October 19, 2006

Fair Hill International Festival in the Country Gets Started

Olympic and World Championship Equestrians Headline Attractions

Fair Hill, MD—October 18, 2006—This year’s Fair Hill International Festival in the Country is officially underway. Highlighting the 18th annual Festival is world-class equestrian competition is eventing and combined driving. Olympic and World Championship veterans are primed and ready for the excitement of the impending competition.

The Festival once again hosts the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) Eventing CCI*** Championship in addition to Advanced and Intermediate Level Combined Driving competitions.

The Eventing Championship, always popular with spectators for its ultimate combination of speed and precision, endurance and boldness in both horse and rider, is one of only two eventing competitions of such high caliber in the country. As such, it regularly draws some of the world’s best horses and riders. Among those entered this year are Olympic Games medalists such as Phillip Dutton, Bruce Davidson, Sr., Karen O’Connor, and Darren Chiacchia. With the completion of Wednesday’s horse inspection, the eventers are ready for the opening dressage phase on Thursday.

Thursday morning at 8:00 am, the CCI*** Dressage will begin in the William duPont, Jr. Arena. Country Shops, Merchandise Tent and Food Court all open at 8:00 am and will remain open throughout the week. “Horse Play,” a play about horses through history, will take place in the William duPont, Jr. Arena at 5:00 pm.

Fair Hill’s Combined Driving, or carriage driving, competitions are also very exciting to watch. Drivers direct their teams of one, two or four horses or ponies through a three-day test of accuracy, obedience and speed. Maneuvering carriages through challenging obstacles with only inches to spare, plus the added drama of a race against the clock, makes for some of the most heart-pounding action spectators will ever experience.

Stiff competition is expected as those likely to be on hand this year include 2005 Fair Hill winners Suzy Stafford, Lisa Singer, and Tracey Morgan. Stafford was an individual Gold Medalist at the 2005 World Pony Driving Championships. Singer, a seven-time U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) National Pairs Driving Champion, was the highest-placing American when she finished 11th out of 76 entries in last year’s World Pairs Driving Championship.

Driving has its horse inspection on Thursday and the dressage phase starts on Friday at 8:00 am in the Driving arena. CCI*** Dressage action continues on Friday and the CCI*** Start Box will be open to the public.

On Saturday, the driving marathon begins at 7:30 AM, followed by the start of USDAA Dog Agility at 8:00 AM.

The first CCI*** horse will start cross-country at 12:30 PM.

On Sunday the driving cones phase starts at 9:00 AM and Eventing’s show jumping begins at 1:00 PM. Paws for Life public doggie classes and events and sheep herding demonstrations all take place before the final awards ceremony at 4:00 PM.

In addition to exciting equestrian competition, the Festival features dog agility trials, kids’ activities, arts and crafts, classic cars, live music, entertaining exhibits and demonstrations, and more.

“The Fair Hill Festival has exciting family activities, popular dog agility trials, puppet shows and live music, agricultural exhibits, and food and merchandise vendors,” said Charlie Colgan, Fair Hill International Executive Director. “As always, our attractions are headlined by world-class equestrian competition. This year, we’ve made some changes to the competition courses that will bring the action to within just a few feet of spectators. It’s going to be an experience not-to-be-missed!”

The Festival’s ever popular Dog Agility Trials return with over 400 canine competitors. The Maryland Agricultural Showcase offers fun exhibits and hands-on activities to educate local youth about agriculture and careers in the agricultural industry. Talented puppeteer Jack Foreaker will delight visitors of all ages with his entertaining performances.

Local 4-H groups and their four-legged equine friends will perform a play that follows the evolution of the horse through history. The Delmarva Miniature Horse Club will be on hand to give carriage driving, jumping and in-hand demonstrations. Qualified U.S. Pony Club members, age 10-16, will compete in the exciting President’s Cup Invitational Games which feature challenging mounted relay races that are as much fun to watch as they are to ride in.

Rebecca Pitre/Whoa Buddy Productions will present “Let’s Take a Ride,” a fun, educational performance of bluegrass-inspired original songs for horse lovers of all ages. There will also be sheep herding demonstrations with Stephen Paxton-Smith and his dog, who were this year’s Canadian Reserve Champions. Fair Hill visitors and their canines can even take part in the Paws for Life doggie competitions, costume contests and other events that are open to everyone!

The Festival’s Kids’ Corner offers fun and educational activities for the younger set, including arts and crafts, face painting, and pony rides. Classic cars are on hand for those who want a chance to reminisce about their younger years, as well as for younger people looking to connect with icons from an earlier era.

The popular Country Shops boast a wide variety of shopping and dining opportunities, including vendors of tack, jewelry, artwork, pet needs, exceptional apparel and fine gifts for the approaching holiday seasons. It’s a great place to get a jump on your holiday shopping!

The Festival of Art is open each day in the Fair Hill Club, which offers fine dining. Visitors seeking a more casual snack or meal will find pubs around the Festival grounds serving classic Maryland crab-cakes and other tasty treats.

The 2006 Fair Hill International Festival in the Country benefits Union Hospital of Cecil County in Elkton, MD. The hospital, whose mission is to enhance the health and well-being of the residents of Cecil County and its neighboring communities, has been caring for area families and neighbors for nearly 100 years.

For more information on this year’s Fair Hill, including ways to purchase tickets, please call (410) 398-2111 or visit www.fairhillinternational.com.