Edited from a USEF press release by Helen Murray
The Dansko Fair Hill International CCI 2*/3* opens tomorrow, October 18 and will again crown the US Equestrian Federation (USEF) National Two- and Three-Star Eventing Champions.
At the first horse inspection today, 34 horses were presented and accepted without incident; 30 of them are in the running to be named national champion.
In an highly-competitive CCI3* field, Will Faudree will ride Jennifer Mosing's DHI Colour Candy and Pawlow. DHI Colour Candy makes his first start at a CCI3* but is on familiar turf at Fair Hill after having placed fourth in last year's CCI2*.
Faudree and Pawlow come to Elkton in top form having led the victory gallop for the CIC3* at the Plantation Field International Horse Trials a month ago.
Faudree spent this summer training and competing in England thanks to a Land Rover Competition and Training Grant.
Hannah Sue Burnett (The Plains, Virginia) will ride Jacqueline Mars' Harbour Pilot, her Pan American Games Individual Silver medal winning partner.
Burnett is no stranger to success at Fair Hill having claimed the CCI2* National Title in 2009 and the CCI3* Championship in 2010 with St. Barths. She is also contesting the USEF National Two-Star Eventing Championship with Neaopolitan Holding Company LLC's Danio.
"Danio is just here to get the experience. He's done a full year of Intermediate but this is his first CCI2*. William (Harbour Pilot) has been prepping all year for this, it's his first CCI3* but we're ready to pull the trigger on him," said Burnett. "We're hoping for a good showing this week."
Buck Davidson (Ocala, Florida) will ride Carl and Cassandra Segal's Park Trader and Leigh Mesher's Mar de Amor in the USEF National Three-Star Eventing Championship. He will also ride Debbie Adams' D.A. Adirmo and Sharon Will's No More Rocks in the CCI2*.
Three members of the U.S. Eventing Team from the London Olympic Games will look to claim top honors in the CCI2*. Will Coleman (Charlottesville, VA) has had numerous top finishes at Fair Hill and looks to score another strong placing in 2012 with Jim Fitzgerald's Zipp.
Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) will utilize the skill that has propelled him to five Olympic Games with Tom Tierney and Ann Jones' Fernhill Fugitive. Dutton will also ride Team Rebecca LLC's Fernhill Eagle in the CCI3*.
Boyd Martin (Cochranville, PA) will be among the first group of riders on course at Fair Hill Saturday as he has drawn tenth with Charlotte Hogg's Master Frisky. He is also looking for his second CCI2* victory of the season as he brings his Jersey Fresh winner, Lucy Boynton's Crackerjack, to Elkton.
Jennie Brannigan (West Grove, PA) will ride Nina Gardner's Indie in the USEF National Two-Star Eventing Championship. Brannigan also has a chance to claim the CCI3* crown with Gardner's No Objection.
Clark Montgomery (Kennett Square, PA), Champion and Reserve Champion in the CCI2* in 2010, will ride Joan Nichol's Garrison Flash in his quest to re-capture two-star bragging rights.
"It's always nice to compete at home," said Montgomery, who competed in Holland last week. "After having been at a big competition overseas, you're always a little more confident coming home and competing."
Competition officially gets underway Thursday with CCI2* dressage.
For more information about the Dansko Fair Hill International CCI visit; http://www.fairhillinternational.com/.
Visit the website for the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team.
Halloweenish silhouette by Scott Robinson, courtesy of The Jurga Report on Equisearch.com
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