An Eventful Life is filming all competitors on cross country at
Willinga Park Test Event 2022 - find out more here
Stop Press: New cross country only class added! The Test Event will run a full CCN2*-S competition but there is also an option for riders to just enjoy a ride around the cross country course without doing the dressage or show jumping (what’s not to love – especially at the reduced cost of $50 – get your entries in here!)
It has been a long time coming but finally Eventing @ Willinga will get underway on 29th and 30th January 2022
“We've designed an equestrian and events experience like no other” says the Willinga Park website of the venue, located approximately four hours south of Sydney on the coast of NSW, that has fast become one of Australia’s leading equestrian centres and an events destination renowned for quality and beauty.
The 2,300-acre park owned by Terry Snow is not just renowned for its world-class, architecturally-designed equestrian facilities but also its conference facilities, gardens and public art features. We cannot wait to see it first-hand next week when Eventing @ Willinga joins the stable of events
Initially scheduled to host its first ever CCI4* eventing competition in October 2020, replacing Lynton Horse Trials at Goulburn on the Australian eventing calendar, with classes to include a CCN1*-S, CCI2*-S, CCI3*-S and CCI4*-S, the event has been postponed twice due to Covid-19 related issues. Brand new courses have been designed with British-based Mike Etherington-Smith undertaking the CCI3*-S and CCI4*-S courses whilst mentoring up and coming course designers, Jarryd Stanley and Yona Lloyd, both from Victoria, as part of the design process of the CCI2*-S and CCN1*-S
One of Australia’s best-known eventing combinations – three-times CCI5* winners, Hazel Shannon and Willingapark Clifford (the name says it all!) – is also now based at Terry and Ginette Snow’s property. Hazel will not be competing at the January Test Event as she is currently based in the UK after travelling to Les Etoiles de Pau last year, but she is very complimentary about the beautiful venue and its facilities
“There is a huge shed full of amazing new portable jumps – they even have numbers on them – and I was lucky enough to be able to take my pick and use them for schooling in one of the big grass paddocks at Willinga Park” she told us before leaving for Pau
The portables, along with other fences, will finally see the light of day and be jumped on a real course at the Willinga Park Test Event on January 29th & 30th
The Test Event will run a full CCN2*-S competition but there is also an option for riders to just enjoy a ride around the cross country course without doing the dressage or show jumping (what’s not to love – especially at the reduced cost of $50 – get your entries in here!)
The main aim of the event is really to check all aspects in preparation for the full CCI4* programme in April but also includes an Eventer’s Showjumping program from 1*- 4* level, giving eventers a chance to brush up on their competition show jumping skills. The show jumping, with courses designed by Aran Ghafouri, will take place on the new Grandstand Arena
The eventing dressage will take place on Saturday morning, the CCN2* cross country course designed by Jarryd Stanley will be tackled on Sunday morning followed by the eventing show jumping
Sadly spectators are not allowed this weekend but we’ll be at Willinga Park throughout the weekend bringing you daily updates followed by our feature articles the following week and of course our cross country videos!
And don't forget to stay tuned to our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for video snippets and more ... !
Hazel Shannon and Willingapark Clifford on course at the Australian International 3 Day Event 2019
