Richland Park is extending a heartfelt thank you for a job
well done to Mike Etherington-Smith as he steps down from
designing the Cross Country courses at Richland Park. As
head of British Eventing, Mike is now concentrating on his
duties and responsibilities and is focused on the 2010 World
Games being held at the Kentucky Horse Park. We
wish him well and will be forever grateful for his part in
bringing world class eventing to Richland Park.
We are pleased
and very excited to present Ian Stark as his replacement. Ian
is quickly earning a reputation as a world class designer and has been responsible
for the CIC *** at Chatsworth, the CIC *** at Galway Downs, and Central Scotland
CIC**. Ian was born in Galashiels in the Borders in 1954 and began riding
at the young age of 10. One of the most popular riders of all times, he
won four Olympic silver medals; Los Angeles in 1984 as part of the Great Britain
team that finished second in the three day event. Four years later in Seoul,
he added two more silver medals, in the show jumping competition and in the three
day event. In the 2000 Sydney games, once again in team show jumping he
earned another silver medal. Along the way, there were disappointments
when in the 1992 Games in Barcelona his horse went lame and in 1996 in Atlanta
where a fall on cross-country proved costly as the team missed out on a medal. Ian
is also a three time winner of the prestigeous Badminton Horse Trials. He
won his first two titles in 1986 and 1988 riding “Sir Wattie” and
claimed a third win in 1999 riding “JayBee”. His 1988 win was
even more notable in that he not only won the event, but also on his other horse “Glenburnie”,
he finished second and is the only person to achieve this feat. Ian also
won gold as part of the British team that won the World title in Gawler, Australia
in 1986 riding “Oxford Blue”. In the 1990 World Championships
in Stockholm, he picked up silver medals in both team and individual events on “Murphy
Himself”. In 1991 he won two gold medals in Punchestown, Ireland
in the European Championships riding “Glenburnie”. He went
on to win two more golds in the team events of 1997 and 1999. In 1997 the
event was held at Burghley England where he was partnered with “Arakai”,
and in 1999, in Luhmuhlen, Germany, he was partnered with “JayBee”. Ian
retired from competition at the 2007 Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event. We
are excited to have Ian as part of Richland Park and look forward to seeing the
riders and horses negotiate his courses in August.
As many of you know, Ian was unable to attend the 2009 event
due to a serious illness that kept him in hospital during
the competition. Originally, he was planning on designing
while here the week of the competition, but it wasn't meant
to be. Once the doctors cleared him to travel and resume
normal activities he came to Richland Park to design for
the 2010 competition. He arrived here October 20 and met
with our head course builder, Bert Wood to discuss changes
and lay out the 2010 tracks. I won't give anything away,
but first timers as well as repeat competitors will find
fair, challenging, and changed courses from Novice through
CIC 3***.
Robin & Connie
Walker's Maute House Farm is your connection for Quality
Sport Horses. |
