Tag Archives: Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day

Michael Pollard (USA) Leads the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event after Dressage Day One

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1st place – Michael Pollard (USA) riding Mensa G.

(USA, 24 April 2014) Michael Pollard (USA) riding Mensa G, Thursday 24 April 2014, is the current leader after Day One of the Dressage phase, with Will Faudree (USA) riding Pawlow in 2nd place, and Doug Payne (USA) riding Crown Talisman in 3rd place, at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, in Lexington.

Results after Dressage Day 1:

1. Michael Pollard/Mensa G (USA) 49.5
2. Will Faudree/Pawlow (USA) 49.8
3. Doug Payne/Crown Talisman (USA) 51.2
4. Marilyn Little/RF Demeter (USA) 51.3
5. William Fox-Pitt/Seacookie TSF (GBR) 51.5
6. Sinead Halpin/Manoir De Carneville (USA) 51.7
7. Emily Beshear/Here’s To You (USA) 52.2
8. Phillip Dutton/Trading Aces (USA) 52.5
9. Sarah Bullimore/Reve Du Rouet (GBR) 52.7
10. Bruce (Buck) Davidson Jr/Petite Flower (USA) 54.2

Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing Current Contender

Andrew Nicholson (NZL) has travelled to the Kentucky Horse Park as the new Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing ‘live contender’ and the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event defending champion. This follows the news announced on 23 April 2014 that last year’s winner of the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, Jonathan Paget (NZL), has officially been disqualified following a “partial decision” by the sport’s governing body Tribunal. As a result of Paget’s disqualification Andrew Nicholson and Avebury have now been promoted and are the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials 2013 winners.

All eyes are now on Nicholson to see if he can repeat the form he demonstrated in 2013, by winning the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, which will put him one competition away from the coveted USD$ 350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing Prize. Nicholson is competing in Kentucky on his grey gelding Avebury.

Quotes from Michael Pollard (USA) (link to audio of full post-event press conference below):

Q. Michael – tell us about today.

I just wanted to have a good start. I’m sure that tomorrow there will be some great combinations and I’m probably not likely to stay in the lead but at least it’s a competitive start.

Q. Michael – at this moment feeling good about Saturday?

It’s a four star, so it’s going to be hard for everybody but I’m riding a very good horse and I’m feeling good about my preparations and so it’s just about treating it like another event and doing my best.

2nd place - Will Faudree (USA) riding Pawlow
2nd place – Will Faudree (USA) riding Pawlow

Quote from Will Faudree (USA) (link to audio of full press conference below):

Q. Will – how was your test?

He is a very experienced horse and has been at this level or a while now. All in all he stayed very rideable throughout the test and overall I was happy with him.

Quote from Doug Payne (USA) (link to audio of full press conference below):

Q. Doug – so you won’t be back here on Saturday. Can you tell everyone why?

Unfortunately not; I hope and pray that ultimately I will be back here again in years to come. I have to first thank my owners and Land Rover for my grant as without them I would not be here. Being that I was entered here at Rolex I think it was especially for this horse who is a little bit more excitable and potentially could be affected by atmosphere there is no better place to go and compete than here to see how we measure up, and ultimately I know for sure that he [Crown Talisman] will be better off for today’s competition. A long story short: we are going to withdraw and go to Jersey fresh in the three star there and then Saumur for the three star there.

Copyright Free Audio

3rd place - Doug Payne (USA) riding Crown Talisman
3rd place – Doug Payne (USA) riding Crown Talisman

Click on the following link for copyright free audio of the post-event Press Conference after Dressage Day One with the top three placed riders:
http://po.st/E5RwLk

For more information on the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and full Results/Leaderboard, please visit www.rk3de.org.

Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing

In 2001, Rolex created the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. This trophy is awarded to the rider who manages to win the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials and the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials event in any consecutive order. Until now, only British rider Pippa Funnell has managed this staggering achievement, winning the title in 2003.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day

Pollard Tops the Leaderboard Following Day One at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

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Michael Pollard and Mensa G (Shannon Brinkman)

Lexington, Ky. – Competition began Thursday at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover with the first day of dressage. Thirty-one horse-and-rider combinations performed their test in the Rolex Stadium in front of the Ground Jury of Sandy Phillips (GBR), Gillian Rolton (AUS), and Christina Klingspor (SWE). The U.S. riders took a commanding lead on Thursday holding the top positions on the leaderboard.

Michael Pollard (Dalton, Ga.) sits in first place with Mensa G after scoring 49.5 following day one of America’s only CCI4*. He performed a lovely test with his, Carl Bouckaert, and Nathalie Pollard’s 16-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, performing quality movements.

“I’m happy, not surprised, necessarily,” commented Pollard of his placing. “He’s a horse that can do a very good test. I was thinking more about trying to execute the best [test] that he could do and I thought his work is probably the best work I have gotten out of him. We left some points on the table with some bad changes but other than that I thought he was really good. Honestly I thought someone would sneak in front of me today but I’m not really surprised necessarily.”

Pollard had a good start to the competition, and while he knows it is only the first day, he hopes his success will continue throughout the weekend. When asked about cross country day on Saturday, Pollard said, “It’s a four-star so it’s going to be hard for everybody but I’m riding a very good horse. I feel good about our preparation so it’s just a matter of treating it like another event and doing my best.”

Sitting in second place only 3/10ths of a point behind Pollard and Mensa G are Will Faudree (Hoffman, N.C.) and Jennifer Mosing’s Pawlow with a score of 49.8. With the 15-year-old Irish Thoroughbred gelding, Faudree rode a smooth, obedient test with good trot work and clean changes.

“In my test today, I was happy with my trot work,” Faudree stated. “I was a little conservative in the first medium trots, but all and all I was happy with his trot work. I think where I threw away too many points today was in the very first counter canter loop. He sucked behind me and at home I would have smacked him with the stick and kicked him and kept going but I just wanted to keep the counter canter.”

Doug Payne (Aiken, S.C.) lies in third place with Crown Talisman on a score of 51.2. He and his and Amelia and Larry Ross’ 11-year-old Holsteiner/Thoroughbred gelding performed a polished test in the atmosphere of the Rolex Stadium. Despite the pair’s good placing, they will be withdrawing from the remainder of the competition to set their sights on the Saumur CCI3*, for which they received a Land Rover Competition Grant to gain valuable experience at the major European competition.

“I hope and pray that ultimately we will be back again in years to come,” said Payne of his plan to withdraw. “I was entered here at Rolex and especially for this horse, who is a bit more excitable and could potentially be affected by environment; there was no better place than this in this hemisphere to go and compete and see where we measure up so hopefully we will be better following today’s competition.”

Day two of dressage begins tomorrow at 10:00am ET with Lillian Heard and Share Option.

By Kathleen Landwehr

Watch the live stream on the USEF Network presented by SmartPak here: http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2014Rolex/.

For more information about the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover, visit www.rk3de.org.

Follow the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/LandRoverUSEventingTeam/.

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day

Large Field Ready for Start of 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

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Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM (Shannon Brinkman)

Lexington, Ky. – The excitement of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover is about to begin at the Kentucky Horse Park. Sixty-two horses were presented at the first horse inspection, of which five were held with three being passed upon re-inspection, one being withdrawn from the holding box, and one not being accepted upon re-inspection. Following the first horse inspection, 60 horse-and-rider combinations from seven nations will vie for top honors at America’s only CCI4* event which also serves as the Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Championship. With the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games taking place this summer, the event also serves as an important selection trial for riders hoping to be named to the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team.

The competition begins tomorrow with the first of two days of dressage. It will be live streamed on the USEF Network presented by SmartPak. In addition to the broadcast, the order of go, results, and photos can be found here: http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2014Rolex/.

This year’s field is filled with seasoned veterans and first-time competitors in what will surely be an exciting competition. Many of America’s top horses and riders hope to prove their mettle this week in a star-studded field. Buck Davidson and Phillip Dutton, both three-time Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Champions, have multiple mounts ready to tackle Kentucky’s CCI4*. Davidson (Ocala, Fla.) will ride Cassandra Segal’s Ballynoe Castle RM, his partner for the 2013 Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Champion title, Caroline and Sherrie Martin’s Petite Flower, and Carl and Cassandra Segal’s Park Trader. Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) will also ride three horses: Bruce Duchossois’ Mighty Nice, Mr. Medicott Syndicate’s Mr. Medicott, and Trading Aces LLC’s Trading Aces. Fellow three-time Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Champion Kim Severson (Charlottesville, Va.) will ride her own Fernhill Fearless in her first CCI4* since 2011.

Two other Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Champions look to find success again in Kentucky. Sinead Halpin (Oldwick, N.J.) rode Manoir de Carneville Syndicate LLC’s Manoir de Carneville to the national title in 2011 and comes to the Kentucky Horse Park in good form. Allison Springer (Upperville, Va.) returns with her 2012 Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Champion partner, Arthur Syndicate LLC’s Arthur, as well as Copycat Chloe Syndicate LLC’s Copycat Chloe, riding the mare in her first CCI4*. Springer’s veteran partner Arthur is making his sixth appearance in Kentucky, more than any other horse in the field.

“It’s so much fun to be back,” said Springer. “It was really hard being here last year as a spectator. Also to have Arthur back, his sixth year, is great. He’s 15 going on 7 so I still have plenty of fuel in the tank for cross country day.”

Lillian Heard and Share Option (Shannon Brinkman)
Lillian Heard and Share Option (Shannon Brinkman)

Up-and-coming stars of the sport will display their talent at the event. Lillian Heard (Poolesville, Md.), who was named to the 2014 Eventing High Performance Winter/Spring Training National List, will tackle her first CCI4* in Kentucky. She will ride long-time partner Share Option, with whom she has performed well at the Advanced and three-star levels.

“It feels very good to be here but I’m very nervous,” commented Heard. “Everyone is here and it feels like I finally made it.”

Andrew Nicholson (NZL) hopes to achieve a win here with Avebury to be in contention for the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing after the pair rose to champion honors for the 2013 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. The Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing awards $350,000 to the successive winner of Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, and Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

An exciting addition to the competition this year is the Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge, which will award $20,000 in prize money while helping national teams prepare for the team competition at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. For this competition, “Team” is defined as the top three finishers from each nation represented. This will be strictly a “Scoreboard Competition” with the top three scores of each nation counting towards the final placings. The winning team will have the fewest penalties after adding together the final scores of the three highest-placed individuals from each nation. Ribbons will be given to the top four teams and prize money will be awarded to the owners.

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover is also part of the FEI Classics series. The FEI Classics is a series uniting the top end of the international Eventing circuit, namely the five four-star Eventing competitions currently on the calendar.

Dressage begins tomorrow at 10:00am ET with Davidson and Petite Flower.

By Kathleen Landwehr

For more information about the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover, visit www.rk3de.org.

Follow the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/LandRoverUSEventingTeam/.

*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day

Thrilling Competition Beckons at Kentucky

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William Fox-Pitt (GBR), joint leader of the FEI Classics, and Seacookie TSF (pictured here at Burghley) head to Kentucky, where the bay gelding produced one of his best performances of his career finishing second last year. Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI.

Lausanne (SUI), 22 April 2014 – The stage is set for a thrilling competition at one of the perennial jewels in the Eventing calendar, the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event, third leg of the FEI Classics 2013/2014 this weekend (24-27 April).

Among the 60-plus entries are two of the world’s best riders who will once again lock horns at North America’s premier event, the result of which could ultimately determine the winner of the valuable FEI Classics, now in its seventh year.

William Fox-Pitt, who has won 12 CCI4*s – more than any other rider – plus the FEI Classics three times, will make his annual visit. The current joint leader of the FEI Classics has entered with the German-bred Seacookie TSF, runner-up last year and winner of Les Etoiles de Pau at the start of the FEI Classics 2013/2014 season last October, plus the exciting prospect Bay My Hero.

Last year’s Kentucky winner Andrew Nicholson (NZL), the world number one and winner of last year’s FEI Classics, has opted to take his 2013 winning ride Quimbo to Badminton (GBR) this time and has instead entered Avebury, one of the most talented and popular horses on the circuit.

This is the first time the lovely home-bred grey gelding, by the part Irish Draught stallion Jumbo, has competed at a CCI4* out of Britain, but he has a formidable record which includes first and second places at Burghley (GBR) in 2012 and 2013 and it will be interesting to see what he makes of Derek de Grazia’s rolling track at Kentucky.

Eight nations are represented – Australia, Brazil, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, The Netherlands and the USA – and the host side will be hoping they can pull Kentucky back into American hands again for the first time since 2008, when Phillip Dutton won on Connaught.

Dutton must have another great chance this year – he is three-handed with Mighty Nice, Trading Aces and his new ride Mr Medicott, the Olympic team gold medallist with Frank Ostholt (GER) in 2008, the highest-placed US horse at the London 2012 Olympic Games with Karen O’Connor, and who was fourth at the opening leg of this series in Pau last year with Dutton.

Buck Davidson (USA), whose father Bruce is the most successful rider of all time at Kentucky, is the first rider into the Dressage arena on Friday morning at 10.00 (US time). He also has a trio of rides: Petite Flower, the experienced Ballynoe Castle RM and Park Trader.

Marilyn Little (RF Demeter and RF Snow on the Water) and Alison Springer (Copycat Chloe and the veteran Arthur) are two-handed, as is Canadian rider Selina O’Hanlon with Foxwood High and Bellaney Rock.

The most senior rider in the field, however, is Sir Mark Todd (NZL), 58, who has been riding at Kentucky longer than anyone else – since 1978. He has an interesting prospect in Oloa, seventh in his first CCI4*, Burghley, last year.

See the full entry list for the third leg of the FEI Classics in Kentucky here, follow what is sure to be a fascinating competition with live coverage of the entire event on the FEI’s official video platform FEI TV, and see results on www.rk3de.org.

See full standings here.

Prize money

At the end of the FEI Classics 2013/2014 season, the five riders with the highest number of points collected across the six FEI Classics events will share a total prize fund of US$120,000 split as follows: 1st – US$40,000 (Series Champion); 2nd – US$35,000; 3rd – US$25,000; 4th – US$15,000; 5th – US$5,000.

Join the FEI on Facebook & Twitter.

Our signature twitter hashtags for this series are #Classics and #Eventing. We encourage you to use them, and if you have space: #FEI Classics #Eventing.

By Kate Green

Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Media Contact:

Marty Bauman
marty@classic-communications.com
+1 508 698 6810 ext. 10
www.rk3de.org

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day, USEF

Extensive Coverage Set for Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event on NBC, FEI TV, and USEFNetwork.com

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Lexington, Ky. – A national television network broadcast and live webstreaming coverage will make the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover available to millions of people around the world.

Coverage of America’s only Four-Star Event, April 24-27 at the Kentucky Horse Park, includes an NBC broadcast – the Rolex Equestrian Championships presented by Land Rover – which will air on Sunday, May 4. All four days of the competition will be streamed online LIVE on USEFNetwork.com presented by SmartPak beginning on Thursday, April 24.

With the support of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), the network production of the Rolex Equestrian Championships will be broadcast on NBC on Sunday, May 4, from 2:00-3:00 p.m. EDT. Leading up to the NBC telecast, USEFNetwork.com presented by SmartPak will offer live, wall-to-wall coverage of the dressage, cross-country, and show jumping phases, which can be viewed  on computers, tablets, and smartphones in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

For equestrian fans throughout the rest of the world, FEI TV will air LIVE coverage of Saturday’s cross country and Sunday’s show jumping competitions. To sign up for FEI TV visit www.feitv.org.

The live broadcast schedule is listed below, and is also available on the USEF Network coverage page, www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2014Rolex/. All broadcast times are subject to change.

  • April 24: LIVE Dressage on USEFNetwork.com, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT
  • April 25: LIVE Dressage on USEFNetwork.com, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT
  • April 26: LIVE Cross Country on USEFNetwork.com, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT
  • April 27: LIVE Show Jumping on USEFNetwork.com, 1:15 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT
    Awards Ceremony on USEFNetwork.com, 3:00 p.m. EDT
  • May 4: Rolex Equestrian Championships on NBC, 2:00-3:00 p.m. EDT

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover is one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian competitions and features the world’s best horses and riders vying for their share of $250,000 in prize money, as well as a shot at the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, which is awarded to any rider who wins the Rolex Kentucky, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton, and Land Rover Burghley Four-Star Events in succession.

The 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover is a selection trial for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and will crown the 17th Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Champion. The only Four Star event in the Western Hemisphere, Rolex Kentucky will draw an estimated 70,000 spectators and be seen by millions more on the worldwide telecast.

This year, for the first time ever, Rolex Kentucky will include a team challenge. The Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge will award $20,000 in prize money, while helping national teams prepare for the team competition at the World Equestrian Games this summer. The winning nation will be the nation with the fewest penalties after adding together the final scores of the three highest-placed individuals from that nation.

Rolex Kentucky is a fun time for all in attendance. Aside from the competition, the event features exquisite shopping in the Sponsor Village; International Trade Fair with almost 200 booths and tents displaying designer clothing, artwork, gifts, sport clothing, horse-related items, and Event souvenir items; and the brand new “Kentucky Uncovered” which will highlight products unique to the state of Kentucky. Rolex Kentucky also features a variety of other entertaining attractions. General admission to the Kentucky Horse Park, America’s only theme park dedicated to horses, is included with each Rolex Kentucky ticket.

Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI) is a non-profit charitable Kentucky corporation that was established initially to produce the 1978 World Three-Day Event Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the success of those championships, EEI established an annual event which quickly evolved into what is today the only Four-Star three-day event in the western hemisphere, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. The Kentucky Reining Cup was incorporated as part of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event schedule in 2011.

Several ticket options for attending the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event are available, including ringside hospitality packages. For complete information, please visit www.RK3DE.org or call 859-254-8123.

Limited advertising opportunities for the television broadcast and on USEFNetwork.com are available through Scott Carling, USEF Managing Director of Sales and Sponsorships, at (859) 225-6928 or scarling@usef.org.

Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day, USEF

Land Rover Continues Support of USEF and Equestrian Sports as Presenting Sponsor of Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

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Lexington, Ky. – Land Rover North America is continuing its longstanding support of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and equestrian sports by returning as Presenting Sponsor of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.

The 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Land Rover returns to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, April 24-27.  America’s only Four Star Three-Day Event, “Rolex Kentucky” is one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian competitions and features the world’s best horses and riders vying for their share of $250,000 in prize money as well as a shot at the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. Aside from the competition, the event features exquisite shopping in the Sponsor Village and International Trade Fair with almost 200 booths and tents displaying designer clothing, artwork, gifts, sport clothing, horse-related items, event souvenir items, and much more.

As part of its sponsorship, Land Rover will also be title sponsor of the “Land Rover Tailgate” and presenting sponsor of the NBC telecast of the Rolex Equestrian Championships Presented by Land Rover. It will also renew the “Land Rover Best Ride of the Day” program initiated last year that honors the top U.S. rider who comes closest to the optimum time on the cross country course with no jumping penalties. The winner is awarded a 24-month lease of a 2015 Range Rover Evoque.

“Land Rover has demonstrated a strong commitment to equestrian sports in the U.S. and internationally,” said USEF CEO John Long. “Their support has had a significant impact on our teams’ ability to succeed in international competition and on the continued growth in interest in equestrian sports in this country.”

“Two of the most popular attractions at our event in recent years have been the Land Rover Tailgate and Land Rover’s off-road test drive area,” said Darren Ripley, president of Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), producer of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. “Their involvement has greatly enhanced our event and we thank them for their continued support.”

For the fourth consecutive year the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Land Rover will offer tailgating on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park for attendees to the equestrian competition.

Land Rover will host its third annual “Land Rover Tailgate Challenge” on Saturday, April 26, and will award an extensive prize package to the most creative, best-decorated, and best-catered Land Rover tailgate party.

“Land Rover has a long established connection with the equestrian community and as a company we’ve supported this prestigious event now for five years,” said Kim McCullough, Brand Vice President, Land Rover North America.  “Creating the ‘Land Rover Best Ride of the Day’ award allows us to support the rider who demonstrates the precision required to hit the optimum time set cross-country.  This, coupled with the Land Rover Tailgate, test drive course and the ‘Rover’ lounge for our canine friends, makes for an action packed weekend for visitors to the event.”

Throughout the weekend, guests of the event will have the opportunity to drive a 2014 Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Evoque and the Land Rover LR4 on a specially designed off-road demonstration course with a trained and experienced driving instructor as co-pilot. The all-new Range Rover Sport will be available for driving demonstrations this year having debuted in the spring of 2013 and was only available for display at last year’s event. New for this year’s event, the recently debuted 2015 Range Rover Long-Wheelbase Autobiography Black will also be on display.

To learn more about the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, please visit: www.RK3DE.org.

About Land Rover

Land Rover, the British maker of Land Rover and Range Rover sport utility vehicles, is renowned for providing its clientele with some of the most luxurious and capable vehicles in the world. Every Land Rover vehicle is equally at home both on and off road, and in any setting; be it in the heart of the city, or traversing the countryside. Today’s Land Rover lineup includes the legendary Defender, LR2 (Freelander 2), LR4 (Discovery 4), Range Rover Sport, Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque. Land Rover designs, engineers, and manufactures their vehicles in the United Kingdom. Land Rover is fully engaged with sustainability initiatives and social concerns with continuous involvement in environmental and community programs. For more information, visit the official Land Rover website at http://www.landroverusa.com.

About Jaguar Land Rover

* The United States is one of the leading global markets for both Jaguar and Land Rover
* Jaguar Land Rover employs 25,000 people and sells vehicles in 170 countries around the world
* Jaguar Land Rover has two state of the art engineering and design facilities and three advanced manufacturing plants in the UK
* Headquartered in Mahwah, New Jersey in the United States, Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC has offices across the USA
* Jaguar Land Rover is represented by more than 330 independently operated retail outlets in the USA

Contacts:

Deb Sandford – Nat’l PR Comms & Event Manager
Jaguar Land Rover
North America, LLC
949.510.0529
dsandfor@jaguarlandrover.com

Marty Bauman
Chief Press Officer
Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event
508-698-6810
Marty@classic-communications.com

Helen Murray
Director, Sport Communications
United States Equestrian Federation
859.225.6930
hmurray@usef.org

Awards, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day

Coudray Awarded Land Rover Grant to Compete at Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

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Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister (Mike McNally)

Lexington, Ky. -The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce that Tiana Coudray has been awarded a Land Rover Grant to compete at the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover. As approved by the USEF Eventing High Performance Committee, Coudray (Ojai, Calif.) will ride Jatial, Inc.’s 2001 Irish Sport Horse gelding Ringwood Magister at the only CCI4* in the Western Hemisphere.

Coudray, 25, has become a top U.S. rider on the international eventing scene in just a few years’ time. She first experienced international competition at the Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North in 2004 and 2008, earning the Junior Individual Silver medal in 2004. As she rose through the ranks, Coudray achieved numerous top placings at CIC and CCI competitions, including wins at the Galway Downs International CIC3* and the Jersey Fresh International CCI3* with Ringwood Magister in 2010.

Since the summer of 2011 she has been based in Gloucestershire, England, to compete and train in Europe. That fall, she received second-place honors at the Fidelity Blenheim Horse Trials CCI3*. In 2012, Coudray represented the U.S. in her first Olympic Games. She followed this achievement with a 17th-place finish in the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials CCI4* and a 10th-palce finish at the Aachen CICO3*in 2013 with Ringwood Magister.

Watch the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover live on USEF Network at http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2014Rolex/.

Follow the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team here.

Championships, Competitions, USEF, Western/Reining

USEF Announces Dates for 2014 Adequan/USEF Open Reining National Championship and Selection Trial

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Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to join with HorsePower, Inc. and Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI) in announcing that the Adequan/USEF Open Reining National Championship will be held as part of the Kentucky Reining Cup which is being run in conjunction with the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover, April 24-27, 2014 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. The Reining championship will also serve as the Selection Trial for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Reining Team.

Produced by HorsePower, Inc., the 2014 Kentucky Reining Cup will also feature a World Championship Freestyle class and offer $120,000 in total prize money. The Adequan/USEF Open Reining National Championship and Selection Trial will be a CRI3* event held in two rounds over three days, April 25-27, in the Horse Park’s Alltech Arena. Athletes must complete at least two Tryout Events/Qualifying Competitions to be eligible to compete in the Selection Trial. A list of Selection Trial Qualifying Competitions can be found at: https://www.usef.org/documents/highPerformance/reining/MemoSelectionTrials.pdf.

“It is very exciting to once again have the Kentucky Reining Cup held in conjunction with the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover,” said John Long, USEF CEO. “The excitement will be elevated in 2014 with the addition of the Adequan/USEF Open Reining National Championship and Selection Trial. We look forward to a great weekend of competition.”

Reining was first held during the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2011, following its success at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Its popularity with both riders and spectators has been evidenced through the world-class field and enthusiastic crowds it has attracted.

“In just three short years, the Kentucky Reining Cup has become established as a major competition on the national reining calendar,” said Brad Ettleman, President of HorsePower, Inc. “The opportunity to host the Adequan/USEF Open Reining National Championship and WEG Selection Trial guarantees that we will have the best horses and riders in the nation at next April’s event!”

“The Kentucky Reining Cup has proven to be the perfect event to complement the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event,” said Darren Ripley, President of EEI, producer of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.  “We are thrilled that it will be back bigger and better than ever in 2014.”

Further information on the Kentucky Reining Cup is available at www.KentuckyReining.com. Further information on the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover is available at www.rk3de.org. Further information on the U.S. Equestrian Federation is available at www.usef.org. Further information on HorsePower, Inc. is available at www.hpowerinc.com.

Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day

Nicholson Clocks Timely First Rolex Kentucky Win

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Andrew Nicholson (NZL) rode Quimbo to a clear jumping round for his first-ever win at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (Anthony Trollope/FEI).

Lausanne (SUI), 29 April 2013 – Andrew Nicholson (NZL) rode with a winner’s confidence on Libby Sellar’s beautiful black horse, Quimbo, to secure his first-ever win of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA), third leg of the 2012/2013 HSBC FEI Classics.

Nicholson has made no secret of the fact that for him this season is “all about the HSBC FEI Classics – if William lets me!” and, at this halfway stage, he now holds a commanding 10-point lead over William Fox-Pitt (GBR), who jumped clear to finish second on Seacookie TSF.

This was Nicholson’s first Rolex watch, the fifth CCI4* win of his 30-year career, and the third on the trot, following victories last year at Burghley and Pau.

Most significantly, it sets up an enthralling head-to-head with Fox-Pitt in the Rolex Grand Slam this weekend at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR) on 3-6 May.

He put his current run of success down to: “The realisation about the sort of quality of horses you need nowadays and great team work at home. When it dawns on you that you’ve won a four-star competition on a young horse, it’s a great buzz, and this is no ordinary four-star.”

He said of Quimbo: “He’s a proper horse! He is exceptional and smart and very easy to ride. A win like this is great for the future. Nereo [Olympic bronze medallist] is my best horse at the moment because he’s a hardened campaigner, and Quimbo is the new kid on the block, but I can see him nudging Nereo aside.”

Buck Davidson (USA), who finished best of the home side in fourth place on Ballynoe Castle RM, hit two rails, giving Nicholson a comfortable two-fence margin over Fox-Pitt. This meant that Nicholson, who was helped in the warm-up by the former Spanish rider Luis Alvarez Cervera, could take his time and afford three time penalties on the smooth-jumping Quimbo. He also finished third on Calico Joe, dropping one place when, as he had predicted, the Irish Thoroughbred knocked three fences.

Nicholson has produced Quimbo since a youngster. The 10-year-old gelding, bred in Spain by Anna Beca, is by Lacros, a son of the top jumping sire Landgraaf. Nicholson has long favoured horses bred in Spain on Jumping lines. The mare Qwanza, bred on similar lines, was seventh at Kentucky last year, and Nereo, which he will ride at Badminton next weekend, was bred by Anna Beca’s brother Ramon.

Lynn Symansky (USA), who was competing with a broken finger, scored her best international result with a meteoric rise from 25th place after dressage to eventual fifth on her 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Donner, ahead of Will Faudree (USA) and Pawlow, sixth.

Canadian Olympian Hawley Bennett and the veteran Gin & Juice, world silver medallists in 2010, rose from 29th place to eventual seventh after adding just 0.4 in Cross Country time penalties to a Dressage score of 59.8.

Buck Davidson was ninth on Mar de Amor, and gained a bonus prize with the two-year lease on a Land Rover due to being the American rider nearest the optimum Cross Country time. Davidson admitted he was a little disappointed with his two rails down in the jumping phase on “Reggie”, but he said: “My little horse was great. This is my third national championship here [as highest-placed US rider], all on three different horses. Maybe we can keep these New Zealanders and Brits away and I’ll win here one of these days. But all my three horses are in great shape, and that’s exciting for me for the future.”

Peter Atkins (AUS) moved up to 10th place on Henry Jota Hampton, one of the most popular horses on the US circuit. The most significant changes to the final order were Kiwi rider Jonelle Richards’ departure from seventh place when The Deputy incurred 20 penalties, and the elimination of California-based British rider James Alliston’s Tivoli, ninth overnight, at the final horse inspection.

HSBC Training Bursary

Meghan O’Donoghue (USA), a member of the USA’s under-25 training squad, made a brilliant CCI4* début to win the HSBC Training Bursary worth $1,000.

Riding her own Pirate, an 11-year-old American Thoroughbred, O’Donoghue climbed from 25th place after the Dressage phase to eventual 11th, adding only four Cross Country time penalties and seven Jumping penalties.

She only rode in her first CCI3* last year, finishing 12th at Fairhill (USA) on Pirate, a horse she has produced from a youngster since she spotted him as a three-year-old on the racetrack, where he was being used to ‘pony’ racehorses to the start. O’Donoghue previously worked as barn manager and assistant trainer to Jan Byyny, and is now based in Illinois.

About the winner

Andrew Nicholson (NZL), 51, leader of the HSBC Rankings and the HSBC FEI Classics series, is acknowledged as one of the most hard-working and naturally talented horsemen in Eventing. He first came to England as a 19-year-old in 1979 and worked with racehorses. His first CCI4* was Badminton in 1984 where he earned a place on the first New Zealand Olympic team, at Los Angeles. He went on to ride at five more Olympics, winning team silver in 1992 and team bronzes in 1996 and 2012, when he finished fourth individually on Nereo. He also won team gold at the 1990 FEI World Equestrian Games in Stockholm (SWE), and team and individual bronze on Nereo at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky (USA).

This is his fifth CCI4* win, following three Burghley victories – in 1995 on Buckley Province, in 2000 on Mr Smiffy, and in 2012 on Avebury – plus Pau in 2012 on Nereo. Last year, he won both the Blenheim CIC3* and Boekelo CCI3* on Quimbo and finished second in the HSBC FEI Classics 2011-2012.

Andrew has two adult daughters, Rebecca and Melissa, and two young children, Lily and Zak, with his partner Wiggy Channer. They live near Marlborough, Wiltshire.

Final results

  1. Andrew Nicholson/Quimbo (NZL) 38 + 0 + 3 = 41
  2. William Fox-Pitt/Seacookie TSF (GBR) 46.2 + 0 + 0 = 46.2
  3. Andrew Nicholson/Calico Joe (NZL) 40.8 + 0 + 12 = 52.8
  4. Buck Davidson/Ballynoe Castle RM (USA) 45.2 + 0 + 8 = 53.2
  5. Lynn Symansky/Donner (USA) 54.8 + 0 + 0 = 54.8
  6. Will Faudree/Pawlow (USA) 47.2 + 6.3 + 4 = 57.6
  7. Hawley Bennett/Gin & Juice (CAN) 59.8 + 0.4 + 0 = 60.2
  8. Kristi Nunnink/R-Star (USA) 55.3 + 4.4 + 4 = 63.7
  9. Buck Davidson/Mar de Amor (USA) 55.2 + 0 + 9 = 64.2
  10. Peter Atkins/Henry Jota Hampton (AUS) 59.2 + 1.6 + 4 = 64.8

Full results on www.rk3de.org.

HSBC FEI Classics leaderboard (after 3 of 6 events)

  1. Andrew Nicholson (NZL) 30 points
  2. William Fox-Pitt (GBR) 20
  3. Craig Barrett (AUS) 15
  4. Jonathan Paget (NZL) 12
  5. Natalie Blundell (AUS) 12
  6. Michael Jung (GER) 10
  7. Murray Lamperd (AUS) 10
  8. Buck Davidson (USA) 8
  9. Jessica Manson (AUS) 8
  10. Lynn Symansky (USA) 6

View full standings here.

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Our signature Twitter hashtags for this series are #HSBC and #Eventing. We encourage you to use them, and if you have space: #HSBC FEI Classics #Eventing.

By Kate Green

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

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Manager Press Relations
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+41 78 750 61 45

*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day

Andrew Nicholson Riding Quimbo Wins the 2013 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

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(USA, 28 April 2013) Andrew Nicholson (NZL), riding Quimbo, today won the 2013 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, with William Fox-Pitt (GBR) riding Seacookie in 2nd place, and Andrew Nicholson also in 3rd place riding Calico Joe.

Quotes from Andrew Nicholson, Quimbo:

Q. Andrew – what a round – congratulations – Quimbo is a special horse isn’t he?

Ah he is class – he’s a special horse – he’s a performer and very cool in his mind. It’s great to win here and to make things this exciting at Badminton next week – I think Hugh Thomas must be rubbing his hands – and he hasn’t had to part with any cash!

Q. So it’s game on next week for the Rolex Grand Slam next week?

Oh for sure. I went into the start box on the cross country when I knew William had pulled up Chilli Morning and I thought I would like to be on another of mine, but after the third fence I thought I am quite happy with what I’ve got and remembered how classy he is – it is days like that which are great – I think I am in with a big chance next week.

Quotes from William Fox-Pitt, Seacookie:

Q. William – that was fantastic what a great ride – how were you feeling going in?

I was delighted with him and he has come through this event so well – i was thrilled with him over cross country yesterday – he’s only a little horse but he has a big heart – you never know what the cross country has taken out of them for the show jumping – basically he is a very careful jumper and he was today.

I was so happy with the way he jumped today – he gave me such a nice feeling – he tried his heart out. I had one little moment coming to the water tray where I was riding on either six or seven strides and I was thinking six and then “oh I’m not going to get there on six” so I pulled and he was very good to add and I was thrilled with that.

Q. Were you nervous going in?

Of course you are always nervous going in but I wasn’t in the lead and had it all to go for and nothing to lose, and as I say I was very pleased with my horse all week and just hope that my luck can carry on until next week!

Audio Interviews

For an audio interview of Andrew Nicholson post Show Jumping on Quimbo, please click link here: https://www.yousendit.com/download/UVJnY05ucHZuSlJqQThUQw.

For an audio interview of William Fox-Pitt post Show Jumping on Seacookie, please click link here: https://www.yousendit.com/download/UVJnY05wYUlUME85TE1UQw.

Audio Post Show Jumping Press Conference

Please click here for link: https://www.yousendit.com/download/UVJnY05wYUlwaFE5WThUQw.

Final Results after Show Jumping

  1. Andrew Nicholson/Quimbo (NZL) 41.0
  2. William Fox-Pitt/Seacoookie (GBR) 46.2
  3. Andrew Nicholson/Calico Joe (NZL) 52.8
  4. Buck Davidson/Ballynoe Castle RM (USA) 53.2
  5. Lynn Symansky/Donner (USA) 54.8

For more information on the 2013 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and full Results/Leaderboard, please visit www.rk3de.org.

Two Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing Contenders

With two of three successive wins of the Rolex Grand Slam – the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and the 2011 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials – William Fox-Pitt is the current live contender of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. Due to adverse weather conditions, the 2012 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials was unfortunately cancelled. Therefore, Fox-Pitt has had to wait until the 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials before he can contend for the coveted US$ 350,000 Rolex Grand Slam Prize.

However, now that Andrew Nicholson, who won the 2012 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials has also accomplished the feat of successively winning the 2013 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, there will now uniquely be two live contenders for the sport’s most coveted prize at the 2013 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing

In 2001, Rolex created the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. This trophy is awarded to the rider who manages to win the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials and the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials event in any consecutive order. Until now, only British rider Pippa Funnell has managed this staggering achievement, winning the title in 2003.

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