High Hopes for U.S. Eventing Team at the 2015 Pan American Games
09 July 2015
The 2015 Pan American Games are set to get underway tomorrow (Friday, July 10) in Toronto, with over 6,100 athletes from 41 nations taking part in over 36 different sports.
Jaguar Land Rover North America, and its customers, will be focused on the performances of the U.S. Pan American Eventing Team - riders Lauren Kieffer, Marilyn Little, Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton.
While the Pan Am Games run for about two weeks, July 17, 18 and 19 will be the days when the most cheers are heard, as these are the days when the team will compete in the grueling Three-Day Eventing part of the competition.
Often called the triathlon of equestrianism, the Three-Day Eventing portion of the competition is where the same horse and rider compete in three separate disciplines: Dressage, Show Jumping, and Cross Country.
To help with often-challenging transportation needs, a fleet of 2015 Land Rover LR4 and Range Rover vehicles has been shipped to Toronto for the team’s exclusive use.
“Land Rover is a very proud supporter of the U.S. Eventing Team and our United States Equestrian Federation partners. Our hopes, expectations and sincerest best wishes go out to the U.S. Pan America Eventing Team, its riders, and Chef d’Equipe,” says Kim McCullough, Vice President of Marketing, Jaguar Land Rover North America.
Fresh from her victory in the Pan American Games Preparation Event at the recent Land Rover Great Meadow International presented by Adequan in The Plains, VA last month, 28-year-old Lauren Kieffer has enjoyed a remarkable year so far.
It began with a win in March at Red Hills International in Tallahassee, Fla. followed by several top 10 placings throughout the spring. At the recent Jersey Fresh International, Kieffer took a class first and second. For the Games, she will be riding Marie Le Menestrel's eight-year-old mare, Meadowbrook’s Scarlet.
Marilyn Little, who is 34, was a successful show jumper at the International Grand Prix level before taking up the sport of eventing in the fall of 2010. This year, Little has had six wins in FEI competition and, together with Raylyn Farms Inc. and Phoebe and Michael Manders' 10-year-old mare RF Scandalous, has remained unbeaten since the pair’s Galway Downs International win in October 2014. For the Games, Little will be riding RF Scandalous.
Australian native Boyd Martin, 37, who relocated to the U.S. in 2007, was the highest-placed American at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Martin has already had a busy, and successful spring, taking a second at the Carolina International, second at Fair Hill and third at the Jersey Fresh. He will be riding the 12-year-old gelding Pancho Villa in Toronto.
Hugely-experienced Phillip Dutton, 53, is also a native of Australia, acquiring U.S. citizenship in 2006. After a storied career, in which he was part of the Gold Medal winning team, and Individual Silver Medalist, at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio, he continues to take the podium.
At this year’s Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Land Rover, riding the 12-year-old gelding Fernhill Cubalawn, Dutton was named 2015 Rolex/USEF CC14* Eventing National Champion. For the Games, he will be taking both Fernhill Cubalawn and Fernhill Fugative.
“This is a hugely-talented team of riders and horses, with very strong leadership and support. This is a team that is definitely going for Gold,” adds McCullough.
The opening ceremony for the 2015 Pan American Games will take place tomorrow, Friday, July 10 at 6.45pm EDT.