The Eventing and Showjumping Action Continues Today at SIEC!

The first stage of competition began yesterday in the Equestrian NSW 3* Class at the Sydney International Three Day Event with Dressage. This tests obedience and training in the first of three phases in what is described as the triathlon of Equestrian Sport.

Tim Boland from Wyong Creek in NSW took an early lead with a flowing test on GV Billy Elliot that scored a high 70.80%. This combination is renowned for their prowess in Dressage and they maintained their lead, staying just ahead of Olympians Stuart Tinney (Maraylya, NSW) and Megan Jones (Stirling, SA)  until the third last rider of the 18 strong field entered the arena.

Shane Rose, also an Olympic medal winner, completed an expressive, powerful test on the young warmblood Taurus that scored 72.93%. At just 9 years of age, Taurus is considered young in elite Eventing, but his record so far in 2012, 3 major wins including the Trans Tasman Title in Kihikihi New Zealand, show that he is more than ready for the challenge.

On Saturday Shane will tackle a challenging cross county track created by Mike Etherington-Smith with 3.20 penalties in hand. Mike, one of the world’s leading cross country course designers, was the original designer for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. His new track revisits many of the challenges seen in 2000 as well as introducing a number of new elements that will test the courage of both horse and rider. With only 11 penalties separating the 10 Olympic hopefuls in the field and just 5 spots available on the Aussie Team, the pressure is on for Shane to go quick and clear if he is to maintain his lead and hopefully book a trip to London.

Shane's domination continued in the Virgin Australia CIC2* Class where he sits in 1st and 2nd on Virgil and Wisteria Lane before tomorrow's cross country phase. Megan Jones on Kirby Park Irish Empress leads Emma Mason on Pokerface in the Equitak Excel CIC1* Class and Isabelle Bowditch-McIntyre on Grandios leads the J&J Robertson & Sons Junior CIC1*

Mike Etherington-Smith and Australia's own Eventing legend Wayne Roycroft, will host a free cross country course walk on Saturday morning at 9:30am before action on course begins at 10:30am.

Other competion scheduled for Saturday includes the warm up class for the World Cup Showjumping Qualifier and the Young Rider contest that begins the evening's entertainment.

The Eventing competition will finish on Sunday with Showjumping in what is always a fierce battle down to the last rider!

Following this will be the Greater Sydney World Cup Showjumping Qualifier. A grand finish to an amazing three days of Equestrian competition.

Quick Links

• A preview of the 3* Course can be seen online thanks to Cross Country App - here
• Results can be viewed online - here
• For more information please visit www.sydneyeventing.org