World-Class Athletes to Compete at North Carolina's 'Outdoor Heritage Days'

Event Will Celebrate Equestrian Sport and Outdoor Lifestyle NORWOOD, N.C., March 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fork Farm, a premier outdoorand equestrian destination in the North Carolina Piedmont, has announcedOutdoor Heritage Days, April 6-9, 2006, featuring Olympic-caliber athletescompeting for prominence in a showcase of world-class horse sport. The centerpiece of Outdoor Heritage Days -- one of only four such eventsin the country -- will be an international World Cup Qualifier and nationalGold Cup Series equestrian event. Top competitors in the sport of eventing --a triathlon of dressage, cross country jumping, and show jumping -- will takeon challenging six-foot drops and four-foot fences as they vie for a chance torepresent their country at the Eventing World Cup Finals in Malmo, Sweden thissummer. Among the riders scheduled to compete are three-time U.S. Olympian and PanAmerican Silver Medalist, Karen O'Connor, two-time Australian Olympic TeamGold Medalist, Phillip Dutton and Pan American Gold Medalist & U.S. OlympicTeam Bronze Medalist, Darren Chiacchia. Also on the docket are some of thebrightest rising stars in the sport of three-day eventing. In addition, World Clay Champion and trick shooter John Kruger willheadline a celebration of North Carolina's outdoor sporting heritage, withretriever demos, falconry, archery, vintage guns, educational displays, andmore. Billed as a family festival, Outdoor Heritage Days also will featurevendors, concessions, and children's entertainment, including a moon bounce,petting zoo, and face painting. Outdoor Heritage Days is the culmination of the vision of Charlottebusinessman James W. Cogdell, who purchased The Fork in 1999. "My lifelongpassion has been to build The Fork Farm as a legacy of conservation andsustainable use for this community and all North Carolina to enjoy forgenerations to come," Cogdell said. "In creating Outdoor Heritage Days, we setout to develop an event that highlights some of the key features of The Forkthat are such a celebrated part of North Carolina's rich history in thesporting and outdoor lifestyle." Cogdell's backing of Outdoor Heritage Days is consistent with theincreasing popularity of equestrian sport in North Carolina and the trend in anumber of states -- including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia,Kentucky, and Florida -- toward public support for multi-purpose outdoordestinations that draw recreational enthusiasts and serve as a powerful enginefor local economic development. Echoing that sentiment, Robert Van Geons of the Stanly EconomicDevelopment Commission said, "Stanly County is extremely proud to be the homeof The Fork Farm and now Outdoor Heritage Days. Events like this are a rareand valuable asset for our community, drawing interest and visitors fromsurrounding areas and beyond who will patronize local hotels, restaurants, andother businesses. This is something we think our local businesses andresidents will be excited to call their own." The Fork has retained Washington, DC-based Group Incorporated and itssubsidiary Equestrian Entertainment Partners to help develop Outdoor HeritageDays and raise visibility and support for the event. Details on attractions and directions to The Fork can be found athttp://www.theforkfarm.com/.