(MAHWAH, N.J.) – July 5, 2016 ‑ For the second consecutive year, Land Rover North America will return as Title Sponsor of the 2016 Great Meadow International presented by Adequan, which runs from July 8‑10, 2016. The prestigious CICO3* competition is one of the highlights of the US Eventing calendar and welcomes the nation’s top equestrian athletes. This year will come with added pressure for the homebred riders as the esteemed competition will act as the final preparatory event for riders from the 2016 U.S. Olympic Eventing Team prior to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
One key member of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Eventing Team announced by the USEF on June 20, 2016, Lauren Kieffer, will not only be concentrating on her new place on the team, but will also be hoping to defend her 2015 Great Meadow International title. Her most recent performance at the Four‑Star Rolex Kentucky Three‑Day Event Presented by Land Rover saw her claim the Land Rover Best Ride of the Day and the Rolex/USEF CCI4* National Championship. Should this recent run of form continue, Kieffer will be a hot contender to win back‑to‑back victories. The 2016 Land Rover Great Meadow International will feature riders from the 2016 U.S. Olympic Eventing Team including Phillip Dutton, Lauren Kieffer, Boyd Martin, Clark Montgomery, and traveling reserve, Maya Black.
This year the Land Rover Great Meadow International is set to enter the history books, as the FEI and USEF have chosen the event to host the first‑ever FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing Competition outside of Europe. This selection reflects the continued international growth and profile of the event and contributes to the pinnacle level of equestrian sport that spectators are treated to throughout the weekend.
"Returning as title sponsor of this event in such a beautiful equestrian setting is a perfect fit for Land Rover. The venue provides a wonderful backdrop to showcase our latest vehicle line‑up, and at the same time, offers us an opportunity to support the equestrian community through our USEF and U.S. Eventing Team sponsorships," said Kim McCullough, Brand Vice President, Jaguar Land Rover. "We are excited about the growth of the event this year with the addition of the FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing competition and the development of the new arena. With its new format, Great Meadow is providing top‑class International competition for event attendees, and has improved competitive conditions for the surrounding equestrian community.
In addition to watching some of the world’s top riders in action, spectators will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the full range of luxury Land Rover vehicles displayed onsite. Land Rover continues its momentum in 2016 with the introduction of new powertrains, upgraded infotainment and connectivity systems, as well as enhanced driver assistance features across its range of vehicles.
Introduced for the 2015 model year, the new 2016 Discovery Sport features a bold and progressive design, which defines the new Discovery family of vehicles. Garnering international acclaim for its capability and versatility, the 2016 Land Rover LR4, with seating available for up to seven adult passengers, showcases continued on‑road refinement and off‑road leadership. The entire Range Rover Evoque model range receives both interior and exterior revisions in addition to an all‑new 2017 Range Rover Evoque Convertible model and added last year in the North American market, a diesel engine is now available on the 2016 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport 3.0L V6 turbo‑diesel powertrains.
The action‑packed weekend offers a variety of entertainment both on and off the saddle. On Friday July 8, The Land Rover Great Meadow International will open its doors for free, as part of the celebration Opening Ceremony followed by the crowd pleasing Morningside Bareback Puissance Class, which is set to get pulses racing. As well as inspecting the luxury Land Rover vehicles on display, members of the public can also have a first glimpse of the impressive $1 Million arena constructed especially for this prestigious event. For guests who want a first‑class shopping experience, the grand opening of the Meadow Market Trade Show is not to be missed.
The Dressage and Show Jumping action will take place on Friday and Saturday in the new main arena. The climax of the event will be the imposing cross‑country phase which takes place on Sunday morning with the ever‑popular tailgating a key attraction to the thousands of spectators who flock to the competition to see the action. A unique asset to the stunning location of the event in the heart of the Virginia equestrian countryside, is the vantage point which allows spectators to see nearly all of the cross‑country course which is built on the enviable race circuit.
To learn more about the 2016 Land Rover Great Meadow International, please visit: http://www.greatmeadowinternational.com