AUS to defend World Cup
This weekend Australian rider Clayton Fredericks will defend his HSBC FEI World Cup Eventing title in Strzegom Poland.
31 riders from 14 nations will compete for the prestigious trophy. Clayton will be riding Ben Along Time, the 14-year-old gelding on whom he won the title last year and in 2005.
Although Clayton and Ben have an enviable performance record including a CCI4* win and an Olympic Silver medal, they will have some stiff competition in Poland.
Clayton's wife Lucinda and her feisty mare Headley Britannia will try to replicate their sensational performance in Kentucky earlier this year where they won the Rolex 4-star.
British representatives Ruth Edge (Two Thyme), winner at the recent Gatcombe (GBR) qualifier, and Oliver Townsend (Flint Curtis), current leader in the HSBC FEI ClassicsTM standings, will try to steal the crown from Australia.
Germany is the most strongly represented nation, with six riders, including Frank Ostholt (Air Jordan) and Kai Rüder (Leprince des Bois), who finished 4th and 6th respectively at last year's Final, plus recent Luhmühlen 4-star winner Michael Jung with La Biosthetique Sam.
The following nations are represented: Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Lithuania, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Sweden and USA.
Dressage will take place on Saturday and Cross-Country, followed by Jumping will be on Sunday.
Watch the action live at www.feitv.org (from 10pm AEST on Saturday and 10.30pm AEST on Sunday). Full results will be available at http://www.worldcupstrzegom.pl
