July 13, 2004 – Wayne, Illinois – For the third consecutive year, Canada’s Stuart Black claimed the Advanced Division of the Wayne Horse Trials, Presented by Maui Jim, held July 9-11 in Wayne, IL.

Riding Fleeceworks Pacific Storm, Black climbed to the top of the 24-horse leader board to earn his third title. His 2003 win came aboard Midnight Magic with a score of 31.74 penalty points while his 2002 victory with Polaris was also marked by an incredibly low score of 30.43 penalty points.

This year, Black was partnered with Fleeceworks Pacific Storm, his eight-year-old Canadian-bred gelding purchased in the fall of 2002 from breeder Barbara Marks of British Columbia. In the opening phase of dressage, Black earned a score of 35.65 penalty points amongst a highly competitive field to place 13th but still within four points of the leader. A challenging cross-country phase saw just one rider come home within the time allowed. Black picked up 4.8 penalty points to leap into second position and, in Sunday’s show jumping phase, things fell into place with a clear round for Black while the overnight leader incurred 14 penalty points to fall out of contention.

“My horse is only an eight-year-old, and he did a very good dressage test,” noted Black, 44, a native of Orangeville, ON, now training in Bluemont, VA. “On cross-country, I ran him as quickly and safely as I could. There had been a lot of rain the night before, and the course had several sudden changes of terrain combined with technical questions that tested your accuracy. Fleeceworks Pacific Storm is quite a big horse at 17.2hh, but he is very nimble. Then the time allowed in show jumping track was quite tight, but I had a good warm-up with him and went for broke. He was amazing, just super for a young horse. I love riding him.”

Fleeceworks Pacific Storm was not Black’s only ride in the Advanced Division. Designated as a mandatory outing for the Canadian Eventing Team, Black was also running Fleeceworks Blackout, with whom he was named to his third Canadian Olympic Team on July 1.

Purchased in April from his 1996 Atlanta Olympic teammate Kelli McMullen-Temple, the Wayne Horse Trials marked only the second time the combination had competed together, and therefore Black was conservative in his approach. In ninth position with a score of 33.91 penalty points following dressage, the pair jumped clear cross-country and incurred 17.6 time penalties to advance to sixth position. In show jumping, Black and the 10-year-old black New Zealand-bred gelding were again clear, but picked up two time penalties to finish in seventh place with a final score of 53.51 penalty points.

“Fleeceworks Blackout was relaxed and did a nice, competitive dressage test,” noted Black who owns the horse in partnership with his long-time supporter, Mr. Elkins Wetherill. “In both cross-country and show jumping, I took my time, being careful and cautious. Over cross-country, he was a dream, relaxed and jumping happily. He never questioned anything, and even at the more tricky questions, I just put my leg on and away he went. We didn’t have the best go at the Rolex Kentucky in April because I didn’t know him well, but now we are more familiar with each other, and just getting to know him has been fun.”

For Black, success did not stop in the Advanced Division. He also guided Fleeceworks Starlight, his seven-year-old Holsteiner/thoroughbred-cross mare, to victory, leading the Young Horse Intermediate Division from start to finish. Opening with a dressage score of 37.5 penalty points, Black and the promising mare posted a penalty-free cross-country score. Sired by the famous show jumping stallion, Cavalier, Fleeceworks Starlight showed her breeding by jumping a clear show jumping round to claim victory.

“She was fantastic,” raved Black. “It was one of the toughest intermediate cross-country courses that I have come across, it had a lot of technical jumps that required accuracy and quick thinking. I was happy with her in all three phases, and in the show jumping, she really shined, as usual.”

In May, Black and Fleeceworks Starlight won the CCI** High Prairie Three Day Event held at the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, CO, where they also led the division in all three phases in the mare’s first two-star event.

With three strong placings, there is little doubt that Black is in top form for his third Olympic appearance.

“Someone kindly said that I made it look easy, but with three good horses, it is not that hard,” laughed Black. “The fitness program I have them on is working out very well, they are just galloping along and finishing the cross-country very happily. The event organizer at Wayne Horse Trials, Katie Lindsay, did a great job of helping us prepare our horses for bigger things. And I think one of the reasons that the Canadian Team brought us here was because of the big atmosphere. That is the reason why I like to bring my young horses here, to see how they will handle it.”

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.