Finalists in the Equestrian Grand Final Announced

Experienced and emerging riders in the Olympic disciplines of dressage, eventing and show jumping will converge on #Adelaide, #South Australia for the fifth staging of the Equestrian Grand Final (#EGF15) when the event takes place as part of the 2015 Australian International Three Day Event (#Aus3de), happening from 19-22 November. 

Equestrian Australia (EA) has today published the complete list of finalists which includes more than 50 combinations including athletes from each mainland state. Riders will chase Grand Final glory in Adelaide as it runs in conjunction with the #Aus3de for the first time.

Among those lining up to contest the IRT Jumping Grand Final is World Equestrian Games representative Chris Chugg. The New South Wales based rider currently leads the Australian League of the FEI World Cup Jumping Series and is no stranger to big atmosphere having competed at the highest level and all over the world. Chugg is bringing two horses with him to Adelaide – Cera Cassiago and Cristalline.

“They are young horses so every show is a learning opportunity and that is why I am looking forward to coming to Adelaide because I know there will be good footing and good course building which offers the horse’s important experience,” said Chugg.

Also challenging for the IRT Jumping Grand Final is James Arkins who is currently second on the Australian World Cup Leaderboard thanks to his recent win in the Tamworth World Cup and a second place finish at the Gawler World Cup. Among the local riders lining up are Sydney Olympian Geoff Bloomfield and Equestrian Grand Final Ambassador Mark Lindh. 

David Dobson won the inaugural Jumping Grand Final and he will journey from WA for another shot at the title. (View the full list of IRT Jumping Grand Finalists HERE).

Senior and Young Riders will go head to head in the Dressage Grand Final including Equestrian Grand Final Ambassador Stuart Archibald. Victorian based Archibald is one three Young Riders in the field including Morgan Duell (also from Victoria) and Cooper Oborn (from South Australia). 

Individual and team honours will be on the line in the Dressage with four teams battling it out for the inaugural Grand Final team championship. (View the full list of Dressage Grand Finalists HERE).

“To be in this beautiful scene and at the Australian International Three Day Event will be a great promotion for Dressage in Australia,” said Archibald.  “We dressage riders like the scene and the atmosphere and so do our horses. The bigger the atmosphere the better our horses will go,” he said.   

Olympian Megan Jones will be among the favourites in the Gow Gates Exhibition Eventing Grand Final. Another crowd favourite is last year’s Exhibition Eventing Grand Final winner Katja Weimann who in addition to aiming for back to back Exhibition Eventing titles will compete in the CCI4*.  

“I think it is going to be great having the Grand Final in Adelaide this year where you have 4* Eventing and big crowds and everyone can stay after cross-country day and watch the Exhibition Eventing,” said Weimann. 

“It is going to be different to last year because it will be out on the cross-country course in Adelaide. I’m looking forward to it!”

The Gow Gates Exhibition Eventing field also includes Australian Young Rider representatives Shenae Lowings and Gabrielle Pither (both from Western Australia) as well as Anthony Thomas who will have a busy schedule as he plans to ride in both the Gow Gates Exhibition Eventing Final and IRT Jumping Final. (View the full list of finalists HERE).

The Equestrian Grand Final is Australia’s biggest multi-discipline equestrian event offering big thrills, big suspense and over $40,000 in prize money. For competitors it presents a unique chance to compete in the heart of Adelaide, alongside the established and popular Australian International Three Day Event.

With entry to the Equestrian Grand Final included as part of admission to the Australian International Three Day Event, it also offers spectators great value for money.

Tickets are now on sale through Ticketek

For details on the Equestrian Grand Final visit www.equestrian.org.au/EGF

For details on the Australian International 3 Day Event visit www.australian3de.com.au