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Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials Start Today

Published on Thursday, September 8, 2011 in General

 

A world-class field will be competing at this week’s Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials (8-11 September 2011) and the event will also welcome three nations - Japan, New Zealand, and Australia - for its London 2012 team Eventing qualifier for Africa, Middle East, South East Asia and Oceania (FEI Olympic Groups F and G). South Africa will be represented by individual riders.

Only one nation from Blenheim will qualify for London 2012 so Japan and Australia (the two nations still to qualify) will have all to play for. The higher placed of the two will join host nation Great Britain along with Canada, New Zealand, USA, Germany and Belgium (who qualified at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2010); as well as France and Sweden (the two nations that secured Olympic participation at the recent FEI European Eventing Championships).

The London 2012 Team qualifier at Blenheim will run as part of the CCI3* competition. “Blenheim is synonymous with Olympic qualification,” explained Catrin Norinder, FEI Director of Eventing & Olympic. “In 2003, Blenheim hosted a qualifier for the 2004 Athens Olympics and a second Olympic qualifier in 2007 for the 2008 Beijing Games. The best team from this year’s Asia Pacific Eventing Championship, excluding New Zealand (who have already qualified), will secure Olympic participation in London and we wish the riders and their horses the best of luck.”

The Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, set in the parkland of Blenheim Palace near Woodstock (Oxon), has become an established family event. In addition to top level equestrian sport, the event also hosts: over 175 trade stands, competitions for local riders and a wide selection of displays and demonstrations designed to appeal to all, including a sports participation area. 

 

AUSTRALIA'S HOPES
There is plenty of experience on the Aussie team including 2008 silver medallist Lucinda Fredericks and and Bill Levett who recently won the CIC3* at Hartpury on One too many NJ.
Athletes representing Australia this weekend are:
1.         Catherine Burrell Urzan
3.         Lucinda Fredericks Nysa de Petra
4.         Bill Levett One Too Many NJ
5.         Brook Staples Ever So Clever III
Should Australia not qualify a team for the London Games at Blenheim, there is another option available.  With a minimum of 20 individual places are still up for grabs, athletes will be selected from the FEI Global Rider Rankings.  The Global rider rankings are based on results from CCI3*, CIC3* and CCI4* events from March 2011 – March 2012.
If 3 or more riders are from one nation then that nation can form a composite team (the order of priority of the selection of the composite teams will be based on the combined highest 5 placings on the ranking list of 1 March 2012, from one National Federation.
Heading into Blenheim Australia’s “combined highest 5 placings” equalled 973 points. Of those countries who are yet to qualify, the next highest ranked country is Sweden on 571 points.
BEST OF LUCK TO THE AUSSIES!!!

 

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