Latest news
12 November 2008
Austin O'Connor joins the Express Eventing line-up
Austin O’Connor will compete in the Express Eventing International Cup at the Millennium Stadium on 30 November, it was revealed today.
German Dirk Schrade has had to pull out of the event due to an injury to his horse, which means the Irish rider moves from first reserve into the main event.
The announcement came as Austin joined fellow riders Lucy Wiegersma and Vittoria Panizzon on a recce of the stadium in Cardiff.
The three riders were shown where the stables will be set up, where the warm-up areas will be based and how the venue will be transformed from a rugby stadium for the Wales v Australia game of the Invesco Perpetual Series into an equestrian arena in less than 12 hours.
Austin O’Connor said: “It is a shame that I am here at the expense of someone else, but that’s sport. I am extremely excited to be taking part. When I was young, I always wanted to be a footballer or rugby player competing in venues like the Millennium Stadium. Now I get to do that – on a horse.”
For the first time, spectators will be able to watch all three disciplines – dressage, show jumping and cross-country - from one seat, and follow the progress of every horse and rider at each stage of the competition.
An unprecedented line-up of internationally renowned riders is set to compete for the £250,000 prize pot on 30 November, including Olympic medallists, European champions, World Cup title holders and winners of many of the world’s major international eventing competitions. Never before has this elite group of riders competed together under one roof.
The world renowned Pierre Michelet is designing the course. Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips and musical mastermind Andrew Lloyd Webber are lined up to give their outspoken views on the freestyle dressage to music.
Outdoor clothing specialists Musto have designed a high performance and fashionable set of clothing specially for the riders.
Yesterday it was revealed that celebrities Jodie Kidd and Tara Palmer-Tomkinson would go head-to-head in a celebrity jump-off at the event.
The Express Eventing International Cup is being organised in association with British Eventing, the sport’s governing body in Great Britain, and is being billed as eventing’s Twenty20.
For more information and to buy tickets for Express Eventing International Cup, go to www.eeicup.com <http://www.eeicup.com> or call the Express Eventing Ticketmaster hotline 08705 582582.
ends
In association with British Eventing
For further information, please contact
Express Eventing
Helen Barklam
01772 316924
07917 148900
Email: helen.barklam@tricornevents.com
Notes to editors
Express Eventing brings together the world’s top event riders to compete in a thrilling new compact version of the sport.
For the first time, spectators will be able to see all the action from one seat in a dramatic arena environment. They will be able to watch and compare the performance of every rider at every stage of the competition.
Expert commentaries, a new scoring system and state-of-the-art stadium technology will enable spectators to follow the progress of competitors, knowing exactly what each needs to do to win.
The competition starts with a freestyle dressage programme, set to music, where horse and rider are judged not only on the degree of difficulty, but on artistic interpretation. Competitors then enter the combined jumping stage, a first for eventing. After the last show jump is completed, a ‘pit-stop’ tack change enables horse and rider to prepare for the challenges of the cross-country course.
Rider who have signed up to take part in Express Eventing are:
British - Tina Cook, Mary King, William Fox-Pitt, Lucy Wiegersma, Oliver Townend
Australian - Clayton Fredericks, Lucinda Fredericks
New Zealand – Mark Todd, Andrew Nicholson, Caroline Powell
China – Alex Hua Tian
Belgian - Karin Donckers
Germany - Dirk Schrade, Bettina Hoy
France - Nicolas Touzaint, Rodolphe Scherer
Italy - Vittoria Panizzon
Sweden - Linda Algotsson
American - Philip Dutton, Buck Davidson
Musto Clothing for Express Eventing
An innovative partnership
Musto, renowned for making the world’s leading sailing and country sports clothing for over 35 years, applies its technical expertise in design, fabrication, components and construction to make sure its products perform in the most testing conditions. It is fitting, therefore, that the company has been invited to design and produce a technical and functional five-piece collection for the riders at Express Eventing, the world’s newest, most dynamic and innovative development in competition riding.
GORE-TEX® Show Jumping Jacket
Constructed from a newly-developed, lightweight GORE-TEX® 2 layer laminate with a high twist polyester twill, which gives the fabric a soft hand feel but is durably waterproof, windproof and breathable. GORE-TEX® stretch panels are included in key areas – side and under arms - for increased ease of movement when you’re riding at full stretch. The jacket is mesh lined for optimum breathability and comfort when worn with the coordinating PrimaLoft® Jacket.
The Show Jumping Jacket has a sports-fit, which has been designed and shaped to perform in the arena and an ergonomic sleeve shape allows optimum movement and comfort. An innovative two-piece collar with detachable throat tab gives a smarter look and provides protection in foul weather. The centre two-way zip is protected by a shaped storm flap with partially concealed studs for a clean look. Adjustable cuffs, splash-proof zipped pockets, twin zipped gusseted rear vents and pommel flap make this the ultimate jacket in terms of performance, protection and technology.
