If cricket can do it, so can eventing. That is the philosophy of Stewart Buntine, who launched Express Eventing, a condensed form of the competition, which, with a simple format and the lure of £250,000 in prize-money, he hopes will showcase the three-pronged discipline as glamorously as Twenty20 has done for cricket. The inaugural event takes place at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on November 30.

“The concept is designed to promote traditional eventing, not to replace it,” Buntine said. “Three-day events are held in fabulous places, but they last over five days and the competitions are spread out, making it difficult for the public to follow what's going on. With Express Eventing, spectators can watch all three phases without moving from their seat.”

The concept is also intended to raise the profile of eventing's leading riders. “These guys risk their lives on a daily basis for a pittance, they need a level of prize-money which rewards their courage,” he said.

With a £100,000 first prize on offer - double the amount William Fox-Pitt earned for winning Burghley this month - there has been a quick response from the invited riders. Sixteen have signed up, including three of Great Britain's Olympic team - Fox-Pitt, Tina Cooke and Mary King. Mark Todd, New Zealand's two-times Olympic champion, and Andrew Nicholson, his compatriot, together with Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks, the Australians, head the foreign entry. Zara Phillips, the world champion, has yet to commit.

“It's a very exciting concept,” King, who will ride Call Again Cavalier, her Olympic horse, said. “As it's held outside our normal season, it could make for an interesting winter series.”

Nicholson, who has yet to decide on his ride, said that the concept was “just what the riders have been waiting for”.

Cooke, who hopes to bring Miner's Frolic, her individual bronze medal-winner, said: “It's difficult to ignore prize-money like that.”

The competition begins with a four-minute freestyle-to-music test in which extra points are given if difficult movements such as canter pirouette and four-time canter changes are attempted. The dressage scores are converted into time faults - the leader starting on zero - for the showjumping and cross country. The 12-fence showjumping course is followed by a timed “pitstop” while riders change into cross-country gear before setting out on a 20-fence cross-country course that will include water complexes, banks, ditches and hedges.

“It's a simple format, with easy scoring, which means the spectators will know exactly what each competitor needs to do to win,” Buntine said.

Although Cardiff is the only confirmed fixture, it is hoped that it will be the first in a series of events held worldwide in 2009.

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