The Mars Maryland 5 Star draw for this week’s competition (17-20 October) has been revealed and the first ever winner of the US autumn five-star will be first up the centreline on Thursday.
US Olympian Boyd is one of three riders in the competition with two horses and he also starts last on his faithful five-star campaigner Tsetserleg TSF, another veteran at 17.
Britain’s Harry Meade returns to Maryland, where he has been placed previously, and starts as number three on the experienced grey Away Cruising and also number 22 on five-star debutant Et Hop Du Matz.
Three other Brits also compete besides Harry, with David Doel wearing number seven on last year’s Burghley Horse Trials runner-up Galileo Nieuwmoed, Bubby Upton continuing her comeback from serious injury at number 13 with Cola and Oliver Townend starting as number 16 with triple five-star winner Ballaghmor Class. David and Bubby both make their Maryland debuts, while Oliver has finished on the podium before but seeks a first win here.
This week also marks a final run at the top level for last year’s Kentucky Three-Day Event winner and world team silver medallist Mai Baum, who is number 15 with home side rider Tamie Smith.
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Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.
