Paris Olympic course-designer succeeding legendary designer Ian Stark who retires at the end of 2024  

Baltimore, Md. (April 30, 2024) – Sport & Entertainment Corporation of Maryland today announced that Pierre Le Goupil, a former elite-level Eventing athlete, turned decorated course designer in charge of designing the Eventing course at this year’s Paris Olympics, has been appointed the new Cross Country course designer for the MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill presented by Brown Advisory, beginning in 2025, succeeding famed designer Ian Stark.

Stark, who has overseen the design of the cross country courses as part of the construction of the new Fair Hill Special Event Zone (completed in 2020) and since the start of the inaugural event in 2021, will be retiring at the end of 2024. Le Goupil will be the designer at Fair Hill through at least 2027.

“I am delighted to design for the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill starting in 2025, and I am filled with gratitude towards the organizing committee for their trust,” said Le Goupil. “It’s a fabulous opportunity for me, and it’s also a great honor to succeed Ian Stark, who in less than three years, has greatly contributed to the event’s reputation.”

Le Goupil, 61, has also been at the lead as course designer for last year’s Pan American Games that were held in Santiago, Chile and the 2023 FEI European Championships that were held in Haras du Pin, France.

“We’re thrilled that Pierre has agreed to be our cross country course designer starting in 2025 for the MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill presented by Brown Advisory building upon the incredible foundation that Ian Stark has created through this year,” said Jeff Newman, President & CEO of the Maryland 5 Star Event Committee. “There is no position more important in Eventing than the course designer as it’s paramount both to ensure horse and athlete safety and the entertainment of our fans globally.  We’re so fortunate and honored to have two of the very best supporting Maryland as we continue to build upon our legacy as a world-class event at the highest level of the sport.”

Le Goupil began competing in high-level international events in 1975, doing so for nearly thirty years before retiring from Eventing in 2002. He began organizing events in 1995, working with his family to create the “Le Grand Complet.”

“Upon announcing my retirement, there was obviously going to be a new designer and I’m thrilled for the event that Pierre will be the new man,” said Stark. “He has the talent, the imagination and the flair to succeed and I look forward to following his plans for the future of the course.”

According to a prior US Equestrian news release, Le Goupil’s expertise in consulting, cross country building and designing for all levels continues to make the equestrian sport shine, not only in his home country, one of the world’s greatest equestrian nations, but to a global audience during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in one of the most exhilarating and prestigious setting at the Château de Versailles, an iconic symbol recognized worldwide.

His skill and proficiency in course designing has taken him to many parts of the world, working in ten different countries including Brazil, Bulgaria, Belarus, China, Hungary, India, Japan, Russia and Chile.