Tim Price and Xavier Faer. Photo by Shelby Allen.
We’re winding down with just one month to go before the inaugural Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, just the seventh CCI5* in the world and the second in North America, and in celebration we’ve got a first look at entries — and plenty of famous faces to look forward to! The Maryland 5 Star is slated to begin on October 14, concluding on October 17.
The Maryland 5 Star will be a unique CCI5* in that we will also see the USEF National CCI3*-L Championship as well as the East Coast Young Event Horse Championships running concurrently with the marquee division. The organizing team at Maryland has also secured several fan experiences such as a Beer & Wine Showcase, a Fresh Food Festival, a full vendor fair and loads of food and drink vendors on hand throughout the weekend.
The CCI3*-L has already gone to wait-list status due to its popularity, and as of publication we have a total of 38 entries — including, so far, three riders who will be hopping aboard the Dutta Corp. flight generously arranged with booking discounts as well as ground transport provided by Brookledge Horse Transportation once the overseas entries arrive in the States. Joining the entry list will be New Zealand Olympians Jonelle Price, who will bring forward 2018 Badminton winner Classic Moet (who also finished seventh on her first trip to Kentucky earlier this year), and Tim Price, who will ride Xavier Faer, with whom he finished second at Kentucky in April.
Sammi Birch and Hunter Valley II. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Australian rider Sammi Birch, who just finished 11th at the pop-up Bicton CCI5* with Finduss PFB, will also make her first trip to the U.S. with Hunter Valley II, a 16-year-old Australian Sport Horse gelding who finished fourth at Pau in 2017. Sammi moved to Britain to base in 2005 and is a certified bad-ass; she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018 and, despite undergoing major surgery to remove the cancerous cells, competed at the top levels of the sport and raised her son, Charlie, all throughout. “I look back now and think I was nuts. I can now say I didn’t really face the cancer,” Sammi told HorseDeals.com last year. “I think I blocked it and just focussed everything on the horses and WEG. It was the only way I could get through it. It is safe to say that when Gizmo was injured and WEG was no longer on the cards, I hit rock bottom. I had to face the fact that I had cancer and was to have major surgery. I have learnt a lot about myself. It turns out I am pretty grumpy if I can’t ride!”
Also featuring on the CCI5* entry list at Maryland will be Tokyo Olympians Phillip Dutton (who will ride Fernhill Singapore and Sea of Clouds), Boyd Martin (who will ride Long Island T and On Cue) and Doug Payne (who will ride Quantum Leap), as well as Buck Davidson with three rides (Carlevo, Erroll Gobey, Jak My Style), Will Faudree (Pfun and Mama’s Magic Way) and Lauren Nicholson (Landmark’s Monte Carlo and Vermiculus) with two, and CCI5* debutants Ashlynn Meuchel (Emporium) and Lexi Scovil (Chico’s Man VDF Z). ETA: Emma Lomangino will also be making her first CCI5* start with Master Frisky — sorry for the omission, Emma!
Buck Davidson and Carlevo. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Entries close this Wednesday, September 15, and we’ve seen rumblings that we’ll see some West coast representatives filling in so no doubt we’ll have a few more to add to this star-studded list later this week. You can keep track of the entries for all divisions here — and don’t forget to snag your tickets as this will be a spectator-friendly event! You can do so here. Stay tuned for more from Maryland, and Go Eventing!
Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill: [Website] [Tickets] [Entries]
Maryland CCI5* Entries as of 9/13:
- Fylicia Barr and Galloway Sunrise
- Sammi Birch and Hunter Valley
- Jennie Brannigan and Stella Artois
- Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot
- Will Coleman and DonDante
- Will Coleman and Tight Lines
- Zoe Crawford and K.E.C. Zara
- Buck Davidson and Carlevo
- Buck Davidson and Erroll Gobey
- Buck Davidson and Jak My Style
- Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Singapore
- Phillip Dutton and Sea of Clouds
- Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way
- Will Faudree and Pfun
- Lisa Marie Fergusson and Honor Me
- Clayton Fredericks and FE Stormtrooper
- Emily Hamel and Corvett
- Lillian Head and LCC Barnaby
- Ema Klugman and Bendigo
- Alexandra Knowles and Morswood
- Leslie Law and Voltaire De Tre
- Emma Lomagino and Master Frisky
- Boyd Martin and Long Island T
- Boyd Martin and On Cue
- Caroline Martin and Islandwood Captain Jack
- Joe Meyer and Johnny Royale
- Ashlynn Meuchel and Emporium
- Lauren Nicholson and Landmark’s Monte Carlo
- Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus
- Doug Payne and Quantum Leap
- Mike Pendleton and Steady Eddie
- Jessica Phoenix and Bogue Sound
- Jonelle Price and Classic Moet
- Tim Price and Xavier Faer
- Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights
- Lexi Scovil and Chico’s Man VDF Z
- Valerie Vizcarrondo Pride and Favian
- Sharon White and Cooley On Show
