Mike Etherington-Smith
In addition to hosting several international teams in the first-ever FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing competition to be held outside Europe July 8-10, the Land Rover Great Meadow International presented by Adequan® will also be the final prep for the U.S. Eventing Team before they go to the summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
With the development of the $1 Million arena, Etherington-Smith, who has served as course designer at the world's most significant events including two Olympic Games, is taking advantage of the grounds layout and providing a spectator friendly cross-country course while giving competitors a solid 3* run. Etherington-Smith leveraged the track from last year's course while incorporating the new arena, placing spectators in the heart of the course to cheer on the Olympic and other world-class riders.
"Great Meadow is a venue with fantastic views," said Etherington-Smith., returning for his second year as Great Meadow's cross-country course designer. "The new arena has produced fantastic opportunities to expand the course and be inviting to both spectators and competitors. This event is a milestone for the U.S. with the Nations Cup and especially during an Olympic year. "
The course runs 3,006 meters and consists of 33 jumping efforts, with additional loops to bring riders through the newly constructed arena. The course, being slightly larger than last year, was designed and built to be a solid 3* competition. However, Etherington-Smith's goal was to provide a course that would allow riders to get into a good rhythm and showcase what the horses and riders can do.
"While the course is a touch bigger than last year, it is a solid 3* track," said Etherington-Smith. "Its difficulty will be for riders to really ride the course and find their rhythm. The course provides both horses and riders an opportunity to showcase what they can do while achieving standards at this level of completion."
Spectators are encouraged to come out on Friday, July 8 for a "Free on Friday" celebration which will include an Opening Ceremony followed by the Morningside Bareback Puissance class, sponsored by Morningside Training Farm, which is a high-jumping bareback competition with a $2,000 grand prize. Spectators will also get a chance to inspect the new $1 Million arena and the grand opening of the Meadow Market Trade Show.
Ticket packages for the Land Rover Great Meadow International, Presented by Adequan® are now on sale and can be purchased online now at http://bit.ly/GMITickets. For those interested in a unique up-close experience, Great Meadow also offers Cross-Country Tailgate options in addition to Corporate and several upscale VIP Hospitality Packages featuring gourmet food, front-row seating and much more! Further details are available at http://www.greatmeadowinternational.com/#!tickets/ct8u.
About The Great Meadow Foundation
Great Meadow was founded through the vision of news executive and philanthropist Arthur W. (Nick) Arundel in 1982. Arundel purchased an abandoned farm then slated to become a housing development for perpetual preservation of open space. The concept for Great Meadow grew out of several converging forces of the 1980s, primarily urban growth pressure on farmland near Washington, the opening of I-66 and the simultaneous loss of the former Virginia Gold Cup course in Warrenton to subdivision development. Since their inception, they have been the permanent home for the Virginia Gold Cup and Family 4th of July celebrations. Over the years they have added several more community events, ranging from Twilight Polo to the Virginia State Cross Country Tournaments. For more information, please visit www.greatmeadow.org.