Media Release: 7th November, 2013
The big day finally arrived and EQUITANA opened the gates to lines of enthusiastic visitors at the Sydney Showgrounds, Olympic Park!
The range of stands in the Exhibition Precinct is amazing with a wide variety of boutique stands offering a range of really unique products nestled in among your equestrian favourites – ideal for Christmas shopping!
Arenas and classrooms delivering this year’s education program were running hot too, as specialist international presenters such as Dr. Kerry Ridgeway and Wayne Hipsley lead a program that covered a diverse range of health and training topics.
Our first action packed day of competition featured:
- Be the Influence Equestrian Grand Final CSI-W Jumping (Round 1)
John Valance really laid down a challenging course for round 1 of the competition in the John Deere Dome this morning. Competition between our rider and horse combinations was fierce but Billy RAYMOND and Stardom took out the day with a smashing time score of 58.05 seconds!
The pair was followed closely by David GOODWIN and Warrego Jericho with a score of 60.77 and Jamie KERMOND on Killeter Park Caracus with a score of 60.94.
- International horseball Match – Australia vs UK
Today’s match, presented by the Australian Horseball Association, was amazing, with our Aussie players giving their all on home ground! Our visiting UK team were all geared up and excited to be playing in Australia and riding Australian horses. But the home team won with Australia defeating the UK team 8 goals to 6. The best player award went to Ben Collett (Aus) and best horse was taken out by “Popeye”, who was ridden by Sam Coulman from GB.
- Reining Australia CRI3* World Equestrian Games Qualifier
The CRI3* WEG Qualifier was taken out by Kate Elliott and OP Whizzel Do, closely followed by John Wicks and Snippin Cash – both delivering beautiful reining patterns. Congratulations Kate, well done!
- Al Dunning Horsemanship Clinic
Was a training treat for fans of any discipline. The master people and horse trainer showed us how solid foundation training can improve performance in any competition genre and his patience and encouragement to the riders in the clinic ensured they were comfortable and got the most out of their time with him. Al will be presenting training sessions in the Riverina Pavillion on Frid 8th at 11.00am and Sat 9th at 10.00am in the Horse Quest Arena, and at 2.45pm on Sun 10th in the CRT Arena.
- EQUITANA Australian Open Reining Championships
The EQUTANA Australian Open Reining Championships provided crowds with a phenomenal display of Reining finesse as top Australian rider and horse combinations galloped fast and slow circles, executed perfect lead changes, span at amazing speed and performed the quintessential reining manoeuvre, the sliding stop. For the results of the Reining Open click on http://www.equitana.com.au/competition-results
FRIDAY 8TH HIGHLIGHTS
Tomorrow promises to be another fantastic day at EQUITANA with features such as:-
- The Be the Influence Equestrian Grand Final Exhibition Eventing (Dressage) at 9.30am in the John Deere Dome
- The Be the Influence Equestrian Grand Final CDI-W Grand Prix Dressage (which is a WEG 2014 Qualifier) at 11.30am in the John Deere Dome
- Linda Parelli special training feature – “Horsenality” at 12 noon in the Riverina Pavillion Think Fencing Woodgrain Arena
- Arabian Horse Breeder’s Alliance Australasia Cup at 3.00pm on the Howie Lawns
- The Be the Influence Equestrian Grand Final Exhibition Eventing (Jumping) at 4.00pm
MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Colleen Lethbridge
Marketing & Public Relations Manager
EQUITANA Australia
MOBILE: 0403 082 415
EMAIL: colleen@equitana.com.au
