Andrew Hoy joins the guests at Adelaide Photo: Libby Law
International judges are arriving in Adelaide today while athletes from Australia’s London Olympic eventing team and three-times world number one ranked rider and London 2012 Olympic Silver medallist William Fox-Pitt will arrive from the UK tomorrow ahead of the Australian International 3 Day Event starting on Thursday.
Adelaide’s Victoria Park Raceway is being transformed into an equestrian village with horses settling into temporary stables and riders setting up camp in caravans and motorhomes.
Big name riders competing at the 3-Day Event - held from 22-25 November in Adelaide’s parklands and Victoria Park - include Sydney Olympic gold medallist Stuart Tinney and Beijing Olympic silver medallists Shane Rose. They will be joined by un-mounted riders Andrew Hoy, Sam Griffiths, Chris Burton and Clayton Fredericks from Australia’s London Olympic team and world number one and HSBC ambassador Fox-Pitt.
Judges arriving today include Christian Landolt from Switzerland and Marilyn Payne from the United States, both judges at the Beijing Olympics. Technical Delegate Alec Lochore, who was competition manager at the London Olympics, is also in Adelaide.
Dual Olympic Champion and Event Director Gillian Rolton says that the calibre of riders, judges, delegates and equestrian visitors at this year’s event is unparalleled.
“To welcome world number one and Olympic medallist Fox-Pitt fresh from the London 2012 Olympic Games along with most of our Olympic team is a massive coup for Adelaide. These equestrian superstars will be holding masterclasses and course walks giving people the chance to meet and learn from the world’s best,” she said.
The AI3DE is Australia’s premier equestrian event and one of only six Concours Complet International (CCI) four-star events in the world that make up the HSBC FEI Classics Series and the only one in the Southern hemisphere. Comprising dressage, cross-country, and show jumping, it is the only event of its kind to be held in a city, with other locations on the four-star calendar including USA’s equine capital, Kentucky, Badminton and Burghley in UK, the Luhmühlen Horse Trials in Germany and Pau, in France’s beautiful Pyrenees region.
Thursday’s program, which features free entry, includes the Horseland CCI** dressage with the main four-star competition beginning on Friday.
More than 20,000 people are expected to flock to Victoria Park and Adelaide’s parklands to see some of horse riding’s biggest stars. On Friday, there is free access to the public after 5.30pm with Twilight Show Jumping and live entertainment from Brewster Brothers - original members of the Angels, a champagne bar and more. On Saturday, the family Qantas Crosscountry day is free for children aged under 16 years accompanied by an adult.
Also over the three days, television sensation Double Dan Horsemanship will entertain the crowd with their exciting liberty horse show and Ponies in the Park will provide an educational and exciting experience for children on Saturday.
Tickets for the 2012 Australian International 3 Day Event can be purchased through Ticketek at http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/Show.aspx?sh=HORSETRI12 or at the gate. To find out more visit http://www.australian3de.com.au
