Horsepower month celebrates $10 000 partnership

Horsepower month celebrates $10 000 partnership

Southern Downs Regional Council, in partnership with the Warwick Horse Trials Club Inc (WHT) has been successful in receiving a $10,000 grant from the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) under the Regional Sport Events Fund to host the Sustainable and Warwick Horse Trials FEI 3 Day event at Morgan Park from 26 – 28 August 2022.

The ASC’s Regional Sport Events Fund supports councils in regional and remote Australia to partner with local clubs, associations and sporting event organisers to host a wide range of sporting events in their communities and drive visitation to the regions.

Known as the Horsepower Capital of Australia, Warwick has a strong interest in equestrian sports and welcoming back this event encourages reconnection between the Queensland and New South Wales riders.

Southern Downs Councillor Cynthia McDonald is encouraged by the return of a full calendar of horsepower events at Morgan Park following significant upheaval during Covid-19.

“August is horsepower month on the Southern Downs and to see the return of this event and experience the invigorating knock-on effect in the local economy is very welcome following so many cancellations caused by the pandemic.

“Sporting events are wonderful opportunities for community members to reconnect, whether they are competitors or spectators and I look forward to the experiencing the skill that we will see in this international level competition right here in Warwick”, Councillor McDonald said.

The Sustainable and Warwick Horse Trials FEI 3 Day event is run under the Federation Equestrian International (FEI) and National Eventing Rules and comprises three discipline phases: dressage, show jumping and cross-country.  The event caters for elite level riders as well as entry level riders from across QLD and NSW to participate and earn qualifications for FEI competitions in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne.

Warwick Horse Trials Club Inc President, Tracey Sexton said that without the $10 000 funding support from the ASC, this event would not be possible as officials with specialised skills are required to oversee the event.

“As this is an FEI event there is a requirement to bring specialised personnel from interstate and without the support of the ASC the Club would not be able to meet these expenses.

“We have a large number of entries from Queensland and New South Wales for this event and with officials travelling from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and other parts of regional Queensland to ensure the event is run as per the FEI requirements, we can be assured of a world class equestrian weekend” she said.

The WHT successfully ran this event through to 2019 when COVID-19 restricted interstate and international travel, however the club missed participation from NSW riders and was unable to get interstate or overseas officials as required by the FEI Rules.

Spectators are welcome to attend the event and there is no admission charge. The Riders Retreat will be offering food and drinks on Saturday and Sunday with a coffee van on site.

This event is supported by the Australian Sports Commission, in partnership with the Warwick Horse Trials Club Inc.

For further information about this event, please contact Tracey Sexton, President of the Warwick Horse Trials Club on 0438 234 815.

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