Lexington, KY - Two members of the Gold-medal winning 2011 Pan American Games Eventing Team, Buck Davidson and Michael Pollard, and the alternate, Kristin Schmolze, were awarded Land Rover Competition and Training Grants to travel to Temecula, CA and compete at the Galway Downs CCI, November 4-6.

Davidson and Pollard were each awarded $8,000 grant to contest the CCI3*, while Schmolze was awarded a $6,000 grant to compete in the CCI2*.

Because of logistical and timing conflicts due to being part of the Pan American Games squad, Davidson, Pollard were unable to compete at Fair Hill International CCI3* in early October – the only CCI3* on the East Coast. The Pan Am horses flew to Guadalajara on the cross country day of Fair Hill. The athletes couldn’t be in two places at once. Schmolze was part of the Pan American equation with Ballylaffin Bracken until the horses departed – she is also riding her CCI3* horse at Galway.

The following athlete/horse combinations received grants:

CCI3* - $8,000
Buck Davidson (Ocala, FL) and Carl and Cassandra Segal’s BallyNoe Castle RM
BallyNoe Castle RM is an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding

Michael Pollard (Dalton, GA) and Jack Pollard’s Jude’s Law
Jude’s Law is a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding

CCI2*- $6,000
Kristin Schmolze (Califon, NJ) and Bill and Janet Schmolze’s Ballylaffin Bracken
Ballylaffin Bracken is an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse

Land Rover is also the Official Vehicle Sponsor of the Galway Downs CCI – competitors and spectators can take advantage of the Land Rover experience – a unique off-road test drive while at the competition.

“We are excited that our support of the USEF and the Land Rover Grant Program will help this group of competitors develop their skill and experience at the International level and in preparation for the 2012 London Olympics," said Kim McCullough, Brand VP Marketing, Land Rover North America, LLC. “And Land Rover has a rich heritage in the sport of Eventing in the UK and our support of the U.S. team riders will continue that tradition and expand upon our brand association with this very dynamic and challenging sport in the United States and on a global level.”

ENDS

For more information about the Galway Downs CCI, please visit: http://delmareventing.org/. 

For more information about the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team, please visit: http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/EventersinEurope/