Stuart Tinney and Shane Rose are two top guns heading to Albury
Olympic and World Equestrian Games riders spearhead a star-studded field of more than 400 eventers vying for honours at the WHK Albury Wodonga International Horse Trials at the Equestrian Centre in Thurgoona on April 5-7.
For the first time in the event’s history, most classes are fully booked and riders are being placed on waiting lists as interest among the upper echelon of the sport for two and three star berths is equalled by that from local pony clubbers in the newcomers and intro classes.
Some of the big names on the entry card include Olympians Stuart Tinney, Shane Rose, Megan Jones and Wendy Schaeffer.
Tinney has had more success than any other Australian rider based in this country. He won an Olympic gold medal at Sydney 2000, had representative honours at the 2004 Athens Olympics and has ridden at the World Equestrian Games in 1998 (Rome), 2002 (Jerez) and Kentucky (2010).
Megan Jones hopes to be back in the saddle at Albury after time off with a back injury
Shane Rose won silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Hong Kong and was selected for the 2012 London Olympics before a heartbreaking injury to his horse Taurus forced him out just days before the competition started. Taurus is now back in work and coming to Albury! Wendy Schaeffer earned her stripes when she became the youngest Olympic three day eventing gold medallist in 1996 at Atlanta and Megan Jones won silver alongside Shane at the Beijing Olympics.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for local spectators and riders to see and ride with some of the best Australia has to offer,” Event Director Ms Angela Ramsey said. “Where else can a pony club rider compete at the same event as an Olympic rider? It just doesn’t happen that often but it’s happening right here in Albury.
“The calibre of competition at the top – in the two and three star competitions – is world standard. We have Olympic horses and Olympic riders lining up to do battle on our world class course and I think it goes to show how well respected these Horse Trials are in the equestrian world.”
4* winner at Adelaide in 2012, Craig Barrett will be competing at Albury
Other top riders include Australian elite eventing squad members Emma Mason, Craig Barrett and Tim Boland, who made the trip to the 2012 London Olympics as a reserve.
The Horse Trials are being held from Friday, April 5 to Sunday, April 7 at the Albury Wodonga Equestrian Centre and include a spectacular puissance bareback showjumping event on the Saturday night.
An Eventful Life will be at Albury to provide full coverage of the event and video coverage of the Cross Country.
