From June 19-21, Land Rover Great Meadow International presented by Adequan dished up equine and humane equestrian stars to compete in the inaugural $30,000 CIC3* and the Land Rover USA 3-Day Team's final Pan Am preparation trial.

Following on the success of last year's World Equestrian Games Prep Trial for the US team, Great Meadow continues to establish its worth as a spectator-friendly, international eventing venue. Already home to steeplechasing's popular Virginia and International Gold Cups, polo, show jumping, and non-horsey activities of all kinds, Great Meadow welcomes about 200,000 spectators annually.

With the Fédération Equestre International (FEI) deliberating Great Meadow Interntional's application to host an eventing Nations Cup next year, the recently completed Land Rover CIC3* and Pan Am Prep Event offers serious proof of Great Meadow's ability to put on a first-class 3-day event. Fingers are crossed as everyone waits for the FEI's official announcement.

Local eventers in the CIC3* and Pan Am Prep included Middleburg's Lauren Kieffer, Kurt Martin, and Lynn Symansky, and Sara Kozumplik Murphy whose Overlook Farm straddles the state line at Berryville. Olympians Karen and David O'Connor, the "first family of eventing" so to speak, are based in The Plains. Each is a 3-day Chef d'Equipe: David for the USA, Karen for Mexico. In fact, Mexico's four riders competed in the Pan Am Prep Event. Both USA and Mexico will go for the gold next month in Toronto when the Pan Am Games serve as an essential qualifier for the 2016 Olympics.

Symansky finished second on Donner in the CIC3*, just 3 points behind the winner, Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda. Colleen Rutledge, based in nearby Frederick, Md., was third. Rounding out the "local" talent, Kurt Martin aboard DeLux Z finished 8th, Kozumplik Murphy and Fly Me Courageous were 10th.

Symansky, who injured her back last week, decided to go day by day and see how she felt. "I felt pretty good, so I did the show jumping and then felt I could go today," she said. "Donner really stepped up to the plate [on the cross-country] and I have to say I'm very happy with how everything turned out."

In the Pan Am Prep, the Land Rover US Team of Phillip Dutton, Lauren Kieffer, Marilyn Little and Boyd Martin, plus alternates Will Faudree and Matthew Brown, were joined by one Brazilian rider and the Mexican team. Kieffer partnered with Meadowbrook's Scarlett, owned by Marie Le Menestrel, for the win and also finished 6th on Jacqueline Mars's Vermiculous. Little (Frederick, Md.) was second with RF Scandalous, and Boyd Martin with Pancho Villa was third, followed by Brown and BCR Belicoso. Dutton was fifth on Fernhill Fugitive.

"Great Meadow ran a fabulous event," said Kieffer. "We couldn't have gotten a better place to prepare. Everything held up well. The organizers were very smart adjusting for the storms and everything else. I am very proud to be part of Team USA and we're going to do our best to bring home the gold."

On Saturday, severe weather warnings prompted organizers to start the show jumping at 5. It was a smart call, and the Pan Am class concluded just before the first drops fell. Thunderstorms and high winds, along with a tornado warning for the area, hammered Great Meadow whose personnel proved, once again, that they can handle anything.

"We could have had better weather, but even with the remnants of Tropical Storm Bob coming through Saturday, the turf stood up well on Sunday and, overall, I think we put on a great show," said Robert Banner, Great Meadow Foundation president. "The new arena will be ready next summer. You know what they say about three's the charm."

Before the awards presentations, Great Meadow held a ground-breaking ceremony that celebrated the construction of the state-of-the-art, all-weather footing arena, which will be ready next summer. The design includes a berm and vantage points for spectators as well as a nearby water complex for the cross-country.

"Last year, we learned so much," continued Banner. "We have the best resources: David O'Connor, Mike Etherington-Smith to design the cross-country, Richard Jeffery for the show jumping course, plus so many incredible people, our supporters and our sponsors, Land Rover, Adequan, the U.S. Equestrian Federation and U.S. Eventing Association. We're very hopeful that the FEI will approve our Nations Cup application, because we're looking forward to inviting the world to Land Rover Great Meadow International."

For more information: www.greatmeadowinternational.com