Latest news
27 October 2008
Express Eventing Course Designer Unveiled
The world renowned Pierre Michelet is designing the course for the Express Eventing International Cup at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 30 November, it was revealed today.
The Frenchman is one of the most respected course designers in the world, but the Express Eventing course is the first he has designed in the UK.
Pierre Michelet’s experience includes course designer for two World Cup Finals, Pau four-star the Asian Games in Doha and many of the Advanced events in France. He will also design next year’s European Championship course.
Pierre Michelet said that it was a huge challenge to design a course in such a compact space, but one that he had relished.
“It has been a really exciting opportunity. The course is designed to replicate traditional eventing, but with restricted distance and terrain. This is very different to other indoor courses, which are really about speed. The Express Eventing course is much longer, using an area about six times the size, and will encourage rhythm, balance and accuracy.
“I am looking forward to hearing what the riders think. They have been coming up to me at the European events to ask about it, but they won’t know the course layout until the day itself,” he added.
Express Eventing, in association with British Eventing, combines all the skill and excitement of traditional eventing in a fast-paced competition set in an enclosed sporting arena. For the first time, spectators will be able to watch all three disciplines – dressage, show jumping and cross-country - from one seat.
The unprecedented line-up of competitors includes Olympic medallists and winners of many of the world’s major international eventing competitions. Never before has this elite group of riders competed together under the one roof.
The combined show jumping and cross-country phase will be separated by an exciting pit- stop change against the clock, unique to Express Eventing. It will be an area that riders will have to enter (mounted) and then change from show jumping to cross country kit. This will be a chance for stewards to ensure that horse and rider are checked for welfare and safety. Riders will not be able to exit the area until cleared by the steward.
Stuart Buntine, former international rider and the brains behind the event, said: “Express Eventing has attracted top riders from all over the world, so I was keen to continue the international theme in the appointment of the course designer.
“We are putting eventing in an environment where spectators can see everything from one seat and can really engage with the sport. The brief to Michelet was to create a course that would deliver drama and excitement, while encouraging good rhythm and forward riding from the competitors.”
The course has been designed in consultation with the event’s technical director, Mike Tucker, and will contain three water features, a bank and several ditches and hedges. It will comprise a total of 28 cross country jumps, which will be as similar as possible to traditional cross country fences.
The show jumping course is being designed by Di Boddy, the designer of Burghley and Branham, and will include up to 12 jumping efforts, with several optional routes and a number of fences that can be jumped more than once.
For more information and to buy tickets for Express Eventing International Cup, go to 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
Musto
Aline Pilcher
Tel: 01243 532516
Mobile: 07710 348554
b.p.p.r@btconnect.com
Notes to editors
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.
