Beginning from next Wednesday, the 20th of January, and spanning five action-packed days, Australiaʼs leading riders in the realms of Dressage, Para Equestrian and Show Jumping, will gather at Boneo Park for one of the biggest events of the Olympic selection calendar.
The 2016 Boneo Classic, supported by NAB, will not only see some of Australiaʼs brightest gold medal hopes, it will also be a farewell to many of the nationʼs best before they head overseas to continue their Rio campaigns.
The dressage schedule is crammed with variety and talent, ranging from Small Tour and Young Horse classes, through to Inter I to Grand Prix. A highlight of the programme, Saturdayʼs Grand Prix, will feature an outstanding array of homegrown legends as well as some brand new combinations. Mary Hanna and Umbro, coming off last monthʼs win at the CDI-W Pacific League Final, will be strong contenders. Hanna will also ride Boogie Woogie 6 in an Australian debut, after the horseʼs recent return from Europe. Another exciting first will be the new combination of Rozzie Ryan and Adonie, previously ridden in Small Tour by Dutch rider Dinja van Liere, marking the 10-year-old KWPN mareʼs Grand Prix debut. Along with these new pairs, the field will also feature current Australian Dressage Champions Brett Parbery and DP Weltmieser, the always-thrilling Maree Tomkinson and Diamantina IV, along with living-legend Heath Ryan and his Utopian Cardinal.
The Para Equestrian schedule at the Boneo Classic will be the launching pad to Australiaʼs top ridersʼ Paralympic campaigns, being the only International selection event in Australia for Rio. The exceptional field includes London 2012 gold medallist Joann Formosa with Gary Lung’s super GB Winchester, young rider Emma Booth in her recent combination with Mogelvangs Zidane, with Nicole Blanks, Caitlin Radford and Lisa Martin rounding out a high-quality draw.
The Boneo Classic showjumping schedule is similarly a showcase of Australian talent, with highlights including a Speed Championship, Open 6 Bar and the all important CSI1*-W FEI World Cup Qualifier. A final stop-off on the road to Rio, the class will feature Chris Chugg with both Cera Cassiago and Cristalline before he sets off for Europe, along with Steven Hill and Yalambiʼs Bellini who are also on the Rio journey.
Boneo Classic 2016, running from Wednesday the 20th to Sunday the 24th of January at the picturesque Boneo Park on Victoriaʼs Mornington Peninsula, is looking to be one of the most crucial events on the Olympic selection calendar.
2016 Boneo Classic, supported by NAB
Where: Boneo Park, 312 Boneo Rd, Boneo, VIC
When: January 20-24, 2016
Competition Contact
Elle Roux
Email: elle@elleroux.com
Boneo Park
Phone: (+61) 3 5986 3006
Fax: (+61) 3 5981 2068
Email: events@boneopark.com.au
