Australia’s top Dressage riders are gearing up for the final showdown of 2011. The prestigious CDI-W Pacific League World Cup Dressage Final, the Victorian Dressage Championships for horses and ponies as well as the Marcus Oldham Aachen Challenge are held at the National Equestrian Centre, Werribee, Australia on 8-11 December.
More than 300 competitors will perform over 700 dressage tests over the four days of competition.
The winner of the Pacific League Final will earn the right to represent the Pacific League (Australia and New Zealand) at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Final in 's Hertogenbosch (NED) next April.
With Olympic aspirations riding high athletes are especially eager to win this year’s title. A start in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Final in the Netherlands against the world’s best would be an ideal preparation for the London Olympic Games.
National Dressage Performance Director, Deb MacNicol, explains the importance of the FEI World Cup series to Australasia. “This is the 22nd year the Pacific League of the FEI World Cup has been contested and has proved to be an invaluable medium for Grand Prix riders in our region to compete with the best riders and horses in the world and gain valuable experience in the international arena. Riders from both Australia and New Zealand have always considered this competition to be a great opportunity to travel with their horse to Europe to compete in the most prestigious of dressage events.”
The CDI-W is also a chance for horse and rider combinations to gain their Minimum Eligibility Standard (MES), which is a pre-requisite qualification for any Olympic competitor.
The CDI-W competitors will ride in front of an international Ground Jury. The panel of five judges will include Katrina Wuest (GER), Alison King (HKG), Helen Hughes - Keen (NZL), Mary Seefried (AUS) and Susie Hoevenaars (AUS).
Combinations will compete in the Grand Prix test on Friday afternoon, which is a qualifying event for Saturday night’s exciting Freestyle competition. This feature event will determine the Pacific League World Cup winner.
There are nine combinations, including one rider from New Zealand, competing in the CDI-W. Olympian and three-time World Championships representative Rachael Sanna is a favourite to take the title. Sanna and Bev Edwards’ chestnut gelding Jaybee Alabaster made a clean sweep of all three Grand Prix classes at the Australian Championships in October.
2008 Olympian Heath Ryan is hot off a win at the Equestrian Grand Final in Sydney last month. Ryan and the experienced black stallion Regardez Moi blew the competition away with a new freestyle routine and music.
Louisa Hill (NZL), National Grand Prix Champion of New Zealand and Athens Olympic Games representative is going to keep the Aussie’s honest. Hill is the sole New Zealand representative and could well be the first-ever New Zealand winner of the Pacific League Final. Hill and Bates Antonello won the Grand Prix test at the recent Equestrian Grand Final in Sydney on an impressive 68.468% and were hot on Sanna’s heels throughout the Australian National Championships.
Defending her title will be Queenslander Chantal Wigan and Ferero. Winner’s of the Pacific League World Cup Final in 2010 they will be determined to retain the honour.
In addition to the Pacific League World Cup Final, the 2011 Saddleworld Dressage Festival has an action packed schedule. The Festival also hosts the final Regional Paralympic Team Qualifier. This will determine whether Australia or New Zealand will earn a team place at the London Games.
The Para-Equestrian competition welcome teams from Japan and the USA as well Australia and New Zealand. Australian riders will be aiming to impress selectors as this doubles as a Paralympic nomination event.
The Festival welcomes riders and horses competing in classes ranging from Preliminary to Grand Prix, junior to senior.
Sixteen young riders will contest the prestigious Marcus Oldham Aachen Challenge. The top three riders from Friday’s initial round will progress to the final on Sunday afternoon. They will be required to ride a test on their own horse as well as the other two finalists’ horses, making this a true test of horsemanship. The winner earns a trip to Germany to attend the world famous Aachen Horse Show.
Sunday is Education Day at the Festival. Commencing from 10am there will be 30 minute seminars presented throughout the day on a range of performance horse related topics.
Pre-Christmas shopping opportunities will abound at the extensive trade village, which includes 37 exhibitors.
Related Links
Riders Confirmed for 2011 Pacific League World Cup Final in Werribee
Pacific League Winner Chantal Wigan Not to Travel to 2011 World Cup Finals