Tamworth to Tokyo: Olympic eventing hopefuls line up for the first Australian CCI4*-S of the season

Hazel Shannon will ride two horses in the CCI4*-S class, including WillingaPark Clifford

© OzShotz

By Equestrian Life

The first competition on the NSW eventing calendar will commence tomorrow at Tamworth’s Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC), marking Tamworth International Eventing’s 10^th year of conducting FEI level eventing at this world class venue.

It’s little surprise that the CCI4*-S class has attracted a star studded field of 23 entrants. As the first international event of the season, and with Tokyo Olympics selection looming, High Performance squad members will be keen to post impressive scores at an international short format competition.

Shane Rose, who is one of four Australians named on Equestrian Australia’s GOLD squad (AIS Athlete Category – Podium and Podium Ready), will ride Easy Turn in Tamworth. The CCI4*-S competition will commence on Friday with the dressage phase, while Show Jumping will take place on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s Cross Country phase.

Hazel Shannon, who has been named on Equestrian Australia’s GREEN squad (AIS Athlete Category – Podium Potential) will ride two horses in the CCI4*-S class, including her long term partner WillingaPark Clifford. In 2019 WillingaPark Clifford and Hazel Shannon created history at the Australian International Three Day Event, becoming the first Australian combination to win the same CCI5*-L three times, and one of only five riders in the world and sport’s history to do so. During this record setting period, Hazel Shannon and WillingaPark Clifford regularly competed at Tamworth, winning the CCI4*-S class on five occasions!

Hazel Shannon will also ride WillingaPark Cooley in his first CCI4*-S class on Australian soil; this horse enjoyed great success in England with former rider Oliver Townend including a Badminton second placing, and made his Australian competition debut with Hazel Shannon in 2019.

Heath Ryan will ride two horses in the CCI4*-S class; the stallion Wimborne Constable and Bronze Boy R. Equestrian Australia NEXT squad members (AIS Athlete Category – Emerging and Developing) Jessica Rae, Andrew Cooper and Gemma Tinney will also ride two horses each in the class.

Tamworth International Eventing is one of only a handful of events in Australia that caters for all levels of eventing, from EvA45 right through to CCI4*-S. The Tamworth region has been severely affected by drought in the past years, however a wet start to 2020 has ensured that the conditions on course for this year’s event, which runs from the 6^th – 8^th March, are likely to be the best riders have experienced in the event’s ten year history.