United States Eventing Association

Fast Facts: 2018 Great Meadow International

The only leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup to take place in North America will kick off this afternoon with the first horse inspection at the Brook Ledge Great Meadow International presented by Adequan (GMI) in The Plains, Virginia. Forty-six horse-and-rider combinations will represent five nations in the CICO3*.

• This is the third year that Great Meadow International has been an official FEI Eventing Nations Cup. The U.S. is undefeated so far, having won in 2016 and 2017. Canada finished second both of those years and Great Britain finished third.
• Forty-six riders will compete this year in the CICO3* with 12 representing teams and the remaining 34 competing as individuals. This is the biggest field of entries in the event’s history, with 33 competing in 2017, 40 competing in 2016, and 20 competing in the CIC3* in 2015.
• Five countries are being represented: Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Switzerland, and the United States.
• Nine riders will compete aboard more than one horse this weekend. Alexandra Knowles, Will Coleman, and Caroline Martin have three horses apiece while Chris Talley, Will Faudree, Sydney Elliott, Lauren Kieffer, Waylon Roberts, and Jessie Phoenix will ride two horses each. Riders with multiple horses make up 45 percent of the field.
• Phillip Dutton has competed on every single U.S. Team at the Great Meadow Nations Cup while Sydney Elliott is making her first team appearance.
• None of the top three individual finishers from 2017 or 2016 are competing this year so it is anyone’s game.
• $30,000 in prize money is being offered for individuals with first through eighth place earning prize money. $3,000 is available to be won by the teams.
• USEF Network will be live streaming the FEI Eventing Nations Cup at Great Meadow International. Click here for the live stream schedule and click here to access the live stream.
• Great Meadow is also hosting a World Equestrian Games Combined Test where four of the five team members and three alternates will ride the same dressage test that they will be riding at Tryon in September. Dressage will take place this afternoon and show jumping will occur tomorrow evening following the CICO3*.
• Great Meadow International's cross-country course is designed by Michael Etherington-Smith (GBR) and is 3,743 meters measured at 570 meters per minute. You can check out the complete course online by clicking here.
• This year’s show jumping course is again designed by Marc Donovan (USA).
• Christian Landolt (SUI) and Jo Young (CAN) make up the ground jury. Andy Bowles (NZL) is the Technical Delegate, assisted by Sue Ockendon (CAN).
• This year's Meadow Market at GMI features over 50 vendors with something for everyone from tack to jewelry to trailers and so much more. Vendors will also be offering Drag Break Deals during the drag breaks on Saturday. Get ready to shop!
• The Meadow Market Beer and Wine Garden is back this year featuring beer from Old Bust Head Brewery on tap all weekend. Wicked Goat Brewing will be serving up iced nitro lattes, Kombucha tea, and more while local food trucks will be on site offering tasty fare all weekend including gourmet tator­ tots, Mediterranean fusion, Tex­Mex, and slow­ churned ice cream.
• New this year is the Beer and Wine Garden Stage, where live music performances will take place throughout the weekend. Andre Fox Band will be performing Friday evening and country duo Martin and Kelly will take the stage Saturday afternoon.
• Top eventers will be trading in their jumping bats for polo mallets on Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. for the Polo Exhibition.
• General admission to GMI is free on Friday, July 6. On Saturday, July 7 and Sunday, July, general admission is $25 per car for a one-day pass or $40 for a weekend pass. You can also purchase VIP tickets, ringside boxes, and tailgating spaces. Click here for additional information and to purchase tickets.
• Read the Great Meadow International Events A-Z article to learn more about the history of the event.

Team USA

• Buck Davidson and Park Trader, Carl and Cassandra Segal’s 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Master Imp x Ballyhast Polly)
• Phillip Dutton and Sportsfield Candy, Kevin Keane’s 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Condios x Angel of Harlem)
• Sydney Elliott and Cisko A, Carol Stephens’s 12-year-old Westphalian gelding (Cayetano L x Rhiannon M)
• Caroline Martin and Spring Easy, her own and Sherrie Martin’s 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Garrison Royal x Castlegrogan Clare)

Team Canada

• Shelby Brost and Crimson, her own 15-year-old Thoroughbred mare (Etta x Dixieland Heat)
• Lisa Marie Fergusson and Honor Me, her own 12-year-old Welsh Sport Horse gelding (Brynarian Brenin x Dream Contessa)
• Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti, Don Good’s 16-year-old Westfalian gelding (Pavarotti Van De Helle x Fidelia)
• Waylon Roberts and Kelecyn Cognac, Anthony Connolly and Skye Levely’s 15-year-old Australian Thoroughbred gelding

Team Great Britain

• Sophie Brown and Wil, her own 15-year-old KWPN gelding (Silverstone x Sjoukje)
• Ben Hobday and his own and Jane Chambers’ Shadow Man II, an 8-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Fidjy of Colors x Favorite Van de Keezerswinning)
• Leslie Law and Tre’ Book’s Voltaire De Tre, a 9-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Gentleman IV X Jasmina du Fresne)
• Georgie Spence with her own and Suzanne Doggett’s Halltown Harley, a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Harlequin du Carel X Cummer Beauty)

Competition Schedule

Friday

• 3:00 p.m. – First Horse Inspection
• 4:30 p.m. – Dressage (WEG Combined Test)
• 6:00 p.m. – Polo Exhibition

Saturday

• 7:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. – Dressage (CICO3*)
• 5:10 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. – Show Jumping (CICO3*, WEG Combined Test)

Sunday

• 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Cross-Country (CICO3*)
• 1:20 p.m. – Awards Ceremony

Helpful Links

• Great Meadow International Website
• Omnibus Listing
• Schedule of Events
• Entries
• Live Scores
• Live Stream
• Tickets
• USEA’s Coverage

And don't forget to follow the USEA’s event coverage on social media!
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