Triple Crown Champion to be Crowned at Fair Hill International
Fair
Hill, MD—September 16, 2002—The Triple Crown of Driving,
presented by Driving Essentials, Inc./Glinkowski Carriages, will
culminate at the Fair Hill International, October 24-27 in Fair
Hill, MD.
Equestrian
driver Kate Shields of Middleburg, VA, claimed the early lead
in the Triple Crown when she won the Advanced Singles division
at The Laurels at Landhope Combined Driving Event, the first leg
of the Triple Crown, which was held in West Grove, PA, September
6-8.
The
2002 Triple Crown consists of three events: The Laurels at Landhope
Combined Driving Event, the Gladstone Driving Event in Gladstone,
NJ, October 11-13, and the Fair Hill International.
At
the Laurels at Landhope, Shields took first place in the Advanced
Singles division with a score of 108.10 penalties. The win gave
her the lead in the Triple Crown over 2001 Fair Hill International
champion and two-time Triple Crown champion, Lisa Singer, who
won the Advanced Pairs division with a score of 110.70 penalties
and is in second place in the Triple Crown standings. Canadian
Andre Paquin finished second behind Singer in the Advanced Pairs
division with a score of 115.70 and sits in third place in the
overall Triple Crown standings.
Each
of the Triple Crown events offers a testing, three-phase competition.
The components are dressage, highlighting training and obedience;
the exciting marathon, where speed, timing, and nerve rule the
day; and cones, which emphasizes accuracy.
The
Triple Crown champion will be determined by adding each competitor’s
two best final scores from the three events with the championship
being awarded to the driver with the lowest combined score from
his or her two best events.
The
Fair Hill International will host the final legs of both the Triple
Crown of Driving and also the FEI North American Driving Challenge.
It will also host three other prestigious equestrian championships
– the USET Three Star Fall Eventing Championship, the USA
Equestrian Single Horse Driving Championship, and the United States
Eventing Association (USEA) East Coast Championships.
In
addition to spectacular equestrian competition, spectators will
also be able to enjoy a variety of shops and eateries and browse
vendor booths selling tack, jewelry, artwork, pet supplies, apparel
and fine gifts. Fine dining (including Maryland crab cakes) and
casual snacks will be available.
The
Fair Hill International will also include dog agility trials and
miniature horse performances. A MASH unit provided by the New
Bolton Center will “perform” surgery on injured stuffed
animals—plus provide caps, masks and booties for kids! Friends
from the Winterthur booth will offer quick crafts for children,
and the Chesapeake Foundation booth will provide information on
environmental concerns.
The
Fair Hill International would not be such a magnificent event
without the generous support and funding that it receives from
numerous sponsors. Fair Hill would like to thank Cosequin, Dansko,
the United States Equestrian Team, Agway, Bit of Britain, First
Union Private Capital Management, Glenmede Trust, Practical Horseman,
Scudder Financial Services, Southern States Cooperative, Thoroughbred
Charities of America, Ltd, and Wilmington Trust Company.
Rain
or shine, gates open at 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday through
Sunday, October 24-27. Tickets for all four days are $35 or $10
Thursday-Friday and $12 Saturday-Sunday. Children under 12 are
admitted free.
For
more information on the Fair Hill International, please call (410)
398-2111 or visit www.fairhillinternational.com.
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