An Eventful Life is filming all competitors on cross country at
REC Equine Specialists Sydney Autumn Classic 2023 - order or view videos here
Get ready for a whopper weekend of eventing in Australia.
While the top guns of UK based eventing head to Oasby (1) for national level early season competition, here in Australia the big names will be converging on the Sydney 2000 Olympic site, the Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park to do the same thing
The REC Equine Specialists Autumn Classic takes place on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th March with national level classes from CCN1* to CCN4*. But it isn’t just about the top levels with hundreds of competitors also entered at the iconic venue from EvA60 Freshman level to EvA95.
The EvA95 and 65 have their fun on cross country on Saturday but for the CCN2* to 4* classes it is dressage and show jumping on Saturday and cross country on Sunday. And there will be some great combinations to watch.
21 combinations will contest the REC Equine Specialists CCN4* including Olympian Shane Rose with five entered (Dotti, Matrixx, Be My Daisy, Easy Turn and Virgil), World Championship combination Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture, and 2022 Wallaby Hill CCI4*-S winner, Cathryn Herbert riding Wimborne Constable
Another Olympian, Stuart Tinney is in the REC Equine Specialists CCN3*-S with Viennese and there is a talented and newly married Kiwi to keep an eye on too, with Maddy Seivwright (nee Crowe) back down under with Waitangi Pinterest after a brief stint overseas last year.
Up and coming young riders, Oliver Barrett and Charlie Richardson (who has been impressing in the pure show jumping arena recently) are both in this class and Oliver also has the lovely grey mare Sandhills Special in the 4*
The one to watch in the Horseland Dural CCN2* will be Hazel Shannon riding Willingapark Chelsea, who won the CCI2* at Wallaby Hill late last year, their first start on Australian soil after returning from overseas. But another young rider, Olivia Barton has also been producing very good results and she has two in this class (APH Sebastian and Sandhills Gem) while her mum, and breeder of some very smart horses, Carlene Barton, is riding APH Sudoku.
We’ll be filming all competitors on cross country on both days and bringing you updates throughout the event. Stay tuned for our coverage from Sydney!
