Riders from all over Australia will travel to Tamworth this weekend to compete at Tamworth International Eventing’s first major competition for 2016.
With record entry numbers and sunshine forecast, the event’s organisers are looking forward to an action packed weekend.
“This year we have over 350 entries, ranging from newcomers to the sport who are competing in our new 45cm height class, right up to Australian representative riders” said Tamworth International Eventing’s President Carolyn Campbell. “Eventing is an increasingly popular sport in the Tamworth region, and we have more locals competing this year than ever before.”
Competition will be fierce in the elite level Peel Valley Machinery CNC3* class, with two past winners returning to Tamworth to compete. Katie Taliana, who has won the class on two previous occasions with her imported sporthorse Trevalgar II, will this year be riding her thoroughbred Friday Street and hoping to emerge victorious for the third time. Scone based New Zealander Blair Richardson, who rode Rudolf to victory in the Peel Valley Machine 3 Star Class at Tamworth International Eventing’s October 2015 event, will compete this year with his thoroughbred gelding “Mavrick”, and will be seeking back to back victories.
For the first time in the competition’s 6 year history, several Western Australian riders including Shenae Lowings and Elizabeth Moore will be competing at the event, as they base themselves on the East Coast in preparation for Melbourne International 3 Day Event in June.
“Our event here in Tamworth has developed a reputation for being world class and we are excited to see tremendous support from not only our growing local base of enthusiasts, but also professional riders from all over the country” Carolyn Campbell stated. “We always have a strong contingent of New South Wales and Queensland’s top event riders, and this year we look forward to welcoming the Western Australians too. I think they will be impressed by the fantastic facilities at AELEC and the international standard cross country course we have built here in Tamworth.”
Spectator entry is free through the weekend.
The cross country phase runs from 8:00 until 2:30pm on Sunday, with the higher levels competing from 10am
