Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo at Rolex last year. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Rolex has just announced that next year’s event will include a team challenge presented by EN’s awesome sponsor Dubarry . The Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge will award $20,000 in prize money and help national teams prepare for the team competition at the 2014 World Equestrian Games next summer.
“This is the only four-star event in the Western Hemisphere,” Darren Ripley, president of Equestrian Events Inc. and producer of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, said in a press release. “Since we attract so many international competitors it makes sense to host a team competition. And with the Eventing World Championships being contested at next year’s World Equestrian Games, this is a great year to get it started!”
Teams will consist of either three or four entries. For countries with more than four competitors entered in the event, teams will be selected by each country’s Chef d’Equipe. If there are fewer than three individuals from a country, teams may be formed by combining entries from two countries that have not already created a team.
The winning team will be the team with the fewest penalties after adding together the final scores of the three highest placed individuals on the team. For the purpose of the final team ranking only, a team member who fails to complete the competition will be given a score of 1,000 penalties. Rosettes will be given to the top three teams and prize money will be awarded to the owners.
As if you needed another reason to head to Rolex next spring, now you can add watching the Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge to your to-do list in Kentucky. And in case you missed it, Rolex tickets went on sale last week, so be sure to purchase yours soon. EN has already purchased a tailgate spot. Get excited!
