Nation's Top Eventers Set to Ride in Land Rover Great Meadow International

Many of the nation's best event riders have confirmed their entries and will be making their way to Great Meadow in The Plains, Virginia to compete at the Land Rover Great Meadow International presented by Adequan® on June 19-21.

June 4, 2015 — Many of the nation’s best event riders have confirmed their entries and will be making their way to Great Meadow in The Plains, Virginia to compete at the Land Rover Great Meadow International presented by Adequan® on June 19-21. In addition to the $30,000 CIC3* competition, the international event will host the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for its final preparation trial prior to the 2015 Pan American Games which will be held in Toronto, Canada in July.

Photo copyright Richard Kessler Photography

The CIC3* division is open to all qualified competitors and is not an invitational. Athletes are limited to two horses. All Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team riders must compete in the Pan Am division, while the Team Alternates may ride in either the Pan Am division or the CIC3*.

“We are so proud to have our nation’s best horses and riders competing at our event,” said Robert L. Banner, Jr., President of the Great Meadow Foundation. “The competition in both divisions is going to be nothing short of spectacular!”

Heading up the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team lineup and Pan Am division is two-time Olympic team gold medalist and the 2015 Rolex/USEF CCI4* National Champion, Phillip Dutton. Dutton has two horses entered, Fernhill Cubalawn, a 12 year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Tom Tierney and Simon Roosevelt, and Fernhill Fugitive, a 10 year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Annie Jones. Dutton successfully competed both horses at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Land Rover in April, producing double-clear rounds on both horses at the four-star event.

Lauren Kieffer, who took second place at the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and won the 2014 Rolex/USEF National CCI4* National Championship, will be competing Meadowbrook’s Scarlett, an 8 year-old Thoroughbred cross mare owned by Marie Le Menestrel. The pair won the 2014 CIC2* at Jersey Fresh International, followed by victory in the CCI2* at Bromont, Canada. This year the duo placed ninth in the Carolina Horse Park CIC3*, and placed second in the Jersey Fresh International CCI3*.

Marilyn Little will be competing RF Scandalous, a 10 year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Raylyn Farm Inc., and Phoebe and Michael Manders. The duo have had five consecutive international victories, with their most recent at the CCI2* in Ocala. Little took up the sport of eventing in the fall of 2010 after much success competing at the international level in show jumping. Little was also a 2013 Land Rover US Eventing Team Member at CHIO*** Aachen (GER), CCI*** Saumur (FRA), CCI**** Pau (FRA).

Boyd Martin, a competitor at the 2012 London Olympic Games and the highest placing American event rider (eighth) at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France, is currently ranked #4 in the FEI World Eventing Athlete Rankings. He has entered his own and Pancho Villa Syndicate’s Pancho Villa, a 12 year-old Selle Francais gelding. The pair have had great success so far this season with a second place in the CIC3* at Fair Hill and third place at the Jersey Fresh CCI3*.

Thus far, four U.S. Team Alternates have entered to compete. Will Faudree is currently the only Team Alternate who has chosen to compete in the Pam Am division. He has entered Pfun, an 8 year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Silver Stables.

Also competing in the Pan Am Division are five Mexican riders including: Enrique Mercado on Romana; Daniela Moguel with Cecelia and Agave; Abraham Ojeda and Obusero; Alan Triana and Ofrenda; and Guillermo de Campo and Quelite.

The $30,000 CIC3* Division will be also be highly contested with 21 entries so far, including three Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team Alternates including: Jennie Brannigan and Nina Gardner’s Cambalda, a 13 year-old Thoroughbred cross gelding; Tamie Smith and Mai Baum, a 9 year-old German Sport Horse gelding owned by Alex Ahearn; Michael Pollard and Cyrano Z, a 14 year-old Zangersheide gelding owned by Carl, Nicholas and Stanislas Bouckaert. Pollard has also entered a second horse, Jos Calfun in the division.

Also vying for the CIC3* title will be several top U.S. riders including Buck Davidson, who currently leads the FEI North America Eventing rider rankings, and who has entered both Petite Flower and Ballynoecastle RM. Boyd Martin is also set to ride two horses including Crackerjack and Shamwari 4, as is Colleen Rutledge with Escot 6 and Covert Rights. Single-horse competitors include Lynn Symansky and Donner; Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Fly Me Courageous; Sydney Conley Elliott and Cisko A; Hallie Coon and Celien; Sarah Cousins and Abecca GS; Maggie Deatrick and Divine Comedy; Ellen Doughty-Hume and Sir Oberon; Justine Dutton and Jollybo; Bobby Meyerhoff and Dunlavin’s Token; and Julie Norman and Consensus.

The competition begins on Friday, June 19 with Dressage tests taking place in the main arena from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m., followed by the Sip ‘n’ Shop in the Vendor Village from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. which will feature local vineyards and a bevy of national and local shopping partners. VIPs will be treated to an upscale dinner in an elegant tent with live entertainment for the evening as well.

On Saturday, June 20, the CIC3* and Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team Pan Am Prep Trial Show Jumping Phases will take place from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. From 8:00-10:00 p.m., there will be live entertainment and dancing in the Polo Pavilion.

On Sunday, June 21, Tailgating on Members’ Hill and Fleming Hill will open at 8:00 a.m. The opening of the inaugural Cross Country Course will take place at 9:00 a.m. followed by the Cross Country Phase beginning at 9:30 a.m. The Awards Ceremony will begin at 11:30 a.m. followed by a ground-breaking ceremony launching the construction of a new world-class, all-weather arena with an adjoining unique water complex.

For those unable to attend this spectacular event, you won’t have to miss any of the action. The Land Rover Great Meadow International will be broadcast live at USEFNetwork.com.

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