Fair Hill, MD—July 10, 2002—Top-ranked equestrian competition, the hallmark of the Fair Hill International, will return to the Fair Hill Natural Resources Area for the fourteenth annual Fair Hill International Festival in the Country, October 24-27, 2002 in beautiful Fair Hill, MD.

This year’s Festival features two exciting equestrian championships— the USET Fall Eventing Championship CCI*** and the USA Equestrian Single Horse Driving Championship, plus the final leg of the Triple Crown of Combined Driving, and the final of the FEI North American Driving Challenge. The 2002 Triple Crown of Combined Driving also includes The Laurels Driving Event on September 6-8 in Unionville, PA, and The Gladstone Driving Event on October 11-13 in Gladstone, NJ.

In a prelude to the Fair Hill International, Fair Hill will host a leg of the USAE Ambassadors Series on Saturday, October 19, bringing an international field to Maryland for the challenging 100-Mile Endurance Ride.

The USET Fall Eventing Championship CCI*** is one of the most prestigious three-day events held in the United States and regularly draws Olympic and World Championship veterans. Olympic medal-winners Phillip Dutton of Australia, Karen O’Connor, Nina Fout, Bruce Davidson and defending USET Fall Eventing Champion and 2000 Olympic Individual Gold Medalist David O’Connor regularly compete at the Fair Hill International. Since the Fair Hill event is one of only two three-star competitions held in the United States, top riders prime their horses specifically to conclude their competitive seasons with this celebrated competition.

Likewise, the USA Equestrian Single Horse Championship is among the season’s highlights for combined drivers. Last year Nancy Johnson of Lincoln, MA, won the prestigious singles title on her way to being selected to the 2002 USET Singles World Championship Team.

The Fair Hill action begins on Thursday, October 24 with three-day dressage competition. Friday features driving dressage and more three-day dressage. On Saturday the gates open at 7:30 a.m., and visitors can watch the thrilling eventing cross-country phase from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and the precision-demanding cones phase of the driving competition.

Sunday’s action begins at 8:00 a.m. with the exciting driving marathon, when the gates open. Stadium jumping, eventing’s final phase, is contested throughout the morning. The awards ceremony begins at approximately 2:00 p.m.

The Fair Hill International will also host the United States Eventing Association (USEA) East Coast Championships that include dressage on Thursday, cross-country on Friday, and show jumping on Saturday, all from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

While world-class equestrian competition makes the Fair Hill International a rare treat for spectators, the amenities at Fair Hill round out the event to provide an ideal family outing. The Country Shops boast a wide variety of shopping and dining, featuring vendors of tack, jewelry, artwork, pet needs, exceptional apparel and fine gifts for the approaching holiday seasons. The Fair Hill Club offers fine dining, while visitors seeking a more casual snack or meal will find pubs around the Fair Hill grounds serving classic Maryland crab-cakes and other treats. This year dog agility trials return to Fair Hill with over 200 canine competitors while the Stuart Family Miniatures will demonstrate driving, hunter/jumper and obstacle jumping along with talks on the care of miniature horses. The New Bollton Center will staff a surgical “MASH” tent to perform surgery on any of your injured stuffed animals – plus provide caps, masks, and booties for kids who assist! Friends from the Winterthur booth will offer quick crafts for children and a family sign-up opportunity. Learn more about the Chesapeake Bay and environmental concerns at the Chesapeake Foundation Booth.

The Fair Hill International is grateful for the support of many sponsors, without whom an event of this magnitude would not be possible, including Cosequin, the United States Equestrian Team, Agway, Bit of Britain, First Union Private Capital Management, Glenmede Trust, Outback Performance Wear with Gore-Tex Fabric by Outback Trading Company, Ltd., Pennfield Feeds, Practical Horseman, Scudder Financial Services, Southern States Cooperative, Supracor, Thornhill Enterprises, and Thoroughbred Charities of America, Ltd.

For further information on the Fair Hill International, please call (410) 398-2111 or visit www.fairhillinternational.com.

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