Sydney Olympic Arena to Host blockbuster 30th Anniversary Showjumping Event

Vicki Roycroft and her current star Casino Royale Noblewood Park (photo: Furdography)

Vicki Roycroft riding her 1987 winner of the Summer Showjumping Classic, Apache, competing in Rome

By: Harriet Gruen

Australia’s top 600 showjumping horses will attempt to complete over 3000 rounds of jumping at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre from the 5-8 December for the Sydney Summer Showjumping Classic CSI-W. 

300 riders are coming from across six states and territories to compete at this weekend’s 30th anniversary celebration. This year’s blockbuster event will showcase 10 years of competition at the venue of the 2000 Olympic Games, the Sydney International Equestrian Centre (SIEC).

“It’s sure to be an exciting four days of competition to celebrate the 30th anniversary year of the Summer Showjumping Classic CSI-W, culminating with Sundays World Cup Qualifier in the afternoon and the finals for Young Riders, Amateurs and Juniors on Sunday morning” said event organiser Jane Frankum.

“It’s the biggest Summer Showjumping Classic at SIEC, which is really fantastic for our anniversary year” said Frankum.

Competitors will include experienced Olympian, and three time Summer Showjumping Classic World Cup winner Vicki Roycroft of Mount White, who won the prestigious main event in 1987 with Apache, 1998 with Coalminer and 2002 with Luna Luna.

Roycroft has competed at all of the different venues to host the Summer Showjumping Classic and has attended almost every event over the last 29 years. For Roycroft, Wentworth Park where she claimed the World Cup Qualifier with Apache in 1987 was a “special show”. This weekend she will be bringing a team of 10 horses to SIEC including her extremely competitive Casino Royale Noblewood Park and her new star Yandoo Congo Z.

Sundays World Cup Qualifier will see which rider and horse combination can add their name to the prolific list of past winners. The favourite to take out the main competition is current National Australian Champion Jamie Kermond of Sydney, who has shown outstanding form over the 2013 World Cup season.

Kermond has already claimed the top spot on the Australian World Cup league prior to the final competition this weekend, ensuring his place to represent Australia at the World Cup Final in Lyon next year.

It is sure to be an exciting four days of competition with International Olympic Course Designer Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela renowned for setting challenging courses for the horses and riders in the Olympic Arena.

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