Temecula, Calif., Sept. 9, 2010 — The organizers of the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event will achieve their dream on Nov. 4-7: They’ll present the first CCI3* ever held in the western half of the United States.
The CCI3* is such an elite level of competition that only three others are held annually in North America (in Maryland, New Jersey and Quebec), and just 20 are held throughout the world. Eventing has only one higher level of comp
etition, the CCI4*, of which there is only one in North America and half a dozen around the world.
“I am so thrilled that we’re finally having a CCI3* here on the West Coast,” said Gina Miles, the 2008 Olympic silver medalist from Atascadero, Calif. “Organizer Robert Kellerhouse has shown so much dedication to the improvement and growth of eventing, and this is an enormous step forward. His efforts are a major reason why I’ve been able to prepare for international events around the world from my home base in California.”
Kellerhouse founded the Galway Downs International Three- Day Event in 1999, offering a CCI1* and CCI2*, and in 2008 he introduced the training level three-day event. This year Galway Downs will offer five levels of competition—the CCI3*, the CCI2*, the CCI1*, the classic-format CC1* (the only event in the world to offer this level internationally) and the training level three-day event. No other event in North America offers all these levels of competition. Approximately 140 horses are expected to compete in these divisions.
But the range of competitive levels is only one reason why Galway Downs is the event in which every West Coast competitor aspires to ride. Other reasons include the quality of the cross-country courses designed by Olympian Ian Stark and built by Bert Wood, along with comfortable stabling, safe footing and dozens of other amenities that make it a top-class event. The Galway Downs International Three-Day Event is held at the Southern California Equestrian Center just east of Temecula.
“I run the Galway Downs events for my fellow eventers, and I’m truly honored that they always come to our events, from all over North America,” said Kellerhouse. “And this year I truly hope—and believe—that some riders and horses from the East Coast will come her to compete in the CCI3*.”
Marilyn Payne was one of the judges at the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong and will be a judge at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games later this month, and she’s looking forward to being the chief judge at the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event.
“Galway Downs has excellent stabling, warm-up and competition arenas, superior to many other sites. It’s also an excellent venue for the public to easily observe all three phases,” said Payne, who judged at Galway Downs in 2009. “Due to the climate, the terrain and footing are different than other three-star and four-star sites, yet with the excellent course design that they have shown in the
past, I’m sure they’ll produce a course comparable to other three-star competitions, both here and abroad.”
General admission for the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event is $8 in advance, $10 at the gate. VIP tickets—which include seating in the ringside tent, lunch and a full selection of beverages—are also available for $55 per day in advance. For advance reservations, go to www.galwaydowns.com.
More than a dozen generous sponsors provide prize money, prizes and other support to the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event. Those sponsors include: Auburn Laboratories Inc., Big Horse Feed, CWD Saddlery, Doug Hannum Equine Therapy, Equine Insurance of California, Point Two Air Jackets USA, Professional’s Choice, Revere Saddlery, Riding’s Publications Inc., SmartPak Equine, and Sonoma Saddle Shop.
For more information on the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event, visit www.galwaydowns.com or call 951-303-0405. To learn more about eventing, visit the U.S. Eventing Association’s website (www.useventing.com).
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