The 2016 Olympic U.S. Eventing Team Named and Ready to Run at the first U.S. Nations Cup Land Rover Great Meadow International

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THE PLAINS, V.A. – June 30, 2016 – With the announcement by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) of theEventing Team that will represent the United States at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, The Land Rover Great Meadow International presented by Adequan® is set to roll out the red carpet for them in their final prep for the Games. In addition, the Great Meadow International presented by Adequan® will host several international teams in the first-ever FEI Nations Cup™ held outside Europe on July 8-10.

U.S. Olympic team member Phillip Dutton , pictured with Fernhill Fugitive at last year’s event, will be competing this weekend. | Amy K. Dragoo photo

Riders of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Eventing Team who will be traveling to the Land Rover Great Meadow International are:

  • Phillip Dutton – Five-time Olympic veteran with two Team gold medals (2000, 1996) for his native Australia. Two-time Pan American Games Team gold medalist (2015, 2007) and Individual silver medalist (2007).
  • Boyd Martin – 2012 Olympic veteran, two-time WEG competitor and highest-placed U.S. rider (2014, 2010) and 2015 Pan American Games Team gold medalist.
  • Lauren Kieffer – First time Olympic team member and 2015 Pan American Games Team gold medalist. Winner of the 2015 Great Meadow International Pan Am Preparatory Trials and two-time winner of the Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Championship (2014 and 2016).
  • Clark Montgomery – First time Olympic team member. Winner of the 2015 Fidelity Investments Blenheim Palace International CCI3*, Somerford Park CIC2*, Belton CIC3* and a sixth-place finish in the 2015 Luhmühlen CCI4*.
  • Maya Black – Traveling Reserve. Placed third at the 2016 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, earning the Rolex/USEF CCI4* Reserve National Champion title and winner of the CIC3* at The Fork Horse Trials (2016).

“This is a historical and thrilling opportunity for Great Meadow to host the 2016 U.S. Olympic Eventing team in tandem with the U.S. debut of the FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing series during this year’s event,” said Robert. L Banner Jr., President of the Great Meadow Foundation. “We look forward to a weekend of incredible competition!”

Spectators are encouraged to come out on Friday, July 8 for a “Free on Friday” celebration which will include an Opening Ceremony followed by the Morningside Bareback Puissance class, sponsored by Morningside Training Farm, which is a high-jumping bareback competition with a $2,000 grand prize. Spectators will also get a chance to inspect the new $1 Million arena and the grand opening of the Meadow Market Trade Show.

Ticket packages for the Land Rover Great Meadow International, Presented by Adequan® are now on sale and can be purchased online now at http://bit.ly/GMITickets. For those interested in a unique experience, Great Meadow offers Corporate and several upscale VIP Hospitality Packages featuring gourmet food, front-row seating and much more! Further details are available at http://www.greatmeadowinternational.com/#!tickets/ct8u.

About The Great Meadow Foundation

Great Meadow was founded through the vision of news executive and philanthropist Arthur W. (Nick) Arundel in 1982. Arundel purchased an abandoned farm then slated to become a housing development for perpetual preservation of open space. The concept for Great Meadow grew out of several converging forces of the 1980s, primarily urban growth pressure on farmland near Washington, the opening of I-66 and the simultaneous loss of the former Virginia Gold Cup course in Warrenton to subdivision development. Since their inception they have been the permanent home for the Virginia Gold Cup and Family 4th of July celebrations. Over the years they have added several more community events, ranging from Twilight Polo to the Virginia State Cross Country Tournaments. For more information, please visit: www.greatmeadow.org.

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