June 4, 2004 – Parker, Colorado – Two-time Canadian Olympian Stuart Black claimed victory in the CCI** High Prairie Three Day Event held May 27-30, 2004, at the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, CO.

Riding Fleeceworks Starlight, Black led the CCI** division from start to finish. Beginning the three phases of competition with a dressage score of 47.60 penalty points, nine points ahead of his nearest rival, Black and the seven-year-old Holsteiner/thoroughbred-cross mare were the only entry in the division to enjoy penalty-free cross-country and show jumping rounds to add nothing to their opening dressage score.

“Fleeceworks Starlight is only seven and this was her first two-star event,” noted Black of his mount who is sponsored by Fleeceworks, designers and manufacturers of high quality sheepskin products for equestrian use. “Competing in Colorado was due to a change in plans, we only decided to go there after the Bromont Three Day Event in Canada was cancelled. As a result, I had the mare prepared for the hilly terrain in Bromont and she handled the change of altitude well due to her high level of fitness.”

The CCI** High Prairie Three Day Event was the first competition at the two-star level that Fleeceworks Starlight has contested. In preparation for her two-star debut, Black and the mare enjoyed a second place finish at the Intermediate level at the Morven Park Spring Horse Trials in Leesburg, VA, at the end of March and, two weeks later, April 10-11, won the Open Intermediate division of the Plantation Field Spring Horse Trials in Unionville, PA.

“She was just outstanding in all three disciplines,” said Black regarding the continuing development of Fleeceworks Starlight whose father is the well-known show jumping sire, Cavalier. “She was very good in dressage, and I was especially pleased with the way she made the time over steeplechase and then the cross-country, we were the only competitors to come home under the time allowed. In the show jumping, which is her strong point, she jumped a foot over everything.”

The trip to the CCI** High Prairie Three Day Event marked the first time that Black had competed at the Colorado Horse Park.

“Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the cross country course, I was not expecting such a competitive course,” noted Black who drove 32 hours from his training base in Bluemont, VA, to attend the event. “Not only was it competitive, it asked a lot of interesting questions and that made it very fun to ride. It was very refreshing and overall, a very good event. We had a great time.”

It was a successful weekend all around for Black. In addition to his victory in the CCI** division, his student of one year, Katherin Fredrick, placed second riding her thoroughbred gelding, Littonian, in her first three day event at the two-star level. Meanwhile, Black’s wife, Momi, finished fourth overall riding Tacoma Longshot. Momi, who gave birth to the couple’s first child, Kayleigh, last August, has only been back in the saddle competitively since April and is aiming for the CCI*** Fair Hill International Three Day Event in October.

Black is currently qualified for the upcoming Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, with two-mounts, his long-time partner, the 11-year-old black English thoroughbred gelding Midnight Magic, and the newly-acquired Fleeceworks Blackout, a nine-year-old black New Zealand thoroughbred gelding. Black owns both horses in partnership with his long-time supporter, Mr. Elkins Wetherill.

A veteran of the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games as well as the 1998 World Equestrian Games, Black is one of Canada’s most accomplished three day eventing athletes. He became the first foreign competitor to win the prestigious Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event, claiming victory in 1992 aboard Von Perrier.

Fleeceworks, designers and manufacturers of high quality sheepskin products for equestrian use, sponsor three of Black’s horses – Fleeceworks Pacific Storm, Fleeceworks Starlight and Fleeceworks Blackout. Fleeceworks also sponsors Fleeceworks Mullingar, a former mount of Black’s who is now ridden by his wife and fellow international eventing competitor, Momi. For more information, please visit www.fleeceworks.com.