Baltimore, Maryland – September 17, 2021 – Oliver Townend of Great Britain, World #1 on the FEI Eventing World Athlete Rankings, heads an All-Star list of riders currently entered to compete in the inaugural Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill. The list also includes the world’s #2, #7 and #8 ranked riders as well as Olympians from five countries. Townend will compete with his accomplished gelding, Cooley Master Class, winner of back-to-back Kentucky Three-Day titles (2018-2019).
The Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, one of only two five-star level events in the United States and just the seventh worldwide, is set for October 14-17 at the newly constructed Fair Hill Special Event Zone in Elkton, Maryland (Cecil County). The event’s prestigious five-star (CCI5*) designation is the pinnacle of the Olympic sport of Eventing, often described as an equestrian triathlon.
Joining Townend, team Gold Medalist at the Tokyo Olympic Games, are previously announced New Zealand Olympians Tim and Jonelle Price, ranked #2 and #7 respectively, plus the entire U.S. Olympic Team from Tokyo:
Joining them are the following Olympic veterans representing Australia, Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand and the U.S.
The full list of entries to-date is available at https://maryland5star.us/entries/. FEI definite entries close on September 30. More announcements will be made as entries continue to come in.
In addition to the five-star competition (CCI5*-L), the event will feature a three-star competition as well (CCI3*-L), which is serving as the USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National Championship, and The Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships Presented by Dubarry of Ireland. The four days of eventing competition will feature dressage (Thu-Fri), cross-country (Sat) showcasing the new Ian Stark designed courses, and show jumping (Sun).
For ticket information please visit https://maryland5star.us/tickets/.
About the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill:
One of only two five-star events in the United States, and just the seventh worldwide, the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill will continue the storied legacy of Eventing at the new Fair Hill Special Event Zone in Elkton, Maryland, located in Cecil County. The prestigious five-star (CCI5*-L) designation is the pinnacle of the Olympic sport of Eventing, best described as an equestrian triathlon. The Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill is produced by The Fair Hill Organizing Committee, an affiliate of the Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland, and in partnership with Fair Hill International. The Maryland Food Bank serves as an event beneficiary.
The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is thrilled to announce Canter Culture as a “Silver Sponsor for the USEA American Eventing Championships” taking place at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, Aug. 27-Sept. 1.
If you’re a new team setting out to compete in the 2024 USEA Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Eventing Championships in just a couple of weeks, preparing for the “happiest horse trial” in the U.S. may seem a bit daunting. With five components to the Spirit Award contest that require creativity and cohesion between team members, there is a lot that goes into preparing and packing to leave for the event.
Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered! Check out the USEA’s Weekend Quick Links for links to information including the prize list, ride times, live scores, and more for all the events running this weekend.
Since the mid-’80s, lifelong horsewoman and professional artist Debra Sue Waters has devoted countless hours to the sport of eventing, and last year topped the rankings of the USEA Volunteer Incentive Program in Area V. Assisting behind the scenes at an event just comes naturally to the Millsap, Texas, resident.