5 August, 2014 — Scottsville, VA — ETB Equine Construction of Scottsville, VA is thrilled to announce that they have signed a contract, in cooperation with Greg Schlappi, of Landrum, SC to build the cross-country course for the 2015 Pan-Am Games in Toronto. The Games will take place at Will O’Wind Farm, Jeff and Ann Morgan’s farm in Ontario, and will be designed by Wayne Coping from Australia.
Eric Bull of ETB has previously built the cross-country courses for the Fair Hill, Rio de Janeiro (BRA) and Guadalajara (MEX) Pan-Am Games, as well as the Fair Hill three-day event, Plantation Field, and more.
Greg Schlappi’s work includes the cross-country courses for six North American Junior/Young Rider Championships as well as courses at the Colorado Horse Park and Florida Horse Park. He has already visited the Pan-Ams venue to get the lay of the land at Will O’Wind, and on-site work will begin August 20th.
“Because this is an established venue, the footing is already in excellent condition,” he said. “Part of the contract includes removing the old fences at the venue. We will also be overseeing the excavation contractor’s work including renovation of the existing water complex, the addition of a new water complex, and building of banks and ditches before we start working on the permanent fences.”
Meanwhile they will be working on portable fences at their respective workshops. About 70% of the Pan-Ams course will consist of portable fences that they can ship to the venue after they’re built.
“I think it’s good to be involved in the Pan-Ams,” said Eric. “There’s only one track, one day, and you get to do a lot of building. You take something like Fair Hill, where the permanent fences are already established and we have a lot of portables already, and you’re doing more moving around than building. It’s always good to see new things and meet new people and build new stuff; that’s how you learn.”
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He adds, “It’s fun, too, there’s a lot that goes on the week of the competition. In Mexico the crowds were huge, and there’s all the signage and logos and accreditation for Games – there’s that much more excitement than there is for a typical event that happens every year.”
Greg also commissioned a Canadian chainsaw carver to make various Canadian-themed fences, including a goose, syrup bottle, maple leaf, some blue jays and more. “Between the two of us I think we’ll be able to do a really cool job with that; I’m excited,” he said. “Sometimes as builders we are good at making jumps functional but not necessarily the artistic stuff – I think putting his artistic skill to work will be a big advantage. We’re going to be able to accomplish a lot with the carvings.”
Greg and Eric have worked together on a couple of jobs, including Sporting Days in Aiken. “I think it’ll be a good partnership,” said Greg.
For more information about the Pan-Am Games, visit http://www.toronto2015.org/
For a fun video from the recent Will O’Wind horse trials, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wNNvrgW72Eo
