World famous riders confirmed for Millennium masterclass
7th October 2008, 4:35 pm By Principality Stadium
Tina Cook, winner of individual and team bronze medals in the Olympics and European champion Nicolas Touzaint are the latest riders to be added to the star-studded line-up for the inaugural, £250,000 Express Eventing Cup at the Millennium Stadium on November 30.
Team GB’s celebrated Olympian and France’s leading eventer join two members of the British team, Mary King and William Fox-Pitt, Germany’s former European champion Bettina Hoy, and Sweden’s double World Cup winner Linda Algotsson and America’s Buck Davidson in the brand new equestrian event which could revolutionise the Olympic sport.
Express Eventing, which is being compared to cricket’s 20Twenty, will enable spectators to watch riders compete in all three eventing disciplines – show jumping, dressage and cross-country – from one seat on one day and promises to be a thrilling, fast-paced, glamorous new form of the sport. It will condense all the skills and excitement of traditional eventing into just half a day inside the enclosed Millennium Stadium.
The pioneering Express Eventing International Cup will be showcased less than 24 hours after a sell-out crowd witness Grand Slam winners Wales take on the southern hemisphere giants Australia at the stadium.
Millennium Stadium Manager, Gerry Toms, said: “This event is the first of its kind for us which is a challenge in itself. The task of preparing the Stadium is slightly more complicated a rugby international less than 24 hours before.
“But one of our strengths is the ability to turn the stadium around from one event to another very quickly and this is a fine example of that.”
WRU Group Head of Marketing Gwyn Dolphin added: “We are thoroughly looking forward to hosting the inaugural Express Eventing International Cup this November.
“The event is the first of its kind and we are delighted that it is taking place here. The Millennium Stadium is used to hosting a range of events throughout the year from Monster Jam and the British Speedway Grand Prix to Madonna and Bruce Springsteen. This is another example of the stadium’s versatility as a world class entertainment venue.
“We look forward to working alongside the Express Eventing team to guarantee a tremendous spectacle.”
Stuart Buntine, director of Tricorn Events, the organising company, said “I believe that Express Eventing will encourage many more people to engage with the sport. Spectators will not only enjoy the very best of the world’s riders at close quarters, but the stadium technology will ensure they know exactly what’s going on and what each rider has to do to win.
“It will be a fast-paced, fun and dramatic day out for the whole family to enjoy, whether they are equestrian enthusiasts or entirely new to eventing. It will be sport and entertainment at its very best.”
Tickets are available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk and are priced from £35 for adults, with tickets at half price for children under 14.