Oliver Townend Tops the
By Katherine O. Rizzo T is year’s MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair
Hill was certainly one for the record books, with eight out of 23 entries completing the CCI5*- L division October 16-20. T e cross-country phase, designed by now-retired international course designer Ian Stark (GBR) as his last offi cial international cross-country course, turned out to be the deciding factor in the fi nal standings of the division. Seven riders retired on course with six eliminated while on course and two withdrawing before starting cross-country. Many have speculated that the drought here in Maryland combined with the challenging terrain of Fair Hill and unusually hot weather for October took a toll on some horses, causing them to tire more easily than normal. “People are still trying to
they retired to save their horses for another day and they did the right thing,” she said. Pride added that the organizers and ground crew were “amazing and worked so hard to get as much water as possible on that course.” Oliver Townend of Great Britain rode the very
experienced fi ve-star horse Ballaghmore Class to a 26.5% in dressage to sit in second place head- ing into the cross-country phase. T e pair were out on course towards the end of the division and showed the world their experience by jumping clean with just a few time faults. T ey moved into fi rst place after Tamra Smith retired Mai Baum, also very experi- enced at this level, near the end of the course.
Five-star event rider and international eventing judge Valerie Pride made her fi ve-star debut as a member of the CCI5*-L Ground Jury.
fi gure out what type of horse you need for Mary- land [5 Star],” said international fi ve-star event rider and judge Valerie Pride. “Maryland [5 Star] is still a new fi ve-star and there is a saying that there are diff erent ‘horses for courses’ and that may have played into the results this year.” Pride, who is based out of Harwood, was on hand all week as one of the CCI5*-L Ground Jury members and has fi rsthand knowledge of Stark’s courses at Fair Hill, having ridden in the inaugural Maryland 5 Star aboard Favian. T e pair fi nished 23rd out of 46 competitors that year. “At this level, it is rare to have a bunch of people coming in [off cross-country] with no jump faults and being fast enough,” Pride explained. “But a fi ve star is a fi ve star and this year’s course was proper for the level.” Pride agreed that the drought and unusu-
ally warm temperatures played a factor in many riders’ decisions about if they should run cross-country or not, or if they should retire on course. “If someone had a problem early on,
www.equiery.com | 800-244-9580 David Doel (GBR)
jumped clean and inside the time on cross-country with Galileo Nieuwoed to move into second place,
while Tim Price (NZL) jumped clean with a few time faults aboard Falco to sit in third. On the fi nal day of competition, eight horses
were presented to the Ground Jury at the fi nal horse inspection with all eight continu- ing to show jumping. Pride stated that all eight horses were, “re- ally fi t and looked re- ally good at the jog.” In show jumping, Price jumped clean to move into second place after Doel dropped a rail. Townend kept all the poles in the cups to become
the fourth
winner of the Mary- land 5 Star CCI5*-L. He had fi nished in the top three at all the
Former Marylander Lillian Heard Wood offi cially retired her fi ve-star mount LCC Barnaby after fi nishing eighth in this year’s CCI5*-L, which was the pair’s 15th
fi ve-star start! THE EQUIERY YOUR MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION | DECEMBER 2024 | 21
previous Maryland 5 Star events. T is Maryland 5 Star held special signifi cance
for Pride who was offi ciating in her fi rst fi ve- star. “I am so proud to be part of this event and I’m super thankful that all the stars aligned for this to be my fi rst fi ve star as a judge,” she said, adding, “Maryland is my home and it was so special for me.” Former Marylander and Seneca Valley Pony Club graduate Lillian Heard Wood, now based in Pennsylvania, fi nished eighth this year. She has competed in and completed every Mary- land 5 Star to date with longtime partner LCC Barnaby. T ey previously fi nished 10th in 2023, 11th in 2022 and 18th in 2021. T e eighth place fi nish was also their top fi ve-star fi nish. “I feel so lucky having grown up in Maryland and have personally benefi ted from such a great horse industry in the state,” Wood said. “So, to have now an event at the highest level of the sport here in Maryland is really special. T e event was already fabulous from the start but it keeps getting better and better each year.” T is year’s event marked the 15th
fi ve-star
Wood has competed with Barnaby over his 12 years competing in the sport. “I think he is the most incredible horse, even though he has tried to kill me a few times,” she said with a laugh.
continued...
Athletux Photo
Katherine O. Rizzo
Shannon Brinkman Photography
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