Six Events, Seven Champions, One Venue! Sydney International Eventing (SIE) & Sydney @ SIEC Eventing (SSE) proudly announce a new Sydney Series.
This exciting, fresh concept will include all six Eventing competitions, the four One Day Events and the two Three Day Events, held at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre (SIEC) in 2012. SIEC, a legacy of the 2000 Olympic Games where Australia won Eventing Gold, is still in use and riders from all across Australia stampede to compete at the wonderful facility. The Sydney Series will focus on the partnership between horse and rider, rewarding combinations who consistently perform well together during the year. It is anticipated that the series will encourage and recognise riders who have a strong, ongoing relationship with their horse.
A combination at each level, from Newcomers to 3*, will be awarded the Sydney Champion. The seven champions will be announced at the final Sydney Event in November, the SIE 3DE. Combinations do not have to compete at every Sydney event to qualify but points will be awarded for every round completed and will accumulate from each competition. A sliding points scale will be in place for winners at each event, with 1st awarded 15 points down to 14th given 2 points. Progression through the grades is encouraged in the series with points carrying across levels and extra points allocated according to the level ridden at each event. The Sydney Series began on Wednesday 22 February with the Midweek National One Day Events hosted by SSE.
Tim Boland, president of SSE, owner of The Australian Event Horse Centre and rider on the 2012 Eventing National A Squad, was victorious in the Mitavite 2* Class at this event with his top horse GV Billy Elliot. Tim is excited about the Sydney Series,, “ This is a fantastic concept that allows the national and international events to work more closely together promoting the sport of Eventing. Australia has a strong tradition of success in this sport and competing at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre is a wonderful experience for all levels.” Tim is hoping to replicate his victory this weekend in the Mitavite CNC3*.
SSE holds four national competitions per year, two in February and two in July. In 2011 more than 1, 000 entries competed over the four events. The February 2012 competition has a prize pool of over $15 000 in cash and prizes, making it a prominent national level event on the NSW Eventing calendar. Riders on their London Olympic campaigns will be in the line up including Christine Bates from Wilberforce, NSW who won both the SSE July 3* Class and the Sydney International 3DE at the same venue in September last year.
2011 Sydney International 3DE winner Christine Bates & Adelaide Hill (Photo by Furdography)
Combinations from 1* up will get the chance to add to their Sydney Series points at the Sydney International Three Day Event in April. Glenn Wallace, President of SIE, sees the Sydney Series as an ideal way to highlight the wonderful venue used for Eventing competitions in Sydney. “This series helps focus on the excellent facilities available to us at SIEC. It is essential that the national and international events continue to work together, as they have since the Sydney Olympics, to maintain one of the best cross country courses in Australia. By giving riders at all levels the chance to compete over well designed courses we are contributing to the future of Eventing.” SIE holds two events per year with the focus on International level competition. In 2012 the Sydney International 3DE, a key event in the final selection of the Australian Olympic Team, is 26-29 April. There will also be a national 3DE in November. The April International Three Day event has a prize pool of $35, 000 and is combined with the Jumping NSW Greater Sydney World Cup qualifier, the only indoor world cup qualifier in NSW.
The two committees who run the Sydney events consist of hardworking, dedicated volunteers. Many volunteered at the Sydney 2000 Olympics and continue to work year after year to benefit the sport. The committees are excited to join together to create the Sydney Series which will develop events at the wonderful venue for riders at all levels, from the raw beginner to our Olympic stars. A second week of One Day Events is scheduled for July and the final series competition will be the SIE 3DE in November, running Prelim to 3* classes. The leading combinations at Introductory and Newcomers will be announced at the 3DE alongside the winners from all other grades, making a total of seven champion combinations overall.
The new Sydney Series is in its initial stages and there is an opportunity for a major sponsor to become involved in a sport where Australia has had amazing Olympic success, at the venue where Australia won Eventing Gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, across all levels of the sport from beginners to Olympians. This is an opportunity not to be missed.
