World Cups Take Over SIEC: 6 - 8 May

Sydney will come alive with horses from 6 - 8 May when World Cups will take over SIEC!  Featuring FEI World Cup Eventing and Jumping Qualifiers, International and  National Eventing, Jumping and Young Horse classes PLUS the inaugural Saddlehorse Invitational Nature Vet Ceva NSW State Cup, this promises to be a hugely exciting event for competitors and spectators alike.

The Saddlehorses are a welcome addition to the 2011 Weekend of World Cups, helping to create a multi-discipline event that will appeal to everyone. It is estimated that there will be more than 600 horses competing each day at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre over the Weekend of World Cups.

Funding for the Sydney World Cup event in 2011 has been secured thanks to Equestrian NSW and Equestrian Australia. Eventing NSW has also stepped in to support the event, an important competition for our elite riders aiming to qualify their horses and have a chance at winning their share of the World Cup Prize Money.

Jumping NSW have matched Eventing NSW sponsorship of the Weekend of World Cups, being granted naming rights to the Greater Sydney World Cup Jumping Qualifier where Australia's best showjumpers will compete. Other sponsors have also become involved with the prestigious event.

2010 World Cup Winners Return for 2011!

2010 Eventing World Cup winner Chris Burton (pictured) and Showjumping World Cup winner Jamie Kermond, are returning to the 2011 Weekend of World Cups to defend their titles.

Both riders are in fabulous form in the lead up to the Weekend of World Cups in May.

Eventer Chris Burton and Holstein Park Leilani won the WHK ACCOUNTANTS CIC3*in Albury in March for the second consecutive year. He was also 2nd on FIS Underdiscussion and 5th on Haruzac at this event.

The combination then travelled across the Tasman to compete in Round 1 of the FEI World Cup™ Eventing 2011 series in Kihikihi in New Zealand. Chris and Holstein Park Leilani scored 45.9 penalties in the dressage phase putting them just 0.2 behind the overnight leader NZ Clarke Johnstone. Burton also delivered a polished cross country round on the scopey mare adding nothing to his dressage score, leaving Johnstone absolutely no room for error in the final show-jumping phase. Despite dropping a rail Chris and Leilani finished in 2nd place, putting them in a strong position as Round 2 of the World Cup in Sydney approaches. Fellow NSW rider and Silver medallist from the Beijing Olympics, Shane Rose riding Taurus, finished in 4th place and will also be competing in Sydney.

Showjumper Jamie Kermond and Colthaga also travelled across the Tasman earlier in 2011 where they secured 2nd place in the Bell Tea Olympic Cup Show Jumper of the Year competition. The strong field of World Cup Showjumpers entered for the Sydney World Cup event also includes Chris Chugg who recently returned from representing Australia at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky and Olympian Vicki Roycroft. The week preceding the World Cups in Sydney these show jumpers will compete in the prestigious Copabella Classic being held at the St Ives Showground, on the Northshore of Sydney.

Visit www.sydneyeventing.org for more information on everything to do with Sydney's Weekend of World Cups.

CLICK HERE to enter the Galahad/Horsezone competition to win 4 VIP Tickets to the Sydney FEI World Cup Jumping Qualifier - come up with a snazzy slogan and you could be there!