Thousands of keen eventing enthusiasts will soon be arriving at Victoria Park
Equestrian superstars including three-times world number one ranked UK rider and London 2012 Olympic Silver medallist William Fox-Pitt and athletes from Australia’s London Olympic eventing team will start arriving in Adelaide next week ahead of Australia’s premier equestrian competition, the 2012 Australian International 3-Day Event (AI3DE).
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, Beijing Olympic silver medallists Shane Rose and Megan Jones and Atlanta Olympic gold medallist Wendy Schaeffer, who will compete in the two-star event.
They will be joined by un-mounted riders Andrew Hoy, Sam Griffiths, Chris Burton and Clayton Fredricks from Australia’s London Olympic team and world number one and HSBC ambassador Fox-Pitt.
Dual Olympic Champion and Event Director Gillian Rolton says Fox-Pitt and four fifths of Australia’s London Olympic team will be a major drawcard for this year’s AI3DE.
“To welcome world number one and Olympic medalist Fox-Pitt fresh from the London 2012 Olympic Games along with most of our Olympic team is a massive coup for Adelaide, and shows the high-caliber and standing of the Australian International 3-Day Event on the world stage,” Ms Rolton says.
“These equestrian superstars will be holding masterclasses and course walks giving people the chance to meet and learn from the world’s best.”
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 SeriesTM and the only one in the Southern hemisphere.
The HSBC Trophy
The event comprising dressage, cross-country, and show jumping, is the only event of its kind to be held in the heart of 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.
“Not only do we see a lot of Olympians compete at this event, it is also a launch pad for future stars who will one day will compete at the Olympics and World Championships,” Ms Rolton says.
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 over three days of action-packed competition, with a free open day on Thursday 22 November featuring the Horseland CCI** dressage competition. 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 much more. On Saturday, the family Qantas cross country 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/
