Australia’s top equestrian athletes are ready to battle at the inaugural Equestrian Grand Final that is being held as part of EQUITANA at Sydney Showgrounds this Friday 11 – Sunday 13 November 2011.

The Equestrian Grand Final is the only event in Australia that will bring together elite athletes from all the Olympic disciplines of dressage, jumping and eventing as they battle it out for an attractive prize pool.

Beijing silver medallist and winner of the Exhibition Eventing at the Sydney Royal Show Shane Rose, said this weekend will be a fun event that will give people a taste of Eventing.

“This event will be a good show piece for the sport – it will certainly provide the public with the essence of Eventing,” he said.

“I’m certainly going out there to win it!  The horse I have is young in terms of experience but I think we’ll be competitive.”

Rose will go head to head with UK based riders Clayton Fredericks (Olympic silver medallist) riders Paul Tapner (Badminton CCI4* winner) and Sam Griffiths (placegetter at Badminton and Burghley CCI4*s). They’ll be joined by Australian based stars Stuart Tinney (Olympic gold medallist) and Megan Jones (Olympic silver medallist).

Veteran of the sport and Olympian Heath Ryan said the new Equestrian Grand Final is a great opportunity to open up the sport to new audiences.

“For our sport, we’ve been a little protected with well-educated audiences – but this event will be brilliant in opening it up to a new crowd which will be great exposure.

“This is an exciting event and has the potential to be a serious date on the competition calendar in the next couple of years.

“I’m actually trying out a new piece of music for the freestyle, which is a bit of a nightmare trying to get it right, but I’m excited,” he said.

After an impressive performance by Heath and Regardez Moi at the recent National Dressage Championships, they will be out to show selectors and audiences that they are serious contender for next year’s Olympic Games.

“Equitana is a great platform to get into a big arena after the Nationals and show that it wasn’t a fluke and that we are serious contenders for the team next year.

“I’d like to be at the Olympics next year.  Making that team is what drives you as an athlete,” he said.

Three-time Olympian Vicki Roycroft, will be out to show the young guns she still has what it takes when she lines up with Kartoon De Breve on Friday night for the Jumping Grand Final.

“I’m looking forward to the competition.  There is nothing better than jumping in front of a big crowd,” said Roycroft.

“He (Kartoon De Breve) competed at a high level in France – he’s a bit of a funny character, I’ve had him just under 12 months and he’s still a bit of a repair job,” she said.

Competition for the Equestrian Grand Final commences on Friday, with gates for the EQUITANA trade show due to open tomorrow.  EQUITANA is the largest equine tradeshow in the southern hemisphere, with more than 50,000 people expected to pass through the gates over the four days.

Equestrian Grand Final
Jumping: Friday 11 November, 7.00pm
Dressage: Saturday 12 November, 7.30pm 
Exhibition Eventing: Sunday 13 November, 4.30pm

Equestrian Australia