United States Eventing Association

U.S. Open $50,000 Arena Eventing Team Competition Jumps Into New York City at The 2017 Rolex Central Park Horse Show

For the first time in history, the Rolex Central Park Horse Show (RCPHS) will welcome a fast-paced, action-packed $50,000 Arena Eventing competition to the official show schedule on Saturday, September 23, at 8:00 p.m. The 2017 Rolex Central Park Horse Show is set to commence Wednesday, September 20, and continue through Sunday, September 24, in the heart of New York City's Central Park in Wollman Rink. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets for the $50,000 Arena Eventing competition, which will take place on Saturday, September 23, at 8:00 p.m.

The evening will feature an elite class of twenty-four three-day event riders, eight of which are ranked within the top ten by the United States Eventing Association (USEA), and eight Olympians. Oliver Townend, currently ranked sixth in the world, who most recently won the iconic 2017 Burghley Horse Trials CCI4*, will make an appearance for the first time in Central Park for Great Britain, alongside the legendary William Fox-Pitt, who remains one of the most decorated event riders in history.

"As an organization, we always try to inspire new and creative ideas to engage and introduce equestrian sport to a broader audience. The competition, which we have termed Arena Eventing Pairs, is a derivative of Arena Eventing and will be new to both equestrian sport and the Rolex Central Park Horse Show," said Mark Bellissimo, CEO of International Equestrian Group (IEG). "Eventers bring a new dimension to the show and it is a great opportunity for the riders to shine against the incredible New York City skyline. We anticipate a fun-filled, action-packed evening for both our competitors and spectators."

Arena Eventing has become a popular exhibition platform to showcase the sport of Eventing, one of the three traditional equestrian disciplines featured in the Summer Olympic Games four-year cycle. The two-round competition will incorporate both show jumping and cross-country elements of the sport, as riders paired into teams of two, will contest a track set by renowned British course designer Captain Mark Phillips.

The competition will have 24 top riders organized into twelve teams. The teams will be named after significant New York City locales and compete against each other in a speed competition against the clock. Each team will position themselves in the ring at the same time and participate in a relay-based speed competition, where riders will move through a course themed after iconic New York City fixtures, and what will include a soon-to-be iconic "Big Apple" jump.

The top six teams, based on cumulative time from round one, will then compete in the final "money" round for the overall $50,000 in prize money, which they will split based on final rankings in the second round speed competition. The competition will run with a faults-converted format, adding two-seconds to a team's overall score per jumping fault. The winners of the competition will earn the title of U.S. Open Arena Eventing Champions.

The following rider teams will compete in the U.S. Open $50,000 Arena Eventing presented by The Fite Group Luxury Homes:

Team Wall Street

Ryan Wood (AUS) / Kate Chadderton (AUS)

Team Upper West Side

Clayton Fredericks (AUS) / Domm Schramm (AUS)

Team West Village

Jessica Phoenix (CAN) / Lisa Marie Fergusson (CAN)

Team Upper East Side

Waylon Roberts (CAN) / Selena O'Hanlon (CAN)

Team Times Square

Oliver Townend (GBR) / William Fox-Pitt (GBR)

Team Midtown

Phillip Dutton (USA) / Julie Richards (USA)

Team Soho

Hannah Sue Burnett (USA) / Holly Payne-Caravella (USA)

Team Chelsea

Boyd Martin (USA) / Caroline Martin (USA)

Team Tribeca

Marilyn Little (USA) / Matt Brown (USA)

Team Hell's Kitchen

Jennie Brannigan (USA) / Lynn Symansky (USA)

Team Greenwich Village

Will Coleman (USA) / Erin Sylvester (USA)

Team East Village

Buck Davidson (USA) / Doug Payne (USA)

The Rolex Central Park Horse Show is in its fourth year of operation at the iconic Wollman Rink in the heart of New York City's Central Park, and will take place from Wednesday, September 20, through Sunday, September 24. The week will feature U.S. Open competition for the Arabian, Show Jumping, and Hunter disciplines, as well as host the immensely popular Central Park Family Day presented by Mars, Incorporated on Sunday, September 24, beginning at 12:00 p.m. and concluding at 3:00 p.m. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets for the $50,000 Arena Eventing competition at the 2017 Rolex Central Park Horse Show.

A portion of ticket sales will benefit a lengthy list of New York, as well as equestrian based, charities.

Seating is limited and the demand for tickets is expected to be high. All seats have unobstructed views. All ticket sales are final, non-transferrable; no refunds or exchanges. Gates open 30 minutes prior to the start of the event. All prices exclude tax and fees.

For more information, please visit www.centralparkhorseshow.com.

JW Marriott Essex House New York is the Official Host Hotel of the Rolex Central Park Horse Show, and is located on beautiful Central Park South, offering expertly curated experiences, impeccable service - and breathtaking views of the park since 1931. Click here to reserve your room at the JW Marriott Essex House New York today at http://bit.ly/2rRMfGP.

For Reserved Seating questions, please contact 1-844-319-CPHS (2747) or email [email protected].

For VIP Table Sales, please contact [email protected].

About Rolex Central Park Horse Show
Launched in September 2014, Rolex Central Park HorseShow is the first-ever outdoor, multi-day equestrian sporting event in New York City, showcasing some of the best show jumpers and dressage riders in the world as they vie for top prizes against a backdrop of skyscrapers in one of the world's most iconic venues. As the event founder, Mark Bellissimo is the CEO of Equestrian Sport Productions and International Equestrian Group LLC; Managing Partner of Wellington Equestrian Partners (WEP), Tryon Equestrian Partners and Colorado Equestrian Partners; and Publisher of The Chronicle of The Horse magazine. The Rolex Central Park Horse Show will feature five days of multi-discipline equestrian sport and performances, ranging from Arabians and Dressage to Hunters and Show Jumping. The Rolex Central Park Horse Show will also host the second annual U.S. Open in the following categories: Jumpers; Dressage; Hunters; U25 Jumpers; and Arabians. For more information, visit www.centralparkhorseshow.com or Facebook at www.facebook.com/CPhorseshow and follow @cphorseshow on Twitter and Instagram.