2011 2011 Sydney International 3DE winner Christine Bates & Adelaide Hill (Photo by Furdography)
Last week Equestrian Australia and Sydney International Eventing announced the return of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Course Designer Mike Etherington‐Smith for the 2012 Sydney CCI3*3DE.
This week Sydney International Eventing , following consultation with riders, Eventing NSW, the National Eventing Committee and Equestrian Australia’s High Performance Program confirmed its two event dates for 2012 and beyond.
On the 26-29 April 2012 Sydney International Eventing together with ESP and Jumping NSW will host a revised Sydney Weekend of Equestrian Events that will include the Sydney 3DE CCI3*, CIC2*, CIC1* and Young Event Horse classes as well as the World Cup Show Jumping program ran previously.
The Sydney 3DE CCI3* class in 2012 will kick off a week of high performance equestrian events that will be the final qualifiers for the Australian Dressage, Show Jumping and Eventing riders in the lead up to the Olympics.
In future years this prestigious event will run in the second week of May to provide valuable support to Australia's Eventing medal prospects at the Olympic and World Equestrian Games. In 2013 Sydney International Eventing is also hoping to host the Trans Tasman Event for Eventing.
In addition to the prominent event in April the Sydney International Eventing committee will also run an end of year event for riders to aim towards as their final 3DE performance for the NSW Eventing season. Classes will include CNC3*, CCI2*, CCI1*, CCN EV105 (Pre Novice), CCN EV95 (Preliminary).
The CNC 3* and CCI2* will be configured to minimum distance giving riders who wish to attend Adelaide 3DE to attend Sydney as a final preparation. It will be a rider friendly three day event run over a shorter period and at a more affordable cost. In 2012 the will run from 9‐11 November and will continue to run 3 weeks before Adelaide 3DE in subsequent years.
Glenn Wallace, President of Sydney International Eventing explains, "This long term planning, of both the course design and the future dates, is aimed at increasing Australia's chance of winning medals at an international level.
Sydney International Eventing is committed to providing an elite event that meets the riders' needs and fits with a national Eventing calendar as well as a rider‐friendly event at the end of the NSW season.
We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and will let you know what exciting things Mike ES has planned for the Sydney course early in 2012."
