The line up for The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International (FHI), October 17-20, 2019, includes Olympic, World and Pan American Games medalists. The impressive list of entries includes U.S. Olympic veterans Phillip Dutton, Lauren Kieffer, Clark Montgomery and Boyd Martin. Martin is fresh from winning double Gold medals at the 2019 Pan American Games.
Now in its 31st year, the 2019 FHI is again hosting the U.S. Equestrian CCI4*-L and CCI3*-L Fall Eventing Championships along with the USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships presented by Dubarry of Ireland. The beautiful Fair Hill Natural Resource Management Area is ready to welcome the elite horses and riders who will compete for these titles, as well as their share of $50,000 prize money.
A world-class field of 41 riders from five nations has entered 56 horses in the CCI4*-L. Heading the list is two-time U.S. Olympic veteran Boyd Martin, currently the world’s sixth ranked rider. In addition to recently winning the individual and team Gold medals at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, he represented the U.S. at the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2012 London Olympics, as well as three FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG) in 2018, 2014 and 2010. He also won a team Gold medal at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto, Canada where he placed just outside the medals individually, finishing in fourth place.
Martin also has an impressive history at Fair Hill. He won the title in 2011 and 2009, and last year won The Dutta Corp./U.S. Equestrian CCI2* National Championship and, as a result, the Judy E. Thayer Memorial Award as the highest placed two-star rider currently residing in Chester County, PA. He also won The Dutta Corp./U.S. Equestrian CCI3* Reserve National Championship with Long Island T, whom he has entered again this year in the CCI4*-L, along with Bonita. He has also entered Luke 140 in the CCI3*-L division.
Also entered is Phillip Dutton, one of the most accomplished riders in Eventing history. He has competed in six Olympic Games, winning two team Gold medals for his native Australia and the individual Bronze medal for the U.S. at the 2016 Games in Rio. He has also ridden in seven WEG and two Pan American Games where he has won two team Gold medals in addition to the individual Silver in 2007. Dutton has topped the FHI podium four times, taking the title in 2007, 2004, 2000 and 1996. This year he has entered three horses, including Fernhill Revelation, Fernhill Singapore and Z.
Putting on the pressure will be Martin’s 2019 Pan Am Games Gold medal teammates, Lynn Symansky, who also won the individual Silver medal and Doug Payne, who finished just outside the individual medals in fourth place. Symansky, who has entered Under Suspection at this year’s FHI, has also competed at the 2018 and 2014 WEG and won a team Gold medal as the 2011 Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Payne will have a busy week at FHI, competing both Vandiver and Quantum Leap in the CCI4*-L, Cascor in the CCI3*-L, Camarillo in the 5 Year-Old Young Event Horse division, and three horses in the 4 year-old Young Event Horse division, including Quiberon, Red Right Return, and Hannah Moor.
Joining them are U.S. Olympic veterans Lauren Kieffer, and Clark Montgomery, teammates at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Kieffer, who also won a team Gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, has entered D.A. Duras, while Montgomery will be riding Caribbean Soul.
Other top U.S. riders include Will Coleman, a veteran of the 2012 London Olympics and 2018 WEG, who has entered Don Dante. Also on the list is Buck Davidson, who has represented the U.S. at two WEG and was part of the Gold medal-winning U.S. Team at the 2011 Pan American Games, where he also won the individual Bronze medal. At last year’s FHI, Davidson took third place on Archie Rocks. This year he has entered Erroll Gobey, Copper Beach, and Jak My Style in the CCI4*-L, as well as Cerafino D in the 5 Year-Old class.
Jennifer Brannigan will be looking to reclaim the FHI title she won in 2014, as will Hannah Sue Burnett, who won FHI in 2012 and 2010. Burnett will be competing Lukeswell, while Brannigan, who also won individual Gold and team Silver medals at the 2011 Pan American Games, has entered Twilightslastgleam and I Bella. In addition, Brannigan will also compete FE Celestino and Joie de Vivre in the 5 Year-Old division and both Keepsake and Kismet in the 4 Year-Old division.
Other nations that will be giving the U.S. riders a run for the money include two-time Olympic veteran Jessica Phoenix of Canada, a team Bronze medalist at the 2019 Pan Am Games, who also won individual Silver and team Bronze medals at the 2015 Pan Am Games as well as individual Gold and team Silver at the 2011 Pan Am Games. A four-time WEG veteran, Phoenix has four horses entered in the CCI4*-L including Bogue Sound, Pavarotti, Wabbit and Watson GS. She also will be competing Humble GS in the CCI3-L*
Also on the list is two-time Olympic Silver medalist Clayton Fredericks of Australia, who also won the individual Silver and team Bronze medals at the 2006 WEG. Fredericks will be competing FE Stormtrooper and FE Always In Time.
“We are delighted to have so many top names in the sport returning to our world-class three-day event!” said Trish Gilbert, President of Fair Hill International. “With such a high-caliber list of entries, all of the divisions are guaranteed to be thrilling to say the least!”
Click here for the full list of entries.
Now in its 31st year, The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International hosts one of the most prestigious international three-day events in the world. In addition to hosting world-class equestrian competition, the FHI offers spectators a chance to enjoy a weekend of outstanding shopping and entertainment. Spectators can experience the excitement of the competition, view numerous demonstrations, enjoy fantastic food, shopping in numerous country and equestrian vendor shops, children’s activities and more.
In October 2020, the event continues its rapid elevation in status as the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill (CCI5*) is to be held at the newly constructed Special Event Zone adjacent to the Fairgrounds. The prestigious CCI5* designation is the pinnacle of the sport of Eventing and will be only the second such event in the U.S. and seventh worldwide with this elite classification.
ADMISSION FOR 2019:
Thursday, October 17 – FREE
Friday, October 18 – $10
Saturday, October 19 – $20
Sunday, October 20 – $20
Children under 12 are admitted free of charge, as are 4-H (with ID), Pony Club members (with pin), and military members and their dependents (with ID).
Juniors (12-17) and Seniors 65 years and older – just $5 per person on Friday and $15 per person Saturday and Sunday.
General Admission does not include admission to Sponsor tent or pre-reserved tailgating spots. More information about online ticket purchases is available at here.
For further information on The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International, please call 410-398-2111 or visit www.fairhillinternational.org.
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