Tamworth International Eventing will host the first of two major competitions for 2015 on the 15th and 16th August at AELEC, attracting record entry numbers and a star studded field of world ranked horses and riders in the international classes.
Riders from all across the east coast of Australia will travel to Tamworth to compete at the increasingly popular competition, including 70 horse and rider combinations in the international levels. Fourteen elite riders will compete in the Peel Valley Machinery CIC3* class, including Olympian Heath Ryan. With the Rio Olympic Games just one year away, competition amongst the elite riders will be fierce, as riders look to impress with a strong performance in Tamworth, ahead of the selection events.
Heath Ryan will compete at the Tamworth event for the fourth consecutive year, partnering his horse Aspire R in the Peel Valley Machinery International CIC3* class. Heath Ryan represented Australia at the Beijing Olympics in the sport of dressage, and has been the Australian Three Day Event Champion on three occasions in the sport of eventing.
In 2014, Heath’s student Hazel Shannon enjoyed back to back victories at both Tamworth events with her thoroughbred gelding Clifford, a feat she will be keen to repeat in 2015. With 2013 winner Katie Roots returning to Tamworth to compete on her imported sporthorse Trevalgar II, spectators can expect a thrilling and competitive cross country phase on Sunday afternoon.
Queenslander Isabel English, who recently represented Australia in New Zealand as part of the Trans Tasman challenge, will compete on her Thoroughbred/Connemara cross gelding Feldale Mouse. Having placed 2nd at Tamworth in 2014, she will be a strong contender in 2015. Elizabeth Lowery will travel from Sydney to compete on her very successful ex-racehorse KL Kismet. This combination won the CCI3* at Sydney International Horse Trials in May, and will be a force to be reckoned with this weekend.
“The forecast is for plenty of sunshine, and we are really excited to host world class eventing right here in Tamworth”, said Tamworth International Eventing’s President Norm Hindmarsh. “Every year we have more and more people competing at our event, from newcomers to the sport, right up to the Olympic level riders. All the riders enjoy these amazing facilities at AELEC and the wonderful country hospitality in Tamworth. It’s very rewarding for our volunteer committee to welcome them to Tamworth! We hope the local community will come along and spectate, it’s a very exciting sport to watch.”
Spectator entry is free through the weekend. Show jumping in the indoor arena for the international levels of competition will commence at 3:30pm on Saturday afternoon.
The cross country phase runs from 8:30am until 3:30pm on Sunday, with the higher levels competing from 1:30pm.
Article courtesy of Tamworth International Eventing (TIE).
