Showcase of Showjumping Raises the Bar with Australia’s First Ever CSI3*

Jamie Kermond and Valhalla at the 2012 Sydney Royal CSI1*-W

As the host of Australia’s very first FEI 3* jumping class, this weekend’s Showcase of Showjumping will be an event for the history books.

For the first time, Australia’s top horse and rider combinations will have a chance to experience a 3* jumping competition on home soil and the organisers of the annual Showcase of Showjumping event are hoping other events will follow in their footsteps.  

“We’ve got a number of shows earmarked and we’ve spoken to the people who run those shows and most of them are quite enthusiastic about it. We’ve even spoken to the Royal Agricultural Show and there’s every chance that next year’s Sydney Royal will be a 3* event,” said organiser John Winning.

With a second 3* event scheduled in late April at the Sydney International Horse Trials, John hopes to see an influx of competition at this level in Australia.

“I’d ultimately like to see one show a month being held in Australia,” he said.

As well as securing the necessary six figure prize purse, organisers of this weekend’s Showcase of Showjumping have had to ensure that all other mandatory requirements for hosting an FEI 3* jumping event have been met.

“We’ve managed to secure a sponsor that will offer the required $170,000 in prize money, secured the services of an international course designer in Kevin Hansen and met the stabling and steward requirements for a 3* jumping event,” said John. 

“It’s been a lot easier than we anticipated and the feedback we’ve received has been very positive.”

John hopes the introduction of 3* events to the domestic jumping calendar will see promising riders delay their departure to Europe and further develop their skills at home.

“There’s an urge to send riders overseas to get experience and it’s not that easy to get into shows there. You can get yourself to Europe but you don’t always get a start in the best shows. The idea is to run shows here in Australia that are as good, or nearly as good as the European shows.”

“At some stage they’ll leave our shores but it would be nice if our riders could get more experience before leaving,” he said.

In addition to offering Australia’s top talent with a higher level of competition, offering 3* events in Australia also presents an opportunity to attract competitors from the Asia-Pacific region, which provides local combinations with even greater competition experience.

“We could see some of the Japanese or American riders, maybe even some of the European riders who are having difficulty breaking into the European circuit coming over to compete.”

This year’s Showcase of Showjumping is offering free entry on both days so all equestrian enthusiasts are able to come along and be a part of this history making occasion.  

Location: Highfield, Sydney Polo Club, 100 Old Kurrajong Road, Richmond NSW

Story & Photo: Equestrian Australia