Melbourne Royal to Close Equestrian Grand Final Qualification Series

The Royal Melbourne Show will play host to the last of this year’s Equestrian Grand Final Jumping and Exhibition Eventing qualifying events.

Riders from both disciplines are sure to be on song as they aim to secure an automatic start at the Equestrian Grand Final which will be held at EQUITANA Melbourne from November 15-18.

The top four riders from Friday’s Exhibition Eventing Qualifier will gain automatic entry to the Grand Final. 15 combinations are set to compete in the event which will start with all riders completing a Dressage test. Combinations then take to the

Jumping course which will be contained within the main arena and consist of both cross country and show jumps. The course must be completed against the clock.

After he won the first of this year’s two qualifying events, Olympian Shane Rose is one rider who will be among the list of starters in November’s Final. 

Victorian based rider Seumus Marwood was the winner of the 2011 Melbourne Qualifying event and returns to Melbourne Royal in 2012 aiming to book a berth in the Final.

“We’ve been working on our Dressage and Show Jumping and are aiming to be at the Equestrian Grand Final. We want to give Shane a run for his money,” Seumus said. 

“I think the concept is great, while it certainly won’t replace the sport’s traditional format it gives the general public who might not have an interest in Eventing a glimpse of what it’s all about,” he added.

Fresh from their outing at last weekend’s Australian Show Jumping Championships, top Jumping combinations will be in action on Tuesday in the Melbourne leg of the Australian FEI World Cup Qualifying Series. This League is also serving as the

Qualification Series of the Equestrian Grand Final and the top 15 riders following the Melbourne event will automatically qualify for November’s Grand Final.   

After claiming both the Senior and Young Rider Australian Show Jumping titles, NSW rider Tom McDermott and his 15 yo mare Romantic Dream are looking strong favourites but don’t discredit the series leader Evie Buller and other experienced riders who will be out to snatch a win.

Quick Link

• For more information on the Equestrian Grand Final, including information on Dressage finalists please visit http://www.equestrian.org.au