


the jump off put the pressure on Thibault, 25, who is an ‘Elite’ member of the Pro- gramme de soutien au développement de l’excel- lence, organized by the sport


International


Bromont For more than four International


Bromont has welcomed renowned riders, the young up-and-coming, passionate amateurs and all horse lovers to the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park. In 2023, the organizers of In- ternational Bromont will host


international show


jumping, driving and dres- sage across multiple FEI levels up to 3*. For the In- ternational Bromont 2023, over 600 horses will com- pete for over $350,000 in prize money over


two


weeks. For more information


please visit www.interna- tionalbromont.org. Thank you to our Spon- sors Public partners: Govern- ment of Quebec, Ministry of Education/Higher Educa- tion of Quebec (MEES), Ministry of Tourism Que- bec, Ville de Bromont Private partners: Assante, Omega Alpha Canada, Co- fina, Soltek, Izada, Bruno Delgrange, Serres Yargeau, Jumps USA, Gazébec, AT- PLab, Aux Grains, Engel & Volkers.


Boucherville, QC’s Alexanne Thibault with Cidanos Z over the Quebec jump in the CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix. © Tom von Kapherr Photography


others, having posted a clean first round early in the class.


advantage of


Leone had the distinct following


Thibault in the jump off on his 13-year-old campaigner Donner, and although they have had a break from com- peting together (being re- united only in the past 10 days), as soon as Thibault pulled the rail at fence 5A, he knew what he had to do. “Alexanne [Thibault]


the courses designed by Canadian Olympic Silver medalist from the 1976 Olympics, Quebec’s own Michel Vaillancourt. “I really have to com-


mend him,” said Leone. “It takes a lot of courage as a course designer to build a ‘proper’


two-star track,


when there weren’t a lot of entries in the class. It’s very tempting for a course de- signer to make the standard of jumping lower, because


ministry of Quebec and sport federations, to support and nurture the development and progression of athletes to reach the highest level of their sport. Thibault has been


showing at Bromont since her days as a pony hunter rider, working her way up through the equitation ranks to the jumper ring. She im- ported Cidanos Z as a 5- year-old, and now at 8 this was his first week showing


$45,900 CSI2* 1.45 Grand Prix presented by the Gov- ernment of Quebec Donner / Peter Leone / USA / 0/0/49.96 Cidanos Z / Alexanne Thibault / CAN / 0/4/42.85 Con Couleur / Mac Cone / CAN / 4/79.90 Thunderbird VH / Francois Lamontagne / CAN / 4/80.76 Kapital Creation / Jade Lalonde / CAN / 4/81.51 Magnum Z / Charlotte Mur- ray / USA / 4/83.04 Katorose HV / Sarah John- stone / CAN / 4/88.56 Viamdios D’Avril / Lauren Esdale / CAN / 8/79.68


The fun Canine Equine Challenge took place Sunday before the Grand Prix. © Tom von Kapherr Photography / Kathy Laverdure


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The fun Canine Equine Challenge took place Sunday before the Grand Prix. © Tom von Kapherr Photography / Kathy Laverdure


The fun Canine Equine Challenge took place Sunday before the Grand Prix. © Tom von Kapherr Photography / Kathy Laverdure


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