Fair Hill International to Host 2001 AHSA National Combined Driving Pony Championships

Fair Hill, MD-October 2, 2001-The Fair Hill International Festival in the
Country, host to some of the country's most prestigious equestrian
competitions, will add the 2001 AHSA National Combined Driving Pony
Championships (for singles, pairs, and teams) to its roster of events. The
Fair Hill International returns to the Fair Hill Natural Resources Area in
the beautiful Maryland countryside October 25-28, 2001.
The AHSA (American Horse Shows Association) Driving Committee has decided to
move the 2001 AHSA National Combined Driving Pony Championships from the
Wethersfield CDE, which was recently canceled, to the Fair Hill
International. The relocation is subject to the formal approval of the AHSA
Executive Committee.
"We are delighted to include the ponies in our competition," said Fair Hill
International Executive Director Patrick McGaughan. "We're confident that
the drivers and ponies competing in the AHSA National Combined Driving Pony
Championships, and their fans and support personnel, will find that the Fair
Hill International is an ideal venue."
Pending the AHSA Executive Committee's approval of the relocation, this
year's Fair Hill International will now feature four exciting equestrian
championships- the USET Fall Eventing Championship CCI***, the USET
Four-in-Hand Driving Championship, the AHSA Single Horse Driving
Championship, and the newly added AHSA National Combined Driving Pony
Championships. The Fair Hill International will also serve as a United
States Equestrian Team (USET) selection trial for the 2002 Four-In-Hand
and Singles Driving World Championships, to be held in Jerez, Spain and
Conty, France, respectively.
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 such as defending champion Phillip Dutton, Karen
and David O'Connor, Nina Fout and Bruce Davidson. The Fair Hill event is one
of just two three-star competitions held in the United States each year, so
riders prime their horses specifically to culminate their competitive
seasons with this celebrated competition.
Likewise, the USET Four-in-Hand Driving Championship and the AHSA Single
Horse
Championship are among the season's highlights for combined drivers. Last
year Tucker Johnson, Oldwick, NJ, won a record fourth straight four-in-hand
title. Pam Pruitt of Durham, CT, won the singles title.
The Fair Hill International also hosts the final leg of the Jaguar Triple
Crown of Driving, presented by Driving Essentials/Glinkowski Carriages.
Kimberly Stover of Warwick, MD, the 1999 Jaguar Triple Crown Champion, took
the lead during the first leg when she won the Advanced Singles division at
the Laurels Combined Driving Event in Unionville, PA in September. Nancy
Johnson of Lincoln, MA has since moved into first place after winning the
Advanced Singles division during the second leg of the Jaguar Triple Crown
of Driving at the Gladstone Driving Event in Gladstone, NJ. With only a few
points separating the leaders after the first two legs, the Fair Hill
International's final leg of the Jaguar Triple Crown of Driving, presented
by Driving Essentials/Glinkowski Carriages, will see fierce competition for
the Jaguar crown.
For novice equestrians, this year's Fair Hill International will also host
the United States Combined Training Association (USCTA) Area II Preliminary,
Training & Novice Horse Trials' Championships. These East Coast
Championships include dressage on Thursday, cross-country on Friday, and
show jumping on Saturday, all from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Fair Hill International also features the new Equine Health Pavilion,
sponsored by Cosequin. The Equine Health Pavilion will feature educational
opportunities with experts from the New Bolton Center at The University of
Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Smartpak (custom packager of
daily supplements for equine feed), and Pennfield Feed together with
Kentucky Equine Research. Talks, demonstrations, and autograph sessions
with international stars of eventing and combined driving will round out the
opportunities in the Equine Health Pavilion.
The Fair Hill International gratefully acknowledges the support of its
sponsors, without whom an event of this magnitude would not be possible,
including Cosequin, the United States Equestrian Team, Banner Life
Insurance, Bit of Britain, First Union Private Capital Management, Glenmede
Trust, Jaguar, Nawpac, 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.