LOCAL World Cup fanatics will be able to get a double dose on Saturday night as Tamworth hosts its first ever World Cup qualifier at the AELEC.
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Spectators will then have to wind down from the local action and tune in to see the Wallabies clash with Wales in the important final pool match of the Rugby World Cup in England, with Quirindi athletes possibly featuring in both.
Olympian Ron Easey from Quipolly, near Quirindi will mount Made You Look in the World Cup event on Saturday night, while big Quirindi second rower Sam Carter is in London after a late call up to the Wallabies squad and could be included in the team to play Wales early Sunday morning.
For Easey the tournament marks a return to a happy hunting ground, after the Olympian won the championship here last year and has had several other successes at the world class venue in the past.
In showjumping, competitors have an allotted time to get around a course that involves several jumps as well as lots of twists and turns in the arena.
Penalties are given for not completing the course in the allotted time or if the horse and rider hit any gates on the way through.
Course designer and chairman of the Tamworth World Cup committee Greg Backhouse said the AELEC is the best venue in the country.
“It’s fantastic here in the arena although we can’t hold a World Championship here because the outdoor arena isn’t big enough,” Backhouse said.
“International standard is 80m by 50m and this is 80m by 35m.”
“It wouldn’t take much to change it and we have been asking the council to help out.”
“In the mean time though this is a great event and the first World Cup qualifier to be held in the bush.”
“There is some of the world’s best here this weekend.”