Articles: Press Release

Contact:
Ann Haller, (410) 392-4613 or ann.haller@yahoo.com

Fair Hill, MD-October 18, 2009- Martin had two rails in hand going into the final show jumping phase and with only one rail down he claimed his first CCI*** win and his first big win riding for the United States (55.0). Martin also finished sixth overall riding Ron and Densey Juvonen's Dutch Warmblood gelding, Remington XXV (64.0). His win earned Martin the Fair Hill Bronze, the USEF Guy V. Henry Memorial Trophy and the Gladstone Trophy for the highest placed US Horse, presented by the USET Foundation "I just wanted the horse to jump well," said Martin. "I felt in the warm-up he was full of life and making a good shape in the air. I wasn't worried about having rails down, I just wanted him to jump well. I think you can get stuck on the result and the mathematics of the course rather than riding as well as you can. I basically want to ride as well as I can and focus on each jump."

Martin continued, "For me personally I have come second a number of times in CCI***'s, and finally I have won one. I've won a one-star, two-star and four-star before and it was eating away at me a little bit. I've come close and just couldn't quite do it so I had a little pressure on myself because it was a mark in my life."

Martin previously competed for Australia, but he had dual citizenship because his mother is an American citizen, and earlier this year he got approval from the FEI to represent the United States in international competition. In 2007 he placed second riding Ying Yang Yo and fourth riding Neville Bardos at Fair Hill, representing Australia. Neville Bardos also finished ninth at the Rolex Kentucky CCI four-star in 2008 but has not competed in any major competitions since then due to minor injuries.

Karen O'Connor of The Plains, VA and Joan Goswell's 9-year-old thoroughbred gelding Mandiba finished second (59.2) with one rail down, earning the Beale Wright Morris Memorial Trophy, the Leading Lady Rider award. O'Connor was tied for second with Phillip Dutton of West Grove, PA on Kheops du Quesnay, but with two rails down Dutton dropped out of the top three into fourth position, allowing Kelly Sult of Erie, PA, to finish third with Hollywood (60.0). Sult also won the USEF National Under 25 Championship and the USEF National Owner/Rider Championship, as well as the Edward Johnson Memorial Trophy for the highest placed Adult Amateur.

Impressed with her new fellow countryman's success, O'Connor said, "Boyd is going to up the game for everyone who wants to play - he's just as fierce at training level as at the four-star level. He's right that if you think about keeping the rails in the cups you're not learning how to be competitive in the moment by focusing on your job. It's great having him as an American and I hope to be on a team with him very soon."

Olivia Loiacono of Bonsall, CA, her 13-year-old thoroughbred gelding Subway finished 13th overall to win the Markham Trophy for the highest-placed Young Rider.

35 horses completed the CCI***competition, out of an original 66 starters. Canadian Rebecca Howard was the top placing Foreign rider on Riddle Master at ninth place (67.6).

Hannah Sue Burnett, 23, of Ocala, FL, and Dick Thompson's 8-year-old Thoroughbred gelding St. Barths won the CCI**.

Dick Thomas, whose wife Vita passed away last year, created the Sea Horse Farm Perpetual Trophy which was presented to the owner of the winning horse of the CCI**, so Mr. Thompson stepped forward to award himself the trophy in his wife's memory.

Commenting on her ride she said, "I was worried about getting too close to the last one because it was a tight distance, I thought I was right on the eight but I wasn't and we crashed through it. I was seeing the rails keep going right in front of me and I was looking for the finish flags and trying to see the finish, and get my stirrups back."

Burnett didn't know she had a rail in hand, so she paused after the finish before realizing that she had won. "I was proud my horse took care of me. Show jumping is my favorite phase and I felt confident in my horse because he's a good jumper. I wasn't really nervous but it caught up with me at the last fence!"

Doug Payne and Running Order jumped a clear round to finish second. "We were tied for 8th coming into cross-country and I figured I had a good shot- the conditions were to his benefit," said Payne of his 7-year-old Irish thoroughbred gelding. "I didn't think he'd be ready to do as well as he has. He'll probably do one more CCI**, he's only done four intermediates so he'll probably do Jersey in the spring before he moves up."

Running Order won the long-format one-star in Virginia this spring and Payne said that was a key part of his success as a two-star horse. "He has moved up a lot faster than I thought he would. He did prelim in Aiken this winter, and the long format helped him grow up a lot, it was really part of the process."

Canadian Rebecca Howard who is based in Norwood, North Carolina, finished third with The Fork Stables' 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood/thoroughbred gelding Roquefort. The pair was in second place going into the final phase but had one rail down.

"I'm overall really happy with my horse, he was great all weekend," said Howard. "I'm obviously disappointed; I don't think I've ever had a rail with him. I changed some equipment because yesterday the mouthpiece broke from the side of his bit on cross-country. I only realized it in the cool-out yesterday and it really rubbed his mouth. He was really keen and very good this morning though."

2009 marks the 20th year that General Jack Burton has been Chief Steward at Fair Hill. General Burton also celebrated his 90th birthday and Jim Wofford presented him with a birthday cake during the break between the two and three-star show jumping. Announcer Brian O'Connor led the audience in singing happy birthday. Local horseman Elkins Weatherhill also celebrated his 90th birthday.

The Dansko Fair Hill International Festival in the Country benefits Union Hospital in Elkton, MD. The hospital, whose mission is to enhance the health and well-being of the residents of Cecil County and its neighboring communities, has been caring for area families and neighbors for nearly 100 years.

Healthy feet, healthy body, healthy planet. That's the spirit behind Dansko. Founded in 1990 by husband and wife team, Peter Kjellerup and Mandy Cabot, both former horse trainers, Dansko shoes, boots, and sandals are now sold in over 2,500 premium retailer locations across North America. Dansko is the leader in all-day comfort footwear.

For more information on this year's Fair Hill, including how to purchase tickets, please call (410) 398-2111 or visit www.fairhillinternational.com