United States Eventing Association

Baltimore, Maryland – September 17, 2021 – Oliver Townend of Great Britain, World #1 on the FEI Eventing World Athlete Rankings, heads an All-Star list of riders currently entered to compete in the inaugural Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill. The list also includes the world’s #2, #7 and #8 ranked riders as well as Olympians from five countries. Townend will compete with his accomplished gelding, Cooley Master Class, winner of back-to-back Kentucky Three-Day titles (2018-2019).

The Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, one of only two five-star level events in the United States and just the seventh worldwide, is set for October 14-17 at the newly constructed Fair Hill Special Event Zone in Elkton, Maryland (Cecil County). The event’s prestigious five-star (CCI5*) designation is the pinnacle of the Olympic sport of Eventing, often described as an equestrian triathlon.

Joining Townend, team Gold Medalist at the Tokyo Olympic Games, are previously announced New Zealand Olympians Tim and Jonelle Price, ranked #2 and #7 respectively, plus the entire U.S. Olympic Team from Tokyo:

• Phillip Dutton (USA) – seven-time Olympic veteran with two team Gold Medals and the 2016 individual Bronze
• Boyd Martin (USA) – three-time Olympic veteran and World ranked #8
• Doug Payne (USA) – sixth-placed individual at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games and World ranked #20

Joining them are the following Olympic veterans representing Australia, Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand and the U.S.

• Clayton Fredericks (AUS) – two-time Olympic veteran and 2008 team Silver Medalist
• Hawley Bennett-Awad (CAN) – two-time Olympic veteran
• Jessica Phoenix (CAN) – two-time Olympic veteran
• Leslie Law (GBR) – two-time Olympic veteran with two team Silver Medals and the 2004 individual Gold
• Joe Meyer (NZL) – 2008 Olympic veteran
• Lauren Kieffer Nicholson (USA) – 2016 Olympic veteran and World ranked #15
• Will Coleman (USA) – 2012 Olympic veteran

The full list of entries to-date is available at https://maryland5star.us/entries/. FEI definite entries close on September 30. More announcements will be made as entries continue to come in.

In addition to the five-star competition (CCI5*-L), the event will feature a three-star competition as well (CCI3*-L), which is serving as the USEF CCI3*-L Eventing National Championship, and The Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships Presented by Dubarry of Ireland. The four days of eventing competition will feature dressage (Thu-Fri), cross-country (Sat) showcasing the new Ian Stark designed courses, and show jumping (Sun).

For ticket information please visit https://maryland5star.us/tickets/.

About the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill:

One of only two five-star events in the United States, and just the seventh worldwide, the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill will continue the storied legacy of Eventing at the new Fair Hill Special Event Zone in Elkton, Maryland, located in Cecil County. The prestigious five-star (CCI5*-L) designation is the pinnacle of the Olympic sport of Eventing, best described as an equestrian triathlon. The Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill is produced by The Fair Hill Organizing Committee, an affiliate of the Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland, and in partnership with Fair Hill International. The Maryland Food Bank serves as an event beneficiary.