Top Kiwi Eventers to Compete in France

New Zealand Olympic equestrian hopefuls will this weekend be competing this weekend at the International CIC3* Three Day event in Saumur, France.

Mark Todd will be hoping to gain his Olympic qualification aboard Grass Valley, while Caroline Powell is competing on both Boston Two Tip and Onwards and Upwards, and Andrew Nicholson aboard Quimbo and Viscount George.

Both Todd and Nicholson are former winners of the event – Nicholson in 2009 with Avebury, and Todd in 1998 on Word for Word, in 1996 on Kayen and 1987 with the mighty Charisma. Nicholson has finished fourth at the event for the past two years.

With several key events cancelled in the United Kingdom, there was massive interest in Saumur, with a final field of just 52 combinations from 13 nations in the 3*.

The first vet inspection was this morning, with two full days of dressage to follow before the cross country and showjumping phases.

There are several combinations also competing in the CCI2* division of the event. Clarke Johnstone is entered aboard his Olympic hopeful Orient Express, and also Regal Romar, with Nicholson on Sirio and Teseo, Powell with The Earl of Belvedere and Todd aboard Alfiano Del Ferro and Leonidas II.

Organisers expect 20,000 plus spectators over the four days of competition.

More information on the event can be found at http://www.saumur.org/cci/accueil-gb.html