Pictured above is Sonja Johnson and Ringwould Jaguar, part of the Silver Medal Team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, jumping over the brand new Shacks Holden Trax, which will be the first prize for the winner of the Grand Prix at Eventing in the Park.
Six national and international riders will headline the inaugural ‘Eventing in the Park’ for a day of high end, derby style riding on December 15 at McCallum Park, Perth.
Tim Boland will be one of the riders at Eventing in the Park
Olympians Megan Jones, Stuart Tinney and Sonja Johnson, former Olympic reserve Tim Boland, former world equestrian games reserve Christine Bates and New Zealand world equestrian games rider Clarke Johnstone will be part of the event that spectators will never forget.
In a first of its kind event, the elite equestrian grand prix will see riders will compete in combined show jumping and cross country phases in the 1.15 metre Grand Prix and the 1.05 metre Diamond class. It will demand the ultimate in concentration and athletic ability with the event promising to be a spectacular showcase of the toughest discipline a horse and rider can compete in.
Australian Olympic team silver medallist and Western Australian rider Sonja Johnson said she was looking forward to displaying the sport to spectators.
“Eventing is a great sport and one of the original Olympic events so an opportunity to show it off is always significant,” she said. “Adelaide 4 Star event is the only other event in Australia in the middle of the city but it is like test cricket, you have to know the sport to appreciate it. This is like 20/20 cricket, it's fast furious and easy to understand.”
Sonja added that she had never competed in an event on the same scale as Eventing in the Park.
Team silver medallist Megan Jones (above) said she heard about Eventing in the Park during the year and thought it sounded like a lot of fun.
“When I was invited to ride this year I jumped at the chance,” she said. “It’s such a great concept to show case our amazing, tough but glamorous sport to the people of Perth and in such an amazing setting. It’s such a unique place to have the competition and it will be a hotly contested competition and the prize pool is very impressive.”
With over $85,000 in Prizes up for grabs, the winner of the Grand Prix will drive away in a brand new Holden Trax thanks to Shack’s Holden and the winner of the Diamond class will take home a $10,000 diamond bracelet courtesy of Solid Gold Diamonds.
The event can cater for corporate marquees, VIP’s and is also family friendly. There will be the Cavalia Fashions on the Field competition and spectators will be given the rare opportunity to walk the course with some of Australia’s top riders.
Photo thanks to RedFoto
