Now that Melbourne has decided that winter is here I am even happier to be going to Sydney International 3 Day Event this weekend. Even better, although it has been raining cats, dogs and horses in NSW for weeks now, the forecast for this weekend is good! From Friday 27th to Sunday 29th we are (hopefully) going to be blessed with fine weather, 22 degrees and only the chance of a shower late Sunday.
By then it will all be over and we’ll know who is very likely to part of the team for London 2012 from the Australian based riders. There is no doubt that performing well at this key selection event for the Australian Olympic eventing squad is vital for the Elite and National A Squad members.
Many of them are experienced campaigners, some of them WEG and Olympic medallists and it will be great to catch up with them in Sydney as the Olympic campaign really kicks into gear.
Mike Etherington-Smith
Talk is that the course, built by visiting course designer and British Eventing Chief Executive, Mike Etherington-Smith, is big. Very big. So this certainly won’t be a walk in (Horsley) Park. Talking of cross country courses, CrossCountry App has just released a FREE view only version of their iPhone App called CrossCountry Lite http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/crosscountry-lite/id519943310?mt=8 . This means that spectators as well as riders can download and view courses from around the world. The Sydney International 3DE course will be on it soon, so the course can be viewed by heaps of spectators for free! Both the full and Lite version now have full screen videos and photos, voice memos and ABC combination fences.
As you know we have been including the Cross Country App course maps and fence images as part of our coverage at events recently and it is a great to get a virtual view of the course.
Sonja Johnson and Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison dress to impress at trot up in Sydney 2010 - they will be back again this year as one of the favourites to win in 2012
On Thursday Alison Duthie will be attending the trot up and bringing you the news from riders, officials and anyone else who stands still long enough for her to talk to! From Friday to Sunday it will be full on reporting each day with updates on Facebook, Twitter plus Photo Galleries and articles each night.
As well as the Sydney International 3 Day Event, there is a host of other equestrian activities and general entertainment on during the weekend including World Cup Showjumping, dressage display and dog agility displays. Personally, I think the course walk with Wayne Roycroft and Mike E-S on Saturday morning or the ‘Behind the Scenes’ tours is a must-do and I may tag along and bring you some highlights from that.
To see the full timetable CLICK HERE
In August 2010, Sydney 3 Day Event celebrated the 10th anniversary of winning gold at the Sydney Olympics; that event was also a lead-up to another major championship, the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. Here's a few photos from the Sydney 3DE 2010
Stuart Tinney brought along Sydney Olympic gold medallist horse, Jeepster who was quite feisty depsite his age! Recently Stuart told An Eventful Life that "This is the first time since Jeepster that we feel we have another real chance at Olympic gold"
Jeepster meets his fans assisted by Stuart
Heath Ryan and Mystery Whisper took the 2010 CCI 3* title. Mystery Whisper is now owned by Phillip Dutton who is hoping to compete him at London 2012 for the USA.
Shane Rose's Taurus was relatively inexperienced back then but is a real contender this year
Natalie Blundell and Algebra, seen here at the recent Trans Tasman, were 4th in the Sydney CCI 3* 2010 - now aiming for selection for London 2012. Photo: Libby Law
Megan Jones and Kirby Park Irish Jester were Kentucky bound at Sydney 3DE 2010 - Kirby Park Allofasudden will be her main Olympic selection hope at Sydney this year but let's hope we get to see Jester there too
