By Marty Bauman, Classic Communications; photos by Shannon Brinkman
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Elkton, Cecil County, Maryland – Oct. 17, 2021– Three-time Olympian Boyd Martin became the first American to win a CCI5*-L since 2008 when he piloted On Cue to victory at the inaugural Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill.
Thirty-four horses returned to the Main Arena for their final showjumping test after Sunday’s second horse inspection on the new jog strip recently put in by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Martin and his 15-year-old Anglo-European mare – co-owned by Christine, Thomas, and Tommie Turner – turned in one of only seven clear rounds over the 16-effort, 1.30m course designed by Ken Krome, ending on their dressage score of 25.0.
Martin was all smiles after winning the title and a third of the $300,000 prize money. “To be quite frank, Oliver [Townend] and Tim [Price] own super-duper jumpers, and I was just hoping to finish in the Top 5 today. On Cue really gusted out and jumped around; I think Lady Luck was on our side. We bumped and thumped a few poles, but I never heard one come down. I couldn’t believe that I got a clear round. I would have been happy with third or second, but winning is a great privilege. [Oliver and Tim] are two riders that I’ve sort of idolized and looked up to, and I learned a bit from their mentality and their championship ideology. Today was On Cue’s day, and it’s great to win it.”
Oliver Townend (GBR) and Cooley Master Class seemed unbeatable throughout the four days of competition with their dressage score of 21.1 and a clear round over the Cross Country Driven by Land Rover. A dropped rail at the fourth fence knocked him into second place. He and Angela Hislop’s 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding finished on a total score of 25.1, just 0.1 behind Martin’s clear round.
Saturday Cross Country
Elkton, Cecil County, Maryland – Oct. 16, 2021– World #1 ranked rider Oliver Townend (GBR) and Cooley Master Class remained at the top of the leaderboard at the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill following a fault-free round during Saturday’s Cross Country Driven by Land Rover.
Over 10,000 spectators came out to watch the sport’s top horses and riders navigate the new Ian Stark designed courses. The CCI5*-L featured 43 jumping efforts over a 6,270-meter track.
Only 11 horse-and-rider combinations finished clear within the 11-minute optimum time, including Townend and Angela Hislop’s 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding. The pair maintained their dressage score of 21.1 and remained in first place moving into Sunday’s show jumping phase.
“The course rode well, all in all,” said Townend, 2021 Olympic Team Gold medalist. “The top-class horses coped with it extremely well. Some of the really good gallopers made it look like a walk in the park. The time was not difficult to get with these horses, but at the same time, there were still some nice challenges, some good technical questions. Obviously, there were fences that looked big and scary, which you want in a 5 Star, but my horse came out very well.”
Two-time New Zealand Olympian Tim Price also put in a fault-free round over the Cross Country Driven by Land Rover with Xavier Faer, a 15-year-old British Sport Horse gelding owned by Price, Trisha Rickards, and Nigella Hall. The pair finished on their dressage score of 24.3 and held onto second place on the leaderboard. Saturday’s completion also makes him the first rider to complete all seven 5 Star events in the world.
Three-time U.S. Olympian Boyd Martin remained in third place with On Cue, a 15-year-old Anglo-European mare owned by Martin and Christine, Thomas, and Tommie Turner. The duo finished penalty-free, maintaining their score of 25.0.
“On Cue gave me a wonderful round today,” Martin said. “I had the luxury of sitting back and watching [Townend and Price] make it look easy. Basically, by the time I went, I knew the distances that suited each combination. I know that my horse is fit and a great galloper, so I knew that if I could get her through the jumps, she would make the time with plenty of gas left. It was a lovely ride. On Cue gave me everything she had today, and I feel fresh and ready to go for tomorrow.”
The Maryland 5 Star was Ian Stark’s debut as a 5 Star course designer. He worried most about accidentally tricking the horses, but he was relieved to see each horse read the questions he presented. “I feel as though I’ve aged 30 years in a week,” he said. “I never thought I was neurotic, but I feel like it now. Thankfully, [the course] just worked. There were good horses and good riders, and they made it look pretty straightforward. There were bits of trouble all over the place, but from my point of view, I’m very happy. I feel like I can breathe tonight.”
Wednesday Horse Inspections
Elkton, Cecil County, Maryland – Oct. 13, 2021– Athletes participating in the inaugural Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill woke up to foggy weather on Wednesday October 13, but the clouds did not detract from the stylish outfits and world-class horses presented in the event’s first horse inspection.
Over 100 horses (52 in the CCI5*-L, 76 in the CCI3*-L) were presented to their respective Ground Juries along a new jog strip recently put in by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). All horses but one – Sharon White’s (USA) 5 Star entry, Cooley On Show – passed the inspection.
The Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, one of only two 5 Star level events in the United States and just the seventh worldwide, runs October 14-17, 2021 at the newly constructed Fair Hill Special Event Zone in Elkton, Maryland (Cecil County).
In addition to the 5 Star competition (CCI5*-L), the event also features a 3 Star competition (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 features Dressage (Thu-Fri), Cross-Country (Sat) showcasing the new Ian Stark designed courses, and Show Jumping (Sun).
Hound & Hare sponsored the horse inspections’ Best Dressed Awards, which were presented to three riders for their magnificent looks. Astier Nicolas (FRA) was named the Best Dressed Male of the 5 Star entries, with Lauren Nicholson (USA) the Best Dressed Female. Meghan Pellegrini (USA) took home the award for the 3 Star athletes.
Thursday & Friday Dressage
The first half of the dressage phase took place on Thursday with World #1 ranked rider Oliver Townend (GBR) and Cooley Master Class topping the leaderboard in the CCI5*-L. Townend piloted Angela Hislop’s 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding to a comfortable lead over the other competitors, earning a score of 21.1 for their magnificent ride. American riders Hannah Sue Burnett and Lynn Symansky were currently tied for second with scores of 28.0 each.
While Townend was one of the last to go, Symansky rode early in the order with RF Cool Play, The Donner Syndicate LLC’s 13-year-old German gelding. It was the gelding’s first time competing at this level, and she felt that he rose to the occasion.
Oct. 15, 2021 –Oliver Townend’s (GBR) score of 21.1 remained untouchable during Friday’s final dressage phase at the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill. He and Cooley Master Class, Angela Hislop’s 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, maintain a three-point lead over the other competitors going into Saturday’s cross-country phase.
Two-time New Zealand Olympian Tim Price earned a score of 24.3 on Friday afternoon, jumping to second place on the leaderboard with Xavier Faer, a 15-year-old British Sport Horse gelding owned by Price, Trisha Rickards, and Nigella Hall. Three-time U.S. Olympian Boyd Martin rode On Cue, a 15-year-old Anglo-European mare owned by Martin and Christine, Thomas, and Tommie Turner, to third place with a score of 25.0.
USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National Championship
Kurt Martin (USA) finished the CCI3*-L on his dressage score of 21.1 after a fault-free showjumping round on Sunday with D.A. Lifetime, a 9-year-old mare owned by Debbie Adams. The pair maintained their spot on the top of the leaderboard throughout all four days of competition to earn the USEF Eventing National Championship and a $7,500 portion of the $25,000 purse.
Although 35 horses returned to the Main Arena for their final show jumping test after Sunday’s second horse inspection, Martin was one of only eight riders who put in clear rounds over the 14-effort, 1.20m course designed by Ken Krome.
Cross Country
After Saturday’s cross country, Kurt Martin (USA) maintained his lead in the USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National Championshipwith a score of 23.5. He piloted D.A. Lifetime, Debbie Adams’ 9-year-old mare, through a fault-free cross-country round over the new Ian Stark designed course.
Dressage
After Thursday morning’s USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National Championship dressage phase, Kurt Martin (USA) led with D.A. Lifetime, a 9-year-old mare owned by Debbie Adams. The pair earned a score of 23.5 for their beautiful test in the Main Arena.
Sitting in second place for the CCI3*-L was Kate Brown (USA) and Carnaby, her 8-year-old Oldenburg gelding, with a score of 24.8. Caroline Martin (USA) and HSH Vamonos, her and Sherrie Martin’s 8-year-old Zangersheide gelding, were in third with a score of 25.5.
The Top 3 riders of the USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National Championshipremained the same after the final half of their dressage phase wrapped up Friday morning. Kurt Martin (USA) maintained his lead aboard D.A. Lifetime, a 9-year-old mare owned by Debbie Adams, with a score of 23.5. Fellow American Kate Brown remained in second with a score of 24.8 aboard Carnaby, her 8-year-old Oldenburg gelding. Caroline Martin (USA) was third after earning 25.5 with HSH Vamonos, her and Sherrie Martin’s 8-year-old Zangersheide gelding.
Find complete information at: maryland5star.us and on facebook at Maryland 5 Star.
[View More Photos]
Elkton, Cecil County, Maryland – Oct. 17, 2021– Three-time Olympian Boyd Martin became the first American to win a CCI5*-L since 2008 when he piloted On Cue to victory at the inaugural Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill.
Thirty-four horses returned to the Main Arena for their final showjumping test after Sunday’s second horse inspection on the new jog strip recently put in by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Martin and his 15-year-old Anglo-European mare – co-owned by Christine, Thomas, and Tommie Turner – turned in one of only seven clear rounds over the 16-effort, 1.30m course designed by Ken Krome, ending on their dressage score of 25.0.
Martin was all smiles after winning the title and a third of the $300,000 prize money. “To be quite frank, Oliver [Townend] and Tim [Price] own super-duper jumpers, and I was just hoping to finish in the Top 5 today. On Cue really gusted out and jumped around; I think Lady Luck was on our side. We bumped and thumped a few poles, but I never heard one come down. I couldn’t believe that I got a clear round. I would have been happy with third or second, but winning is a great privilege. [Oliver and Tim] are two riders that I’ve sort of idolized and looked up to, and I learned a bit from their mentality and their championship ideology. Today was On Cue’s day, and it’s great to win it.”
Oliver Townend (GBR) and Cooley Master Class seemed unbeatable throughout the four days of competition with their dressage score of 21.1 and a clear round over the Cross Country Driven by Land Rover. A dropped rail at the fourth fence knocked him into second place. He and Angela Hislop’s 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding finished on a total score of 25.1, just 0.1 behind Martin’s clear round.
Saturday Cross Country
Elkton, Cecil County, Maryland – Oct. 16, 2021– World #1 ranked rider Oliver Townend (GBR) and Cooley Master Class remained at the top of the leaderboard at the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill following a fault-free round during Saturday’s Cross Country Driven by Land Rover.
Over 10,000 spectators came out to watch the sport’s top horses and riders navigate the new Ian Stark designed courses. The CCI5*-L featured 43 jumping efforts over a 6,270-meter track.
Only 11 horse-and-rider combinations finished clear within the 11-minute optimum time, including Townend and Angela Hislop’s 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding. The pair maintained their dressage score of 21.1 and remained in first place moving into Sunday’s show jumping phase.
“The course rode well, all in all,” said Townend, 2021 Olympic Team Gold medalist. “The top-class horses coped with it extremely well. Some of the really good gallopers made it look like a walk in the park. The time was not difficult to get with these horses, but at the same time, there were still some nice challenges, some good technical questions. Obviously, there were fences that looked big and scary, which you want in a 5 Star, but my horse came out very well.”
Two-time New Zealand Olympian Tim Price also put in a fault-free round over the Cross Country Driven by Land Rover with Xavier Faer, a 15-year-old British Sport Horse gelding owned by Price, Trisha Rickards, and Nigella Hall. The pair finished on their dressage score of 24.3 and held onto second place on the leaderboard. Saturday’s completion also makes him the first rider to complete all seven 5 Star events in the world.
Three-time U.S. Olympian Boyd Martin remained in third place with On Cue, a 15-year-old Anglo-European mare owned by Martin and Christine, Thomas, and Tommie Turner. The duo finished penalty-free, maintaining their score of 25.0.
“On Cue gave me a wonderful round today,” Martin said. “I had the luxury of sitting back and watching [Townend and Price] make it look easy. Basically, by the time I went, I knew the distances that suited each combination. I know that my horse is fit and a great galloper, so I knew that if I could get her through the jumps, she would make the time with plenty of gas left. It was a lovely ride. On Cue gave me everything she had today, and I feel fresh and ready to go for tomorrow.”
The Maryland 5 Star was Ian Stark’s debut as a 5 Star course designer. He worried most about accidentally tricking the horses, but he was relieved to see each horse read the questions he presented. “I feel as though I’ve aged 30 years in a week,” he said. “I never thought I was neurotic, but I feel like it now. Thankfully, [the course] just worked. There were good horses and good riders, and they made it look pretty straightforward. There were bits of trouble all over the place, but from my point of view, I’m very happy. I feel like I can breathe tonight.”
Wednesday Horse Inspections
Elkton, Cecil County, Maryland – Oct. 13, 2021– Athletes participating in the inaugural Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill woke up to foggy weather on Wednesday October 13, but the clouds did not detract from the stylish outfits and world-class horses presented in the event’s first horse inspection.
Over 100 horses (52 in the CCI5*-L, 76 in the CCI3*-L) were presented to their respective Ground Juries along a new jog strip recently put in by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). All horses but one – Sharon White’s (USA) 5 Star entry, Cooley On Show – passed the inspection.
The Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, one of only two 5 Star level events in the United States and just the seventh worldwide, runs October 14-17, 2021 at the newly constructed Fair Hill Special Event Zone in Elkton, Maryland (Cecil County).
In addition to the 5 Star competition (CCI5*-L), the event also features a 3 Star competition (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 features Dressage (Thu-Fri), Cross-Country (Sat) showcasing the new Ian Stark designed courses, and Show Jumping (Sun).
Hound & Hare sponsored the horse inspections’ Best Dressed Awards, which were presented to three riders for their magnificent looks. Astier Nicolas (FRA) was named the Best Dressed Male of the 5 Star entries, with Lauren Nicholson (USA) the Best Dressed Female. Meghan Pellegrini (USA) took home the award for the 3 Star athletes.
Thursday & Friday Dressage
The first half of the dressage phase took place on Thursday with World #1 ranked rider Oliver Townend (GBR) and Cooley Master Class topping the leaderboard in the CCI5*-L. Townend piloted Angela Hislop’s 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding to a comfortable lead over the other competitors, earning a score of 21.1 for their magnificent ride. American riders Hannah Sue Burnett and Lynn Symansky were currently tied for second with scores of 28.0 each.
While Townend was one of the last to go, Symansky rode early in the order with RF Cool Play, The Donner Syndicate LLC’s 13-year-old German gelding. It was the gelding’s first time competing at this level, and she felt that he rose to the occasion.
Oct. 15, 2021 –Oliver Townend’s (GBR) score of 21.1 remained untouchable during Friday’s final dressage phase at the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill. He and Cooley Master Class, Angela Hislop’s 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, maintain a three-point lead over the other competitors going into Saturday’s cross-country phase.
Two-time New Zealand Olympian Tim Price earned a score of 24.3 on Friday afternoon, jumping to second place on the leaderboard with Xavier Faer, a 15-year-old British Sport Horse gelding owned by Price, Trisha Rickards, and Nigella Hall. Three-time U.S. Olympian Boyd Martin rode On Cue, a 15-year-old Anglo-European mare owned by Martin and Christine, Thomas, and Tommie Turner, to third place with a score of 25.0.
USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National Championship
Kurt Martin (USA) finished the CCI3*-L on his dressage score of 21.1 after a fault-free showjumping round on Sunday with D.A. Lifetime, a 9-year-old mare owned by Debbie Adams. The pair maintained their spot on the top of the leaderboard throughout all four days of competition to earn the USEF Eventing National Championship and a $7,500 portion of the $25,000 purse.
Although 35 horses returned to the Main Arena for their final show jumping test after Sunday’s second horse inspection, Martin was one of only eight riders who put in clear rounds over the 14-effort, 1.20m course designed by Ken Krome.
Cross Country
After Saturday’s cross country, Kurt Martin (USA) maintained his lead in the USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National Championshipwith a score of 23.5. He piloted D.A. Lifetime, Debbie Adams’ 9-year-old mare, through a fault-free cross-country round over the new Ian Stark designed course.
Dressage
After Thursday morning’s USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National Championship dressage phase, Kurt Martin (USA) led with D.A. Lifetime, a 9-year-old mare owned by Debbie Adams. The pair earned a score of 23.5 for their beautiful test in the Main Arena.
Sitting in second place for the CCI3*-L was Kate Brown (USA) and Carnaby, her 8-year-old Oldenburg gelding, with a score of 24.8. Caroline Martin (USA) and HSH Vamonos, her and Sherrie Martin’s 8-year-old Zangersheide gelding, were in third with a score of 25.5.
The Top 3 riders of the USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National Championshipremained the same after the final half of their dressage phase wrapped up Friday morning. Kurt Martin (USA) maintained his lead aboard D.A. Lifetime, a 9-year-old mare owned by Debbie Adams, with a score of 23.5. Fellow American Kate Brown remained in second with a score of 24.8 aboard Carnaby, her 8-year-old Oldenburg gelding. Caroline Martin (USA) was third after earning 25.5 with HSH Vamonos, her and Sherrie Martin’s 8-year-old Zangersheide gelding.
Find complete information at: maryland5star.us and on facebook at Maryland 5 Star.
