Big stars and young guns to compete at 2016 Aus3de

More than 100 entries have been received for the 2016 Australian International Three Day Event (Aus3DE), Australia’s premier equestrian event, with an exceptional field of International competitors, Olympic athletes and a large number of young riders set to compete in the heart of Adelaide, from Friday 3 November to Sunday 6 November 2016.

Bronze medal winners from the recent 2016 Rio Olympic Games will be among the line-up of contenders for the 2016 event, including 2000 Sydney Olympic Gold Medallist Stuart Tinney and 2008 Beijing Olympic Silver Medallist Shane Rose.

Former World Number One in Eventing and current Event Riders Masters winner, Oliver Townend from the UK will also be competing, as well as two New Zealand riders, Andrew Daines and Sam Felton. There are 17 entries in the Bates Saddles CCI2* Young Rider Championships, the largest number of recorded young riders in the event’s history.

Local rider and 2008 Silver Beijing Medallist, Megan Jones will be riding two horses in the new class, the RM Williams CIC3*, while South Australian rider and 1996 Atlanta Gold Medallist, now based in the UK, Wendy Schaeffer will be returning to Adelaide to compete in the RM Williams CIC3*.

Aus3DE Event Director Gillian Rolton said it is fantastic to see such a high calibre of riders, as well as many young riders competing in the event.

“The quality of entries across all the classes for the 2016 event is exceptionally high,” Gillian said. “We are also very pleased to see so many entries in the Bates Saddles CCI2* Young Rider Championships. These athletes are our next Olympians, so it’s important for events such as the Aus3DE to start them on their journey for Tokyo and beyond.”

“The line-up of horses and riders in this year’s Adelaide CCI4* is a very classy field,” she said. “This includes the big-names in the sport such as Rio Olympic Bronze Medallist and Sydney Olympic Gold Medallist Stuart Tinney, Rio Olympic Bronze Medallist and Beijing Olympic Silver Medallist Shane Rose, and New Zealand rider Andrew Daines who will be jumping the ditch to compete at Aus3de for the first time.”

“Oliver Townend, current winner of the Event Riders Masters and former World Number One in Eventing from the UK, will certainly be one to watch in the RM Williams CIC3* on Tim Boland’s horse, Napoleon.

“Kiwi, Sam Felton will have two horses in the RM Williams CIC3*, continuing the Aussie versus Kiwi rivalry. 

“We anticipate a large number of spectators from across South Australia, Australia and overseas. It’s going to be a great event!” she said.

In addition to four action packed days of world class eventing, in this, the triathlon of horse sports, the 2016 Aus3DE will include a full list of programmed events, including the debut of the Barrister’s Block Wines Twilight Jumping with the Stars which features a performance by NZ ‘Free Rider’ Alycia Burton, the finale of the Equestrian Australia Dual Crown in Eventing and Jumping,Thomas Foods International World Cup Jumping Qualifier  Masterclasses with Christopher Bartle, Celebrity Course Walks and the biggest ever Market Place Shopping Village.

The 2016 Australian International 3 Day Event (Aus3DE) is the pinnacle of horse sports in Australia and is one of the six top level Federation Equestre International (FEI) Classic Series events held around the world annually. The event will be held in Adelaide from Thursday 3rd to Sunday 6th November 2016. For more information visit www.australian3de.com.au.

The 2016 Australian International Three Day Event:

• will host the finale of the inaugural ‘Dual Crown’ series of Eventing and Jumping;
• welcomes German Eventing Team Gold medal winning coach, Christopher Bartle as the 2016 Masterclass presenter;
• will host a new RM Williams CIC 3* event for the first time in 2016;
• will include Masterclasses, Thomas Foods International World Cup Showjumping, Celebrity Course Walks and a huge Market Place Shopping Village.
• welcomes again Olympic Cross country course designer Mike Etherington-Smith;
• will host New Zealand’s Free Rider Alycia Burton as part of the Twilight Jumping with the Stars and Saturday main arena program;
• welcomes UK competitor Oliver Townend to the RM Williams CIC3* Class.

Hashtag: #aus3de #FEIclassics #Eventing #Adelaide

Facebook: www.facebook.com/aus3de

Road closures and traffic disruptions:

Event planners warn traffic may be slow on Tuesday 1 November to Thursday 3 November as competitors and organisers prepare for the 2016 Australian International 3 Day Event. The Qantas cross country phase spreads across three of Adelaide’s famous parklands, necessitating the closure of some of roads to ensure a safe competition for both horses and spectators. On Saturday 5 November, both Wakefield and Bartels Roads will be closed on from 4am to 10pm. There may be parking restrictions in the Fullarton Road Slip lane (Western side of Fullarton Road) from Wednesday 2 November, 7.00am to Sunday 6 November 8.00pm.