Australia has established a series of World Cup Qualifiers (CDI-Ys) for young riders. This competition held under FEI (international) rules is at the Prix St Georges level, for riders aged 16 – 21 years. The second of the qualifying events will be held at the Sydney CDI, May 3-5, 2007, where ten riders from NSW, Queensland, Victoria and one rider from New Zealand will take part.
The combinations will ride a Prix St Georges test on Thursday with the top eight place getters eligible to ride the FEI Young Rider Freestyle test on Saturday afternoon.
Alycia Targa from NSW riding the talented mare Neversfelde Kudu, owned by Maurie and Jane Bruce, recently won the first of the series at the CDI-Y held in at the Dressage Festival at Werribee at the end of March. Brianna Burgess (also from NSW) riding her horse Daylight, placed second to Alycia in this competition and will be looking to better her performance at the Sydney event.
Horse and rider combinations need to compete at two qualifying events to be considered for selection to the Australian Final that will be held in conjunction with the Horseland Australian Dressage Championships in October 2007.
After the Australian Final, the National Selectors will consider all results and select the combination to represent Australia at the FEI Young Rider World Cup Final to be held in Europe in December.
The final in Germany will include riders from Western Europe, Central Europe, North America, South/Central America, Asia/Africa/Pacific plus one wild card entry.
The FEI aims to foster international competition experience for our next generation of dressage riders and we are hopeful that this will be the first of many opportunities for Australian young riders to compete overseas.
Photo copyrighted: Peter Orr, Main Event Photography
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