April 6, 2005 - This weekend New Zealand hosts the first 2005 FEI Eventing World Cup Qualifier to be held outside the northern hemisphere. The Mitavite Horse Trial based at the Kihikihi Domain (Waipa District) will feature New Zealand’s only qualifier for this annual 17 linked event series held through-out the world.

No less than 22 leading New Zealand based competitors have entered the competition, held at the highest level of the sport using the format without steeplechase.

A number of these competitors have recently returned from the northern hemisphere after basing their Olympic campaigns abroad. The most notable inclusion is Matthew Grayling the winner of last year’s inaugural New Zealand Qualifier who then went on to finish a credible eighth at the FEI Eventing World Cup Final in France. Grayling, a member of the New Zealand Athens Olympic Team will have his sights set on a repeat performance to ensure eligibility to again compete at this year’s Final in Sweden. With two horses entered at Kihikihi (Klinsman and Gordon), he will have the opportunity to make a impressive debut on the 2005 FEI Eventing World Cup Standings which is currently lead by Australian Phillip Dutton after just 4 qualifying events.

Other competitors back from the northern hemisphere to compete at Kihikihi include Megan Finlayson on Lion Heart, Kate Wood on Staccato, Tim Price on Sugio and Kate Hewlett on Striking Distance. Further hopefuls include New Zealand’s Eventing stalwart Andrew Scott on Clifton Mitavite X Factor, and there will no doubt be support for the local talents of Chelsea Hawthorn on the diminutive Look at That, and former Brazilian Alex de Luca Oliveira on Clifton Checkers.

Cross-country course designer John Nicholson in conjunction with consultant Mark Todd has themed jumps around the Tale of Christopher Robin, Pooh Bear and the 100 Acre Wood. The course as developed by this pair is fast gaining an enviable reputation for having well designed and innovative fences which make the venue well worthy of its international status.

The Show Jumping finale will feature an arena-side Classic Car Picnic offering equestrian action, a blend of jazz music, fine food and wine in the company of classic and vintage cars.

§ Event news and results will be available from www.teawamutu.net/eventing

§ Contacts:
- Publicity Officer - Bevan Houlbrooke ph: (+64) 021 430 770
- Media Liaison - Monica Johns (+64 ) 0274 763 605
- Event email: kihikihi_eventing@hotmail.com

§ Approximate Timetable for FEI Eventing World Cup class:
- Friday 8 April – 2-5pm – Dressage
- Saturday 9 April – 1pm approx – Cross Country
- Sunday 10 April – 11am-12noon – Show Jumping
- Sunday 10 April - 12:45pm - Prize Giving

§ Spectator admission is free

§ Event to be held at Kihikihi Domain (Te Awamutu), 20km south of Hamilton City.

§ Major sponsors are: Mitavite Horse Feeds, Waipa District Council, Ford Motor Company, Trust Waikato, Newstalk ZB.

§ The FEI Eventing World Cup is the sport’s first linked series. The 2005 season consists of 17 qualifiers and a Final to be held in Malmo (Sweden) from 11-14 August 2004. It is organised at the highest level of the sport using the format without steeple chase. The series is designed in manner to encourage the participation of the worlds best riders and horses and thus promote such emblematic values of Eventing, as the constant quest for harmony between physical skills and mental balance, contact with nature, precision, stamina, agility and insightful training. The FEI Eventing World Cup is a showcase of the sport resolutely turning to the future.

§ Event is produced by Kihikihi Waikato Eventing Inc recent winners at the Waipa District and Waikato Region Sports Awards.