5 January 2023

Rod Stewart tunes and spectacular sculptures to raise money for equestrian dreams

| Zoe Cartwright
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Jayden and Sky Diamond in action

Jayden and Sky Diamond in action. Photo: Supplied.

Want to enjoy the tunes of Rod Stewart without leaving the South Coast?

Willinga Park has the event for you.

The world-class equestrian centre north of Batemans Bay will feature talented American artist Rob Caudill as Rod Stewart, featuring special guest Ashleigh Toole as Cher, for their first Friends@Willinga event of 2023.

Willinga is a 2000-acre equestrian park at Bawley Point on the NSW South Coast that’s the equivalent to a Disneyland for horse owners, with five arenas, six round yards, 32 luxury stables, 200 event stables, plus a vet room, walker and heated training pool.

Then there are the five-hectare gardens with more than 11,000 trees, shrubs and plants – mostly natives – and 35 sculptures to explore.

READ ALSO Willinga Park pays record $550,000 for performance mare Bad in Black

Concert-goers are invited to enjoy an evening in the lush bushland setting, exploring the park’s public sculpture collection, before dancing the night away to Rod Stewart and Cher’s greatest hits on Friday 13 January.

The tickets also include a three-course meal catered by in-house chef Luke Bow, and there is a fully licensed bar on-site.

Tickets are $200 per person, and all proceeds will go to support the Willinga Park Dressage Team who hope to make the 2024 Paris Olympics.

It’s the ambition of Willinga Park owner and Canberra businessman Terry Snow to see Australia on the podium for equestrian events.

That dream was behind the establishment of Willinga Park, where riders of all levels can qualify for international standing.

It’s a dream that is inching closer to reality.

READ MORE Terry Snow’s $100 million equestrian park opens for Gold Buckle Campdraft

Earlier this year Willinga Park-based dressage rider Jayden Brown and horse Willinga Park Sky Diamond, along with Mr Brown’s grooms and five other Willinga Park dressage horses moved to the UK to compete and train with the best in the industry.

The FEI World Equestrian Games, held in Europe this year, is the first qualifying event for the 2024 Summer Olympics, bringing Jayden Brown and Willinga Park one step closer to 2024 Olympic Gold.

Tickets for the Rod Stewart evening at Willinga Park are available on their website.

Doors open at 5 pm and dinner starts about 6 pm.

Specialty rates for onsite accommodation are available. For more information email bookings@willinga.com.au.

Original Article published by Zoe Cartwright on About Regional.

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