Mike E-S, Ewan Kellett and a friend survey the scene on a very typical Melbourne day!
British Course Designer Mike Etherington-Smith is back on another whirl-wind tour of Australia. Mike does not need an introduction in eventing circles. One of the world’s leading cross-country course designers, Mike E-S, as he is often called, was the original Course Designer for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games as well as being responsible for the track at 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong and the 2010 World Equestrian Games.
Mike is in Australia to design the CCI 3 Star course for the Sydney International Horse Trials. As if this was not keeping him busy enough, he also paid a quick visit to Victoria. Over the weekend he spent some time at the Camperdown Horse Trials to design a new water jump in memory of the late Bill Roycroft.
Today he braced the chilly Melbourne Autumn weather to walk the MI3DE CCI 3 Star course with Australian Course Designer Ewan Kellett and Event Director Ute Raabe. “Quite a mild day” was Mike’s remark on arrival at the Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre. Ah well, in comparison to the British winter….
With the MI3DE only a mere 6 weeks away, Ewan Kellet is busy planning changes to the existing cross country course in Werribee Park and coming up with new designs for challenging fences. Mike was happy to lend some ideas and advice on improving current jumps, by changing a distance here or amending a height there. The 2013 MI3DE will be a qualifying event en route to the 2014 World Equestrian Games and therefore it is important to present horses and riders with a bit of a new challenge.
Mike offers fresh eyes to the traditional Melbourne Cross Country Course and his expertise and international experience are attributes that Australian riders can benefit from.
Entries for the MI3DE close Monday 13 May and Werribee Park looks forward to another exciting weekend of Eventing. Now in its 56th year, the organisers know how to put on an exciting event with a diverse offering of indoor and outdoor entertainment and the MI3DE is fast becoming a well-known date on Victoria’s diverse events calendar.
Centrally located halfway between Melbourne and Geelong at the Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre, the MI3DE drew a crowd of more than 20,000 people last year. Event host, Equestrian Victoria, is expecting locals, Melbournians and visitors from interstate and regional Victoria to enjoy the excitement of Eventing alongside the hospitality of a competition steeped in history and international prestige.
MI3DE tickets can be purchased through Ticketek for special early bird prices and also at the gate from Friday 7 June.
