Fair Hill, MD - Nathalie Bouckaert Pollard proved the leader in the third day of eventing at Fair Hill, finishing the show jumping course of the 2005 USEF National Three-Star Eventing Championship to exuberant applause. The final ride on the 12-year-old British Sport Horse gelding, West Farthing, was good enough to clinch the overall win at the 2005 Championship, which took place once again at the beautiful grounds of Fair Hill International in Fair Hill, Maryland, October 14-16.

The top three competitors going into the final day were all in their early twenties, suggesting a promising future for the sport of eventing in the United States. Going into show jumping, Nathalie Pollard, Will Faudree and Robyn Fisher entered the stadium all within one rail of each other. All three maintained their original dressage scores too, having picked up no additional faults from a rather tricky day of cross country that changed many of their fellow riders' standings on the leaderboard.

Despite the sunshine and cooperation from mother nature, Derek diGrazia's course caused problems for riders scattered among fences. Time also proved to be a factor as only nine riders, out of 63 that started the course, came in under the time allowed. The weather cooperated again on Sunday and a large crowd gathered to watch the horses and riders test Sally Ike's show jumping course. As with cross country, it proved challenging, with only seven double clear rounds. Robyn Fisher and her own Le Samurai dropped two rails and moved into fourth place, opening the door for Australia's Phillip Dutton, riding Hannigan. The pair left all the rails up and added one time penalty. This allowed Pollard, riding West Farthing, and Faudree, riding Antigua, one rail to remain in the top two positions. Each horse and rider pair knocked only one rail down, securing their first and second place positions respectively.

Along with winning the 2005 USEF National Three-Star Eventing Championship, Pollard also won the USEF Under 25 Championship. Robyn Fisher and Le Samurai won the USEF National Owner Rider Championship.

Results from the 2005 USEF National Three-Star Eventing Championship

1. Nathalie Bouckaert Pollard, USA, West Farthing, 44.40

2. Will Faudree, USA, Antigua, 47.90

3. Phillip Dutton, AUS, Hannigan, 50.60

4. Robin Fisher, USA, Le Samurai, 52.00

5. Phillip Dutton, AUS, Connaught, 58.00

6. Robert Costello, USA, Wild Delight, 58.10

7. Buck Davidson, USA, Hyperlite, 59.30

8. Stuart Black, USA, Fleeceworks Starlight, 60.60

9. Mara Dean, USA, Good Stuff, 61.50

10. Karen O'Connor, USA, Upstage, 62.20

For more information, please contact Sarah Lane, Public Relations Manager, on (859) 225-6974 or via e-mail at slane@usef.org. USEF press releases can be found on our website, www.usef.org .