Today marks the beginning of The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs, one of the final FEI events of the season as well as the Area VI championships for National divisions. It’s a busy weekend, and there’s plenty of action to follow, so use this as your guide to keeping up over the next few days. Stay tuned for more coverage from Galway Downs coming your way via the hardworking press team on the ground.
Relevant Links
The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs (CA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Schedule] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
Social Media Links
The Schedule
Wednesday, October 30, 2 p.m. PST: FEI First Horse Inspection
Thursday, October 31, 8 a.m. PST: FEI Dressage (CCI3*-L, CCI4*-L, CCI2*-L, CCI1*-L)
Friday, November 1, 10 a.m. PST: FEI Cross Country (CCI3*-L, CCI4*-L, CCI2*-L, CCI1*-L)
Saturday, November 2, 8 a.m. PST: FEI Second Horse Inspection
Saturday, November 2, 11:00 a.m. PST: FEI Show Jumping (CCI1*-L through CCI4*-L)
The full schedule, including for National and Championship divisions, can be found here.
How to Follow
The live feed for Galway Downs can be found both on Horse & Country as well as Ride On Video. The full schedule can be found in the graphic below:
The Entries
With over $50,000 in prize money distributed across FEI and Championship divisions this weekend, there’s plenty to compete for as the 2024 seasons winds to a close. Also playing into the excitement around Galway Downs is the upcoming LA 2028 Olympics, which we’re still awaiting final confirmation for but know that Galway Downs has been selected as the equestrian host venue, pending finalization.
This year’s CCI4*-L sees a small field, but it stands to be competitive regardless of numbers, with heavyhitters such as James Alliston, Tamie Smith, and Jennie Brannigan duking it out with rising young star Molly Duda.
Tamie Smith is back for another run with The Kynan Syndicate’s Kynan, coming off two wins at the 3* level and targeting a comeback after the pair took a heavy tumble at Tryon earlier this year. Kynan contested this division at Galway in 2023, finishing seventh, and will look to improve on that finish with some more strength and confidence built in the intervening months.
Jennie Brannigan has hopped a plane to visit for the weekend with two horses in The Pascal Syndicate’s Pascal and Tim and Nina Gardner’s FE Connery. Pascal won the CCI4*-L at Rebecca Farm earlier this year in his debut at the 4*-L level, and FE Connery is a horse with more experience at the level than his stablemate, but is seeking his first 4*-L completion this weekend. Both horses are a strong shot for Jennie to take home the lion’s share of the purse this weekend (and pay for that travel!).
James Alliston brings forward a new 4*-L horse in the 9-year-old Hanoverian mare, Cora, who is owned by Alliston Equestrian. This pair won the 4*-S at Twin Rivers earlier this summer and also won the Advanced at Ram Tap en route to this step up. This mare is a stellar jumper who could jump up the board with two quick and clear jumping rounds.
And don’t count out Molly Duda, who’s come back from some serious facial injuries sustained in a fall from a young horse earlier this year and is tackling the 4*-L with her partner, Disco Traveler. Molly was named to the USEF European Developing Tour this summer, competing at Millstreet (Ireland) and Bicton (England). This will be the first 4*-L for this exciting young pair.
You can view all of the entries across FEI and National divisions here.