TOWNEND TRIUMPHS WITH BACK-TO-BACK VICTORIES AT THE LAND ROVER KENTUCKY THREE-DAY EVENT, PRESENTED BY MARS EQUESTRIAN

29 April 2019

After four days of thrilling world-class action, Great Britain's Oliver Townend made history becoming the first British rider to successfully defend his title and win the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by MARS Equestrian, in back-to-back years

  • Great Britain’s Oliver Townend, winner of the 2019 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by MARS Equestrian, awarded 12-month lease of 2019 Land Rover Discovery

(LEXINGTON, KY) – April 29, 2019 – After four days of thrilling world-class action, Great Britain's Oliver Townend made history becoming the first British rider to successfully defend his title and win the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by MARS Equestrian, in back-to-back years. Townend's win not only secured a healthy share of the $400,000 prize money, but also the keys to a 12-month lease of a 2019 Land Rover Discovery vehicle.

With just one pole separating the top three riders on the final day, the electric atmosphere turned into tension when Tim Price (NZL), lying in third place, produced a stunning clear round to put the pressure on the final two athletes. All eyes were then on home hero Boyd Martin (USA) and Tsetserleg, with the patriotic crowd eager for an American victory for the first time in 11 years. An eruption of applause echoed through the stadium as Martin cleared the final fence and was just one horse away from victory. Silence fell as Oliver Townend and Cooley Master Class entered the arena, hungry to defend their 2018 title. With nerves of steel, Townend delivered a faultless round, denying the home victory for Boyd Martin, and making history to become the first ever British equestrian to win back-to-back Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event titles. 

Land Rover returned this year with a number of experiential activities and fan favorites, including the ‘Start Off-Road’ teen drive, the ‘Junior Drive’ experience as well as the adult off-road experience1. In addition to the drive experiences, Land Rover also brought back the ‘Ultimate Stable Experience,’ which featured the new 2020 Range Rover Evoque, as well as an array of the finest equestrian apparel and equipment.

Earlier on in the event, Land Rover held the annual Tailgate Competition, where John Whitty and Beth Geiser (Louisville) were awarded an exclusive 2019 ticket package and tailgate spot as the top prize for the most inventive and stylish tailgate. 

Fans will be able to relive all the action with the broadcast of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event on NBC on May 5 from 2:00 – 3:00 PM EST and again on NBCSN on June 23 from 1:00 – 2:00 PM EST.

 

1All participants will be required to complete an introductory safety briefing prior to participation and participant’s parent or guardian must sign a waiver. “Start Off-Road Teen Driving Experience” paricipants must be 14 to 20 years of age, meet height restrictions and be accompanied on course by a parent or guardian. Participants in the "Junior Drive Experience” must be four to eight years old. Description of programs are subject to change. Open to ticket holders only.
 

2Participants must be 18 years or older to ride along

Further information

About Land Rover

Founded in 1948, Land Rover designs, engineers, and manufactures its vehicles in the United Kingdom. For almost 70 years the brand has built a reputation for providing its clientele with some of the most luxurious and capable vehicles in the world; whether driving through the heart of the city or traversing the countryside on- and off-road. Today's Land Rover lineup includes the Discovery and Discovery Sport; Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar and Range Rover Evoque. Land Rover is fully engaged with sustainability initiatives and social concerns with continuous involvement in environmental and community programs. For more information, visit the official Land Rover website at www.landroverusa.com.

 

About Jaguar Land Rover

Jaguar Land Rover is the UK’s largest automotive manufacturer, built around two iconic British car brands: Land Rover, the world’s leading manufacturer of premium all-wheel-drive vehicles; and Jaguar, one of the world’s premier luxury sports sedan and sports car marques.

At Jaguar Land Rover, we are driven by a desire to deliver class-leading vehicles, which will provide experiences our customers will love, for life. Our products are in demand around the globe. In 2018 Jaguar Land Rover sold 592,708 vehicles in 128 countries.

We support around 260,000 people through our retailer network, suppliers and local businesses. At heart we are a British company, with two major design and engineering sites, three vehicle manufacturing facilities and an engine manufacturing center in the UK. We also have plants in China, Brazil, India, Austria and Slovakia. 

From 2020 all new Jaguar Land Rover vehicles will offer the option of electrification, giving our customers even more choice. We will introduce a portfolio of electrified products across our model range, embracing fully electric, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles as well as continuing to offer the latest diesel and gasoline engines.

 

About the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event

The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event is the nation’s premier Three-Day Event and one of the most prestigious equestrian competitions in the world. The Fédération Equestre Internationale (International Equestrian Federation – FEI), the world's governing body of equestrian sports, has designated the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event as a ‘Four Star’ eventing competition, the highest designation, which is given only to the Olympic Games, World Championships, and six annual events around the world. “Land Rover Kentucky” is the only Four Star event in the Western Hemisphere. Known as the “Best Weekend All Year,” the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event returns to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, April 25-28, 2019

Now in its 41st year, the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event is the nation’s premier Three-Day Event featuring Olympic-level riders and horses from across the nation and around the world in what can best be described as an equestrian triathlon. Known as “The Best Weekend All Year,” the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event is a multi-day highly-competitive event in which the world’s best horses and riders vie for their share of $400,000 in prize money, as well as a shot at the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, which is awarded to any rider who wins the Land Rover Kentucky, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton and Land Rover Burghley Five Star Events in succession.

Notes to Editors

Information about Land Rover North America products is available to consumers at www.landroverusa.com. Visit  www.us.media.landrover.com for news releases, high-resolution photographs and broadcast quality video footage. Additional media updates are available on Facebook (LandRoverUSA) and Twitter (@interactivelr).