Hong Kong competing at International Para-Equestrian Event at Werribee

Werribee hosted the first ever CPEDI3* in Region VIII in 2009, the second in Region VIII in 2011. The venue also held the Australian Para-Equestrian Championships in 2012, and will be holding its third CPEDI3* later this month.

In a break from the previous Para-Equestrian tradition, riders now need to achieve qualifying scores on their own horses, meaning the pressure will be on for every rider at Werribee, since Region VIII is not yet in the position the European region is in, where a series of CPEDI3*s in neighbouring countries provide a number of opportunities to achieve the good scores required to obtain starts at WEG.

The 2011 CPEDI3* at Werribee saw a battle between the Australian and New Zealand Teams, in the final Oceania Team Qualifier for the 2012 Paralympic Games.  In stormy weather, the Australian Team,  Jan Pike on Pinky, Grace Bowman on Kirby Park Joy, Hannah Dodd on Waikiwi and Sharon Jarvis on Showdown were successful in securing a Paralympic spot in London, while New Zealand qualified an individual rider.

To date, only two countries in Region VIII have hosted CPEDI3* events, but it is hoped this number will grow in the near future.

In November 2011, Hong Kong hosted its inaugural CPEDI3*, at the Beas River Equestrian Centre.  Grace Bowman, Rob Oakley and Anne Skinner rode for Australia, and each won their Individual Championship Test and Freestyle on borrowed horses to post a good team score which helped them to qualify for London in 2012.

Hong Kong held a National Para-Equestrian event in 2012, with Joann Formosa, Elizabeth Sobecki and Kaye Hannan riding for Australia on horses provided by the organisers in Hong Kong, and again the Australian Team were successful in winning the teams competition, with Elizabeth Sobecki winning all three of her tests, and Joann winning her Freestyle.

Riders will travel from Hong Kong to compete at the CPEDI3*, with their sights set on the World Equestrian Games in Caen Normandy which will be held in August and September 2014.

Australian Para-Equestrian riders, invigorated after a Squad Camp prior to the Australian Dressage Championships in Sydney, are making their final preparations for the CPEDI3* which is part of the Dressage Festival of Victoria.

Anne Prain, FEI 5* PE Judge will travel from France to be President of the Ground Jury, this will be her second visit to Australia after her first appointment to the 2009 CPEDI3* at Werribee.  Chris Porterfield, (FEI 4* PE Judge) recently FEI Technical Delegate (TD) for the FEI European Para-Dressage Championships in Henning, will travel from Great Britain to carry out a dual role as FEI TD and member of the Ground Jury. Also officiating at the Europeans in Denmark was Veronica Steward, who will be FEI Chief Steward at Werribee CPEDI3*.

Alison King (FEI 5* PE Judge) who was part of the Ground Jury for the 2012 Paralympic  Nomination Event in Sydney will be flying from Hong Kong to join the Ground Jury in Werribee. The CPEDI3* will be Sue Cunningham’s (FEI 4*) second time on the Ground Jury at a Werribee, and for Wendy Barker (FEI 4*), who recently judged at Bishop Burton CPEDI2* (UK) and Hartpury CPEDI3* (UK), it will be the third time she has been a member of Ground Jury for the CPEDI3* at Werribee.