Media Release 16 October 2017
– A Taste of Europe at Boneo Park –
Victoria’s prestigious equestrian facility, Boneo Park, is proud to host the 2017 Martin Collins Australian Dressage Championships from 18 to 22 October, with the Championships to crown the highly sort-after titles of CDI-W Grand Prix Champion and CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle Champion as athletes vie for selection at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in North Carolina, USA.
Boneo Park prides itself as being a state-of- the-art facility designed to give the growing Australian equestrian community a taste of Europe. For this international event it will transform its outdoor arena into an undercover stadium and central stage, so that spectators will be able to enjoy an intimate experience with the riders – just like in Europe.
Presented by Boneo Park, in association with Equestrian Australia and Dressage Masterclass, the 2017 Australian Dressage Championships will provide an entertainment-filled showcase, never before seen in Australia, that will included the highly anticipated CDI-W Grand Prix and CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle, two inspiring masterclasses, a trade village, and even an “Aussies Abroad Challenge”.
Ahead of this much anticipated event, Fiona Selby, Managing Director of Boneo Park, said:
“Boneo Park is thrilled to present the Australian Dressage Championships and we are confident that the competitors and spectators alike will be enthralled and entertained by this world-class event.
“Presenting a European-calibre event like this will give our top Australian athletes and horses vying for selection to the World Equestrian Games access to the kind of major event exposure never experienced before in Australia.”
Throughout these Australian Dressage Championships, the audience will not only get a taste of Europe from the world-class Boneo Park atmosphere and facilities, but will also be able to experience and learn from the poise, skills, and Olympian level talent of British Champion, Spencer Wilton. Spencer will be conducting the "Saddleworld presents the Spencer Wilton, Young Horse to Podium Masterclass”, his first ever Australian masterclass and, excitingly, will also be riding in both the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Freestyle.
Denmark-based Australian Young Horse rider, Simone Pearce, will also be sharing her experience from the international dressage stage with her very own “Peninsula Volkswagen Simone Pearce Young Horse Masterclass”. Simone will also be one of the European-based athletes that will compete at Prix St George level in a friendly, “Aussies Abroad Challenge” on catch rides.
Discussing the international talent that will by presenting at the Australian Dressage Championships, Fiona Selby commented:
“It is our vision to provide a facility and service that promotes excellence and sets new standards in Australian horse sport and to have Spencer Wilton’s Olympic-level talent at these Championships will take this event to a whole new, international level.
“Boneo Park is also thrilled to be presenting some Aussie home-grown talent at this event with competitors like Simone Pearce who is coming back to Australia to share her valuable insight into the international style and techniques of preparing and presenting the young horses, to assist Australian riders to produce higher scoring tests in the future.”
Fiona Selby said:
“We expect that the facilities, masterclasses, competitions and entertainment will all come together to create an event to remember, stamping the 2017 Australian Dressage Championships presented by Boneo Park in Association with Equestrian Australia and Dressage Masterclass as a unique event to mark in the diary for future years to come!”
“We are delighted to be presenting the Championships in association with Equestrian Australia and Dressage Masterclass and to have a high level of support from key sponsors, many of whom will be exhibiting in the Trade Village.
“The Trade Village will be another highlight for this year’s attendees to get a taste of what’s on offer in the world of equine.”
About Boneo Park
Set amongst tranquil wetlands and just minutes from beaches and wineries, Boneo Park is a family run equestrian event and agistment facility. The 850-acre property, located on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is less than an hour’s drive from Melbourne’s CBD.
The facilities, designed by Luke Jones of C4 architects, have been described as state of the art, world class, and are used to hold international, national and local competitions throughout the year. Competitions include Dressage, Showjumping, Combined Training, Interschool, Pony Club and Horse Riders Club. The facilities are arguably the most comprehensive in the Southern Hemisphere and the five star agistment center offers the highest quality of care for horses.
Boneo Park prides itself on being a state of the art equestrian facility providing the Australian equestrian community with a taste of Europe.
For more information about Boneo Park please visit: www.boneopark.com.au
For Spencer Wilton’s Dressage Masterclass please visit: www.dressagemasterclass.com.au
For further information please contact:
Rod North, Managing Director,
Bourse Communications Pty Ltd
T: (03) 9510 8309, M: 0408 670 706,
E: rod@boursecommunications.com.au
