The Northern Territory may open the way for competition to resume in other States
Sport, in general, is starting to re-open and the Northern Territory is the 'test case', according to Equestrian Northern Territory (ENT) Chair, Anne-Marie Cruickshank.
The Northern Territory Government has revised the initial easing of restrictions and, as a result, from 1st May, equestrian competition can now re-commence.
The guidelines indicate competition can be undertaken on the premise there are no public spectators present. Grooms, support people and parents are not considered spectators.
Where affiliate clubs operate out of private facilities which can be closed and access by the general public can be prevented, competitions can now be run in the Northern Territory
ENT is unable to run competitions at any multipurpose sports facilities (which includes the State Equestrian Facility) due to those being open to the public for recreation activities and weekend markets. Only training activities can be held at these venues until 5th June
There are no restrictions on numbers of attendees or length of time of these training events. Although indoor venues have a two-hour activity time restriction in the NT, the ENT State ‘indoor’ facility is not defined as an 'indoor area', as there are no walls. However, restrictions that must be observed are social distancing and best practice hygiene.
The Northern Territory is the test case for easing restrictions across the nation, and other State governments are looking to model the return to community sport, based on what is being carried out in the NT.
