L to R: U.S. Chef d’Equipe, David O’Connor, with U.S. Eventing Team; Phillip Dutton, Maya Black, Lauren Kieffer, Clark Montgomery and Boyd Martin.
(VIRGINIA, USA) – July 8, 2016 – The Land Rover Great Meadow International will be the final stateside preparation event for the U.S. Eventing Team before they go to the summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
History was made as the Land Rover Great Meadow International, presented by Adequan, officially began with a poignant opening ceremony kick-starting the first-ever North American FEI Eventing Nations Cup™. Athletes from five nations paraded in the Fleming Arena showcasing the teams and individual competitors who will participate in the historic weekend’s event.
“We’re excited to bring top international competition to the Piedmont Valley,” said David O’Connor, Co-Chairman of Great Meadow International. “We have never seen the FEI Nations Cup of eventing in America; it is truly an honor to have it here at Great Meadow.”
The opening ceremony began with LTC Art Perritt of the Blue Devils Horse Platoon International Riding Unit leading the Color Guard to present the United States Flag. Blythe Condon, daughter of Great Meadow Operations Director Teresa Condon, then sang the National Anthem. USEF President Chrystine Tauber addressed the crowd on the significance of the competition and Robert. L Banner Jr., President of the Great Meadow Foundation, presented a plaque to major donors who made the acquisition of Fleming Farm and the construction of the new arena possible. The grand finale was the Parade of Nations. Riders belonging to the Casanova-Warrenton Pony Club had the honor of leading the teams from Canada, Great Britain and the United States, as well as individual competitors from Australia, Puerto Rico and the United States.
Earlier in the afternoon all 40 horses were presented and accepted at the Horse Inspection for the FEI Nations Cup.
Competition begins on Saturday morning at 8:00 AM with dressage followed by the show jumping phase at 5:00 PM. The cross-country phase will take place at 9:00 AM on Sunday with the closing ceremony scheduled for mid-day.
For more information about the 2016 Land Rover Great Meadow International, please visit: http://www.greatmeadowinternational.com.
Contacts:
Marty Bauman
Chief Press Officer
Land Rover Great Meadow International
508.698.6810
marty@classic-communications.com
Deb Sandford
Nat’l PR Comms & Events Manager
Jaguar Land Rover
North America, LLC
949.510.0529
dsandfor@jaguarlandrover.com
Leah Oliveto
Director, Communications
United States Equestrian Federation
859 225 2053
loliveto@usef.org