Mike Etherington-Smith returns to the Sydney 2000 Olympic course. Photograph by John Lechner
As mentioned in earlier posts, the 2012 Sydney International 3DE is shaping up to be a big one in this Olympic year. World renowned cross-country course designer Mike Etherington-Smith (GBR) returned to his Sydney 2000 Olympic course recently to redesign the 3* track for the 2012 Sydney International Three Day Event, the final selection event for Australian based London Olympic contenders. The Sydney International Eventing Committee were excited to spend an afternoon with Mike discussing his vision for the new course and have released a video of his insights into the Sydney 3* track. To view the video, click on this link http://www.an-eventful-life.com.au/2012/01/sydney-international-eventing-announces-a-new-3-course-for-2012
The new 3* course will be spectator friendly with a number of new features being built, including an exciting new water complex in a central location. The aim is to have this new complex ready for the Sydney One Day Event in February. Sydney International Eventing is offering the naming rights to this feature fence as an exciting sponsorship opportunity for a business wishing to be involved in an exhilarating sport where Australia has a strong tradition of Olympic success.
A first hand view of the new course will be available on the SIE website when the course is completed thanks to new technology partner CrossCountry™ App, an exciting new innovation in course walking using Google satellite map and GPS tracking.
2012 Event Information
- Including - 3*, 2* & 1* Eventing Classes, FEI Greater Sydney World Cup Show Jumping Qualifier, NSW State Equitation Championships, Young Horse Classes, Master Classes
- Sponsors – Australian Sports Commission, NSW Dept of Communities, Sydney International Equestrian Centre, Equestrian Australia, Equestrian NSW, Eventing NSW, Jumping NSW, NSWIS, Clubs NSW, IRT, CrossCountry™ App
- Supporters - You Tarzan, Communica, Horse Deals, The Horse Magazine, Deloitte.
Event Statistics (from 2011)
- Sponsors for 2011 - ASC, NSW Sport & Rec, SIEC, Equestrian Australia, Equestrian NSW, Eventing NSW, NSWIS, Clubs NSW, Telstra, Virgin Australia, Sydney City Toyota, Harbour It, Tarraleah Park, Over the Top Equipment, Racenet Bloodstock, Equitak Excel, Horsezone.com.au, Agnes Banks Equine Clinic, Horseland, IRT, Giddi Up, Motorola, Mandavilla Catering, Mount Benson Vineyard, Prydes EasiFeed, ABS Bloodstock, The Lenton Family, Green Option, Musto, Main Event Photography, You Tarzan, Communica, Horse Deals, The Horse Magazine, Deloitte.
- Number of Volunteers in 2011 - 300
- Number of entries in 2011- 122 Eventing (including 15 CCI3* competitors & 29 Telstra Young Event Horse Championship competitors) + 600 Show Jumping rounds
- Event Riders from Australia (ACT – 0, WA - 5, SA - 2, VIC - 9, NSW - 92, QLD - 12, TAS - 2), New Zealand - 2; Finland - 1, USA - 1, Japan - 1
Past Winners of the Sydney International 3DE
2011 Sydney International 3DE winner Christine Bates & Adelaide Hill (Photo by Furdography)
- 2011 Winner CCI*** Christine Bates & Adelaide Hill - Originally from Western Australia and now residing in Wilberforce NSW, Christine Bates has been quietly at the top of Eventing for over a decade. Close to Olympic selection in 1996 with Masterprint, she is now back in contention with a new team of horses, winning the Sydney International Three Day Event on the extremely talented Adelaide Hill in a nail bighting finish that had thrills and spills.
Heath Ryan and Mystery Whisper CCI*** Winners 2010 (Photo by Furdography)
- 2010 Winner CCI*** Heath Ryan & Mystery Whisper - From NSW, Heath (who also won the 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 an Olympic qualifying score in the Dressage Discipline.
Wendy Schaeffer and Sun Storm CCI*** Winners 2009 (Photo by Furdography)
- 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.
Past Winner of the World Cup Show Jumping Class
- 2011 Show Jumping Winner - Cathy Graham and Da Vinci’s Pride from Queensland have an impressive list of jumping successes. Major wins with Da Vinci's Pride include the Aitken's Cup and the Wentworth Saddles Mini Prix at the Summer Classic in 2009 and a 6th place in the Copabella Grand Prix in 2010. They had great success at the 2011 Sydney Royal before their victory at the 2011 Weekend of World Cups in Sydney. Cathy also holds the women's high jump record.
