Nation's Capital becomes Horse Capital
This week up to 1500 horses will descend upon Australia's capital city for an international Eventing competition, the NSW State Jumping Championships and for the Australian Jumping Championships held the following weekend.
Australian National Jumping Coach Gilbert Böckmann will be making the trip from his home in Germany to keep a keen eye on the elite riders and also to conduct a training clinic in between the two Jumping events.
This weekend over 250 horses will take part in the prestigious Canberra International Horse Trials at the Equestrian Park Yarralumla. The elite competition will welcome Olympic, international, interstate and local Eventing riders to compete in a magnificent setting in the heart of Canberra.
The event will run classes of all levels but the feature class is the international Three-Star (CCI3*), which be contested by top riders including Sydney 2000 Team Gold Medallist Stuart Tinney and Beijing Team Silver Medallist Shane Rose.
Nihdi Dev from India and Daiko Chujo from Japan will be tested in their bid for qualifications for the Asian games.
Just down the road at Exhibition Park, the Equestrian NSW State Show Jumping Championships will be running at the same time. This event will take three full days and boasts 300 riders, approximately 900 horses and a massive 2,800 competition entries.
The State championships will incorporate the FEI World Jumping Challenge Category A for Amateur Riders and the STC Tekna Australian Young Rider Selection Series Event.
Exhibition Park will host the best Australian Jumping talent at the 2009 Bates Australian Jumping Championships held 09 - 11 October.
2007 and 2008 Australian Jumping Champion Chris Chugg will defend his title on the in-form stallion Vivant as well as his rising star Conquistador. Chris credits the efforts of the ACT Show Jumping Club for organising the show, "It will be the biggest show put on in NSW and possibly the country this year. Especially with the Gilbert clinic leading up to it, everyone will be there." said Chris.
"I will be trying my best to make it three Australian Championships in a row," added Chris.
Canberra International Horse Trials
3/10/09 - 04/10/09 Start time 9am - 3.30pm daily
Location - Equestrian Park, Cotter Rd, Curtin ACT
For more information contact Fiona Gruen 0406 079 367 www.nchta.com.au
NSW Jumping Championships
3/10/09 - 05/10/09 Start time 8am - 5pm daily
Location: Exhibition Park, Canberra cnr Federal Highway (Goulburn Rd) & Flemington Rd Mitchell, Australian Capital Territory Australia, 2611, Canberra
For more information contact Jane Frankum on 0407 412 364 www.nsw.equestrian.org.au
2009 Bates Australian Jumping Championships
9/10/09 - 11/0/09 Start time 8am - 5pm daily
Location: Exhibition Park, Canberra cnr Federal Highway (Goulburn Rd) & Flemington Rd Mitchell, Australian Capital Territory Australia, 2611, Canberra
For more information contact: Peter Dingwall 02 6226 8966 (ah) www.actshowjumpclub.com.au
