Latest news
03 October 2008
Four more of the world’s finest riders to take part in Express Eventing
Olympic medallist Bettina Hoy and European champion Nicolas Touzaint are the latest riders to sign up for the Twenty20 of equestrian.
Swedish star Linda Olgottson and American Buck Davidson are also named among the crème de la crème of equestrian riders who will be competing for the Express Eventing International Cup at the Millennium Stadium on November 30.
Sixteen other world class riders have already signed up – British Olympians Mary King, Tina Cook and William Fox-Pitt, British riders Lucy Wiegersma and Oliver Townend, New Zealand Olympians Mark Todd, Andrew Nicholson and Caroline Powell, German Dirk Schrade, Belgian Karin Donckers, Italian Vittoria Panizzon, American Philip Dutton, Australians Clayton and Lucinda Fredericks, Chinese teenager Alex Hua Tian and Rodolphe Scherer from France.
Express Eventing, in association with British Eventing, will showcase the skill and excitement of three day eventing condensed into just half a day, inside the enclosed sporting arena of the Millennium Stadium.
This new competition is designed to open up the sport to a wider global audience and provide a showcase for eventing’s top riders. For the very 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.
Former international rider and the brains behind the concept, Stuart Buntine, said: “Express Eventing is designed to promote traditional eventing, not to replace it. Three-day events are held in fabulous places, but they actually last over five days and the competitions are spread out, making it difficult for the public to follow what's going on. With Express Eventing, spectators can watch all three phases without moving from their seat.
"Eventing is probably the ultimate test of horse and rider, but it is a sport that has yet to capture the public's imagination. Express Eventing will do for eventing what Twenty20 has done for cricket," he added.
Riders will be competing for an unprecedented a £100,000 first prize, part of a £250,000 prize pot.
For more information about Express Eventing International Cup, go to www.eeicup.com.
In association with British Eventing.
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For further information, pictures or interviews, please contact Helen BArklam, tel: 07917 148900 or email helen.barklam@tricornevents.com.
