Snowy Mountains Showjumping Festival

The picturesque town of Cooma NSW, will come alive on 4 - 9 January 2011, with the 4th Annual Snowy Mountains Showjumping Festival, which is being held at Cooma Showgrounds.

 

The 6 day event, initially held in January of 2008, was one of the first events post EI and to obey DPI restrictions it was decided to hold 3 events at the one venue and the Festival has grown from there!

 

At the 2011 Festival, there will 3200 rounds of jumping over the 6 days, which amounts to 650 rounds per day and means fantastic entertainment for anyone who is a showjumping fan.  There will be 3 jumping arenas to cater for all levels of riders and horses, from beginner through to elite.  The beginner arena will start with cross-rails and go up to 70cm, the next ring will be 70cm to 105cm and the third arena will be 110cm to 140cm.  The Snowy Mountains Showjumping Festival focus is to provide a show where the whole family can come along and have a go.  The committee's aim is to enourage junior riders and people with young horses, by providing a show where they can get out and compete over fences that suit their ability, without being rushed into jumping higher courses.  The main ring course designer is Leeson Sirret from Shepparton, Victoria and Ring 2 is Tim Dansey from Cudal, NSW. The judge for ring one is Michael Archer and ring 2 is Bridget Cross.

 

As the event continues to grow, the 2011 Festival has incorporated events other than showjumping for the first time.  Additional events include dressage, hacking,  AHHA hunter classes and sporting, so there will be something for everyone, whether participating or simply enjoying 6 days of fabulous horsey entertainment.

 

There will also be an art exhibition run in conjunction with the 2011 Festival, which is being hosted by Raglan Gallery, Cooma.  The exhibition, titled 'Everything Equine', will include works of art by local and statewide artists and will run over the 6 days of the Festival.  Judging of the exhibition will take place on Tuesday 4 January with all art being critically assessed by three equestrian icons, acting as artistic judges in this case, Grant Hughes, Heath Harris and Tom McDermott.

 

On Saturday night, 8 January, there will be plenty of action with a Speed Derby featuring 35 of Australia's fastest showjumping riders and the crowd favourite "Hoof and Hound" event, where 14 competitors will jump a course on their horse, then dismount and run around an agility course with their dog!  Spectators will even be given the opportunity to vote for the most 'crowd pleasing' competitor.  But wait there's more! The fun will continue on well into the night after all that excitement, with band "After Dark" playing until late.

 

CLICK HERE to view programs including dressage, hack and hunter events and/or to enter via Global Entries Online

 

For any further information about the Festival contact Tim Dreverman at tdreverman@hotmail.com or call 0428 471 527