What do a bricklayer, a Scotsman and bikes all have in common? All three will be at the Australian International 3 Day Event.
First off the event have recently announced that former bricklayer now World number 2 rider Jock Paget will be providing spectators with an Eventing Masterclass and taking part in a spot of ‘Grant Burge Wines Polo in the Park’
The 29 year old UK based New Zealander, who won an Olympic bronze medal in Team Eventing at the London Olympics and earlier this year won Badminton and Burghley Horse trials will also conduct walks around the picturesque 6km parklands course with spectators, sponsors, riders and school groups.
Jock Paget after his Burghley win being interviewed with fellow Kiwi Andrew Nicholson
AI3DE Director, Gill Rolton, is delighted Jock has committed to attending the event.
“We’re really excited that Jock is coming to Adelaide. He has done amazing things in the past 12 months in all of the northern hemisphere events, and it will be great to have him at the Southern Hemisphere’s premier equestrian competition.”
Jock was born in New Zealand, but moved to Australia as a 3 year old. He worked as a bricklayer in Sydney before he began jumping at the age of 18, when he moved to Queensland to work for three years with Australian competitor, Kevin McNab. He was identified by New Zealand’s high performance unit as having talent, moved back to NZ and formed a strong partnership with a top horse owner before moving to the UK last year ahead of the London Olympics.
Jock will be celebrating his 30th birthday on the event’s show jumping day so there will hopefully be a birthday cake orgainsed for him and if the ‘powers that be’ can organise it they may even be able to find Jock a horse to compete on … watch this space.
Any keen bakers out there should start thinking about designs for Jock's cake!
New Zealand riders have won every CCI**** event on the International circuit so far this year and they will be trying to keep the record intact with horses coming across the Tasman to compete.
Olympic medallists Wendy Schaeffer, Megan Jones, Shane Rose, Stuart Tinney, and last year’s winner Craig Barrett are also confirmed for this year’s event.
The Scotsman comes in the shape of Alec Lochore who is returning to Adelaide as Technical Delegate for another year. Alec was the Eventing Manager for the London Olympics and will be the TD at next years World Equestrian Games.
Will Alec swop his conventional trousers for his traditional kilt? … we’ll have to wait and see
As for the bikes … in a great initiative the officials, FEI Seminar participants, Hilton Adelaide guests and spectators will have access to free bike hire from Adelaide City Bikes during the Australian International 3 Day Event. This will allow people to cycle around the event and the city, a much greener option to jumping in a car and quicker than walking! We just cant wait to see the ground jury on bikes!
To read the latest Australian 3DE Newsletter CLICK HERE
Tickets to the great event can be bought by clicking HERE
