THE 2009 HSBC FEI World Cup Eventing season series kicks off next month.
Leading riders from around the world will compete in nine qualifying events in different countries leading to a final, which will decide the world cup winner.
Last year's winner, Australian Olympic team silver medallist Clayton Fredericks, will gain an automatic invitation to this year's final - he has already signalled this will be his main goal.
The series starts at Kihikihi on New Zealand's North Island in the beginning of May and then moves to Sydney before a summer campaign of events in Europe, the US and Canada. Minsk (Belarus) in July will be the most northern qualifier.
At the end of the qualifying series, the top-ranked riders will take part in the HSBC FEI World Cup eventing final which, for the first time, will be held at the much-praised Polish venue of Strzegom.
Last year, some 200 riders from more than 25 countries took part in the FEI World Cup Eventing. The final, at Deauville (France) was a truly international affair, with riders travelling from Australasia and the US for it.
- Qualifying venues for the 2009 HSBC FEI World Cup Eventing: Kihikihi, New Zealand, April 10-12; Sydney May 2-3; Marbach, Germany, May 8-10; Chatsworth, England, May 16-17; Malmo, Sweden, May 23-24; Tattersalls, Ireland, May 28-31; Minsk Belarus, July 16-19; Kalispell, US, July 23-26; Mansfield, Canada, August 7-9; Final, Strzegom, Poland August 21-23.
