Para-Dressage Riders Shine at Sydney International 3-Day Event

For the second year, Sydney International 3-Day Event played host to Para-Dressage classes alongside the Eventing competition, this year marking the final Australian Qualification Event ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Paralympic hopefuls descended on the historic Sydney International Equestrian Centre, home of the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games, to seize their final opportunity to showcase their talent for the National Selectors who will name the Paralympic team in July.

Competition took place this weekend across three Para-dressage Grades with riders battling challenging weather conditions throughout the duration of the event.

There were three big winners over the weekend with Victoria Davies riding Celere, Emma Booth riding Mogelvangs Zidane and Stuart Drysdale riding Blueberry 20 all winning three classes in their divisions and being named overall Champions in Grade II, Grade III and Grade V respectively.

Emma Booth was winner of the Grade III Championship riding Mogelvangs Zidane

“Despite the trying conditions, the Para athletes were able to adapt and perform in front of a world-class Ground Jury over the last three days,” explains EA High Performance Para-Equestrian Manager, Stefanie Maraun.

“With this being the first CPEDI since Covid-19 hit, and also the last qualifying event in Australia for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, it was great to have both New South Wales and Victorian athletes competing, including three combinations who are new the sport. I would like to thank the Sydney 3DE organising committee for once again including Para-dressage in their program.”

Full results from the competition can be found here