This year’s Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event (LRK3DE) marks the 21st edition of North America’s only four-star event. When the event first began hosting a four-star level competition in 1998, a new US Equestrian (USEF) national championship was also created to recognize the achievements of U.S. athletes. The Land Rover/USEF CCI4* Eventing National Championship title goes to the highest-placed U.S. athlete in the LRK3DE.

The winner of the Land Rover/USEF CCI4* Eventing National Championship earns the Roger Haller Trophy. The late Roger Haller was an internationally respected course designer, event organizer, judge, and technical delegate. Haller got his start in eventing as a competitor, and in 1972, he was an alternate rider for the U.S. squad for the Munich Olympic Games. He went on to hold various official roles within the sport, including course designer. Haller designed the cross-country courses for the 1978 World Championships in Lexington, Ky., and the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, making him the third person ever to design courses at the two major events.

Following Haller’s passing in 2016, friends and family raised funds to commission a trophy to be made in his honor and presented to the Land Rover/USEF CCI4* Eventing National Champion. Kerry Millikin, a 1987 Kentucky Three-Day Event winner and 1996 Olympic individual bronze-medalist, was selected as the artist for the job, and she created a magnificent bronze trophy to honor Haller. This year marks the first time the trophy will be presented at the event.

While the national champion takes the top prizes in the Land Rover/USEF CCI4* Eventing National Championship, the 10 highest-placed U.S. athletes in the LRK3DE field are acknowledged for their performances. While there have been occasions when the national champion was also the overall winner of the LRK3DE, it is not always the case. This situation explains why fans may notice multiple championship ribbons and coolers during Sunday’s award ceremony.

Several past national champions are returning to the 2018 LRK3DE. Buck Davidson, Phillip Dutton, Lauren Kieffer, and Kim Severson are all multiple-time national champions and have talented mounts who could help them add a title to their resumes. See a list of past Land Rover/USEF CCI4* Eventing National Champions below.

 

Land Rover/USEF CCI4* Eventing National Champions

2017 Phillip Dutton/Mr. Medicott

2016 Lauren Kieffer/Veronica

2015 Phillip Dutton/Fernhill Cubalawn

2014 Lauren Kieffer/Veronica

2013 Buck Davidson/Ballynoe Castle RM

2012 Allison Springer/Arthur

2011 Sinead Halpin/Manoir de Carneville

2010 Phillip Dutton/Woodburn

2009 Buck Davidson/My Boy Bobby

2008 Phillip Dutton/Connaught

2007 Phillip Dutton/Connaught

2006 Heidi White/Northern Spy

2005 Kim Severson/Winsome Adante

2004 Kim Severson/Winsome Adante

2003 Buck Davidson/Mystic Mike

2002 Kim Severson/Winsome Adante

2001 David O’Connor/Giltedge

2000 David O’Connor/Rattle N Hum

1999 Karen O’Connor/Prince Panache

1998 Dorothy Crowell/Molokai

 

While you are watching the excitement unfold at the LRK3DE, keep an eye on the results to see which U.S. athletes are in the running to claim the Land Rover/USEF CCI4* Eventing National Championship. After the event ends on Sunday afternoon, the national champion will officially be crowned during the awards ceremony.