PRESS RELESASE

For Immediate Release
March 7, 2005

 

GALWAY DOWNS OVERCOMES RECENT BAD WEATHER IN PREPARING FEI WORLD CUP QUALIFIER COURSE

Galway Downs International Horse Trials has prevailed over the topical flooding which hit southern California in preparing the cross-country course for the FEI World Cup Qualifier, which takes place April 1-3rd 2005 near Temecula, California.

Over recent years the courses at Galway Downs have continued to develop, however, one of the biggest hurdles that had to be overcome was the reinstatement of the footing on the course. The latest bad weather has given the organizers, and the building team, led by Bert Wood, a huge amount of extra work in clearing up hundreds of tons of sand and mud on the course. The good news is that all is now on track as final preparations are made for the competition that features twelve divisions from Novice to International.  The FEI World Cup Qualifier and CIC** divisions also offer riders the opportunity to earn points towards the USEA Gold Cup Series.

As the countdown begins with less than a month to go before the start of the competition, Course Designer, Mike Etherington-Smith, walks us round the 25-fence course: “The early fences are there to settle the nerves and get the horses 'in the air' with the first question coming at #4ab, Double Ditch and Rails, set at an angle to each other. The first real changes come at fences 5, Presto's Picnic Table, and 6/7ab, Coffin Complex, where competitors will be asked to jump a Picnic Table of maximum dimensions followed by a brand new Coffin fence. The arrival of all the extra sand on to the property in the poor weather has given us the chance to get creative and build some mounds to create this question.”

“The first water, #9/10ab, Lake Galway, remains the same question as last year's course but this time the first element is a little closer to the mound with the log on the top and this log has been raised a little.  It did cause a couple of refusals last year and good riding and presentation to the fence are what is needed here.  Any horse that is a bit suspicious of water may refuse on top of the mound.”

“Across the beam at #12abc, PHS Plunge, sees the return of the angled houses with one stride between them after the maximum drop; another rider question testing control and honesty from the horses. The bounce into the water has been raised and the corner in the water after the big drop in is on four strides this time3?4meaning that riding ability will come to the fore again. Those on form will make this all look very simple whereas some might opt for the easier, time consuming alternatives to avoid the risk of a run out or refusal.”

The X, #18abc, Mikes Corners, remains on course. The maximum log pile followed by the two corners on a curving three strides again seeks to examine the horses’ honesty and riders skill before they head to the Toklat Triple Brush on top of the Mounds, at #20ab. The mounds have been made a little bigger and the triple brushes will look skinny enough sitting as they are. On then to the last proper question, the Sunken Road at #22/23abc, a classic test of athleticism and confidence of the horses and more riding skill from the jockeys.”

…ends