On Thursday September 1st, Brabant Outdoor will commence at the Prinsenhoeve estate in Breda. During this international equestrian outdoor event, the FEI Open European Driving Championships for Four in Hands 2011 and the Dutch Championships Eventing will take place. In addition, national and regional competitors star in various disciplines including dressage and show jumping. The event is open to the public every day free of charge. Also an Outdoor Fair, a Garden Fair and there are several demonstrations can be seen during this four-day event.
Chairman Ton Overeem has great expectations of this Outdoor Brabant edition: "The best four in hand riders of the world will compete here, we have a waiting list for participation in our eventing competition and there are hundreds of entries in the dressage and show jumping classes. This indicates that Outdoor Brabant has become a popular event amongst the equestrian top. "
FEI Open European Driving Championships for Four in Hands 2011
This is the first time in thirty years that another European Championship four in hand takes place. The last European Championships four in hand were held in 1981 in Zug, Switzerland, and were won by the Hungarian Gyorgy Bardos. This FEI European Championship in Breda is open to European and non-European drivers. It counts as qualifier for the FEI Indoor CAI, which will be held this winter. Only the European drivers starting in Breda can claim the European individual and team medals. Besides the four in hand horses there will also be the international pony's four in hand and national pair of horses in Breda. The participants ride their dressage test on Friday September 2nd, on Saturday September 3rd they’ll compete in the marathon and on Sunday September 4th the obstacle concourse.
National and International Eventing (CIC2* and CIC3*)
Outdoor Brabant is an international eventing competition at 2 - and 3-star level. Besides international top riders such as Frank Ostholt, who competed very strong during the European Championship yesterday in Lühmuhlen and Australian Andrew Hoy, the entire Dutch eventing top takes part in the fight for the national title. Of course including the reigning Dutch champion Tim Lips for whom Outdoor Brabant is his home turf. Chef d'Equipe Martin Lips is pleased with the tremendous interest of participation in Breda: "We're moving in the right direction in the Netherlands for eventing. Our strategy is starting to work, as now a large pool of promising young eventing talent is arising, which allows us to build a strong team in the future.
Show Jumpers compete for the Grand Prix of Breda
Outdoor Brabant is one of the few Dutch events with a true Derby. This Grand Prix of Breda has a course with a length of 1200 meters and up to 21 fences including a large number of natural obstacles. Participants in the Z- (1.30m) and ZZ-classes (1.35m) on Thursday and Friday can qualify for the Grand Prix of Breda on Sunday. Last year Leon Kuipers, from Breda, won the Grand Prix.
More dressage classes at Outdoor Brabant
The discipline of dressage Outdoor Brabant is expanded this year with more categories at the basic levels. On Thursday, participants in the Z class will ride and on Saturday the ZZ. On Sunday, the highest levels will compete (Intermediate I, Prix St Georges and Grand Prix).
Outdoor Fair, Garden Fair, demonstrations and shows
During the event exhibitors present various products at the Outdoor Fair. New this year is the Garden Fair with a model garden surrounded by the various providers of products and services displayed. On Saturday and Sunday there are several demonstrations and shows, and pony rides for the children.
