Adequan/USEA Gold Cup Division at Richland Park Horse Trials Boasts Top-Notch Entries
With only three events left in the 2009 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series, the heat is on for competitors to rack up the points towards winning the $10,000 prize money. This weekend's 35 entries in the CIC3* division at The Richland Park Horse Trials in Richland, Michigan, will surely provide a great addition to the Gold Cup Competition.
A Strong Entry List Guarantees Tough Competition
Leslie Law and the very successful Selle Francais gelding, Fleeceworks Mystere Du Val, is returning to defend his title as winner of last year's Richland Park Horse Trials Gold Cup division. Law is currently sitting in twelfth place on the Gold Cup Leaderboard, but a win this weekend and double-clear jumping rounds would put him right atop the standings.
Jennie Brannigan, winner of the 2008 Intermediate Gold Cup Series, is also slated to compete this weekend with her longtime partner, Cooper. On the 2009 Gold Cup Leaderboard, Brannigan is in a three-way tie for sixth place with an even 200 points. A top placing at the event this weekend, could leave her in a very comfortable spot on the leaderboard. Brannigan is also entered at the Bit of Britain/USEA American Eventing Championships with Cooper, and could rack up even more Gold Cup points there!
Other entrants include, Bruce Davidson, Sr. with his two Rolex horses, Cruise Lion and Jam; Phillip Dutton with Woodburn and Kheops Du Quesnay; Will Faudree riding Pawlow and Mr. McWhinney; and Boyd Martin with an impressive three horses, Rock on Rose, Remington XXV, and Shatzi W. For the complete list of entries click here.
New Course Designer to Bring Exciting Changes
Olympic medalist and eventing legend, Ian Stark of Scotland, is taking over as cross-country designer as Michael Etherington-Smith, who designed the course from 2001 to 2008, hands over the reins. Ian has won four Olympic Silver Medals; Los Angeles in 1984; Seoul in 1988, individual silver as well as team silver; and at Sydney in 2000 in team Show Jumping. He is a three-time winner of Badminton, and is the only competitor to finish 1st and 2nd in Badminton history. Ian retired from competition at the 2007 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.
Event Details
The competition at Richland Park begins Wednesday evening with the first horse inspection for the CIC3* and CIC2* divisions. Dressage will begin at 8 a.m. on Thursday morning and will continue all day Friday. Saturday will bring cross-country day for the FEI divisions, and they will then show jump on Sunday. Want to find out when your favorite rider is heading out on course? Check out the complete schedule of rides by clicking here.
The USEA will be on-site at Richland Park all weekend to bring you all the action - be sure to check the website for daily photo, video, and news updates!
What is the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series?
Quite simply, the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is a group of eight destination events from coast to coast, where the top horses and riders in the country compete for cash, prizes, and points on the leaderboard. Horses and riders (as a team) accumulate points on the overall leaderboard, including bonus points for clear jumping rounds, and the year-end winner takes home a check for $10,000 and a multitude of prizes at the USEA Annual Meeting and Convention held in Reston, Virginia this December.
2009 marks the fifth year of this impressive series, and past champions include last year's individual silver medalist at the Olympic Games, Gina Miles aboard MacKinlaigh. Other top winners in the Gold Cup series include Olympians Phillip Dutton and Becky Holder, and young rising star Tory Smith.
Want to learn more about the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series? Check out the Gold Cup web page!
Outstanding Sponsorship
Winners of the designated Gold Cup divisions receive an Adequan USEA Gold Cup Trophy, $500 in prize money, 7-dose box of Adequan, a three-month supply of SUCCEED, an E.A. Mattes Couture Pad, and a pair of Nunn Finer American Style open front boots. Second place finishers take home a Nutrena feed gift certificate and a pair of Nunn Finer American Style open front boots, and third place receives a pair of the Nunn Finer boots as well.
The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of its many sponsors: Title: Adequan; Legacy: Nunn Finer, Nutrena, and World Equestrian Brands; Contributing: Cover-All; and Patron: Back on Track, Broadstone Equine Insurance Agency, Mountain Horse, and Succeed.
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