Australian based riders will be competing in the Sydney International Three Day Event 8-11 September for their individual global rankings at the venue where Australia won Olympic Gold at the Sydney 2000 Games on the same weekend in September as the Australian team begins their pursuit for 2012 Olympic qualification at the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials near Woodstock in England. If the Aussie team in the UK fails then Australian riders must qualify for a spot at the London Games with an individual global ranking in the top twenty.
Currently Australia has ten riders in the top fifty and five of these riders, including Sydney 2000 Gold medallist Stuart Tinney from Maraylya, NSW (pictured) and Bejing 2008 Silver Medallist Shane Rose from Werombi, NSW, are aiming to compete at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre where their performances could count towards the country's chances for a 7th Olympic Gold. Joining these elite riders in the 3 Star class is Craig Barrett from Branxton, NSW who won the recent Melbourne International 3DE on his 13 year old thoroughbred Wendela Jamie. This was the first chance for Australian-based riders to gain their Olympic qualifications, providing Craig with his MES. Also competing in Sydney will be National A Squad riders Emma Mason from Mangrove Mountain, Nat Blundell from Canberra, ACT and Tim Boland from Wyong, NSW. Kevin McNab and Eleanor Osborne will be representing Queensland, Emily Anker and Shay Smith will travel up from Victoria and Tegan Lush will trek across the centre from Western Australia for the prestigious event.
2010 Sydney 3DE winner Heath Ryan will not be defending his title, instead attending the State Dressage Titles in Tamworth the same weekend chasing an Olympic qualifying score in the Dressage Discipline.
Australia has a proud Olympic tradition in Eventing winning 11 Olympic medals, including 6 gold, since they fielded their first Equestrian team in 1956. This team had to travel for months by boat to Stockholm, England to compete despite the Games being held in Melbourne due to the strict Australian quarantine regulations. Four years later Australia's first Eventing medal was won in Rome with Laurie Morgan, Neale Lavis and an injured Bill Roycroft winning Gold. Bill went on to compete in four more Olympic Games and carried the Australian Flag in the Opening Ceremony in Mexico City. Bill passed away earlier this year after a lifetime of contributing to the sport of Eventing.
Wayne Roycroft continued in his father's footsteps as an Olympic rider and then became the Australian Eventing coach, playing a part in 8 of Australia's medals, including the victory at the Sydney 2000 Games.
Wayne recently accepted the invitation to be Patron of Sydney International Eventing, providing support for the venue where he coached Australia to a third successive Gold medal, “I look forward to working with the Committee in the future to help the Sport and continuing my involvement with the Eventing Family."
Wayne will be conducting a hosted cross country walk on Saturday 10 September at the Sydney International Three Day Event. Members of the public are invited to take part in this unique experience and learn from one of the best Equestrians in the world before watching the exciting cross country action on the Olympic course. Wear green and gold to show your support of the Australian Team's quest for a 7th Eventing Gold medal to receive a free pass to the hosted walk.
This year's Sydney International 3DE, run by a committed group of volunteers, many of whom also volunteered at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, has attracted a number of prominent corporate sponsors keen to be involved in the prestigious competition including Testra and Virgin Australia. There will be a variety of other entertainment over the weekend including Dog Agility and Reining demonstrations and the trade stand area surrounding the main competition arena is the largest it has been. The Sydney International Equestrian Centre is just off the M7 at Horsely Park only 45 minutes from the centre of Sydney. Parking at the venue is free. For more information about What's On and how to get there visit www.sydneyeventing.org
What’s On - TIMETABLE (times are subject to change)
Wed 7 Sep - Trot up from 2-4pm
Thurs 8 Sep - Dressage 9-4pm; Riders Welcome Reception from 7.00pm
Fri 9 Sep - Dressage & Telstra Australian Young Event Horse Championships 9-4pm; Video Night and Sausage sizzle from 7.00pm
Sat 10 Sep - Hosted Course Walk 10am; Cross Country 9-4pm; Paella and Tango Night from 7.00pm
Sun 10 Sep - Final horse inspection 6.30 - 8.00am; Show jumping & Dog Agility from 8:30am
Trade Village
Antares Australia * Equine Chia * Equine Performance * Equiscape Photography * Equissage Therapy * Equissentials Europa * Horseland Terrey Hills * Horsewerks * Kiah Equine * Ranvet * The Horse Stall * Top 2 Tail Equestrian *
Tickets
General Admission - Thursday 8th Sept - FREE; Friday 9th Sept - Adults 16 years & over $10, Under 16 years & pensioners FREE; Saturday 10th Sept - Adults 16 years & over $15, Under 16 years & pensioners FREE; Sunday 11th Sept - Adults 16 years & over $15, Under 16 years & pensioners FREE
Jump Inn Cafe - The cafe is located along the main arena and at the water jump. Includes entry, VIP parking, gourmet lunch and drinks, morning and afternoon tea. Friday $100; Saturday $125; Sunday $125; Event Package $300.
Event Statistics
- 8 Classes scheduled for 2011, Harbour IT CCI3*, Tarraleah Park CCI2*, Equitek Excel CCI1*, Over the Top Equipment CCN Pre Novice, Telstra Australian Young Event Horse Championships - Including Racenet Bloodstock Junior Prizes.
- Sponsors for 2011 - ASC, NSW Sport & Rec, SIEC, Equestrian Australia, Equestrian NSW, Eventing NSW, NSWIS, Clubs NSW, Telstra, Virgin Australia, Harbour It, Tarraleah Park, Over the Top Equipment, Racenet Bloodstock, Equitak Excel, Horsezone.com.au, Agnes Banks Equine Clinic, Horseland, ABS Bloodstock, The Lenton Family, Green Option, Musto, Main Event Photography, You Tarzan, Communica, Horse Deals, The Horse Magazine, Deloitte.
- Number of entries as of 18 August 2011 - 80 (including 8 CCI3* competitors)
- Riders are from Australia (ACT – 1, WA - 4, SA - 2, VIC - 6, NSW - 62, QLD - 4, TAS - 2), New Zealand - Indonesia - Finland - 1, Great Britain -
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2010 Winner CCI*** Heath Ryan & Mystery Whisper - From NSW, Heath (who also won this event in 2008 with Mystery Whisper) is a Multi-discipline Australian representative first representing Australia at the World Equestrian Games in Sweden in 1990. Since then he has represented Australia at World Equestrian Games, World Cup and Olympic Games competitions. In 2008 Heath was a member of the Australian Dressage Team for the Beijing Olympic Games. Heath has been the Assistant Coach for the Australian Olympic Eventing team three times, 1996 at the Atlanta Olympics where Australia won Gold, 2000 at the Sydney Olympics where Australia again won Gold and then at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Heath has been the Australian Three Day Event Champion three times and was the 2010 Australian Grand Prix Dressage Champion. Heath is attending the State Dressage Titles in Tamworth the same weekend chasing a qualifying score in the Dressage Discipline.
- 2009 Winner CCI*** Wendy Schaeffer & Koyuna Sun Storm - From South Australia, Wendy was the youngest women to win Equestrian gold at an Olympic Games with team gold at 1996 Atlanta Games. Just nine weeks prior to the 1996 Olympics, she suffered from two broken bones in her leg which were pinned for the competition. With a sense of déjà vu Schaeffer missed out on the Sydney round of 2009 HSBC World Cup with a broken leg. She returned to form with victory at the 2009 Sydney 3DE. Wendy is currently in Europe seeking Olympic qualification on her Show Jumping horse Koyuna Sun Set.
