Australian International Three Day Event

The Australian International Three Day Event is an annual three-day event held in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. It was known as the Adelaide International Horse Trials up until 2007. It comprises dressage, cross-country and show-jumping and is usually staged in early November. It is one of only five events in the world to receive a four star (Olympic-standard) rating under Concours Complet International. The event is unique in being held in a city-centre, taking place in the picturesque Adelaide Park Lands. [cite web | accessmonthday =August 1 | accessyear =2006 | url =http://www.eques.com.au/sport/horse_trials_2004/page1.htm | title = Mitsubishi Adelaide International Horse Trials | publisher ="Eques Magazine" ]

History

The Adelaide International Horse Trials was created in 1997 to replace the Gawler Horse Trials that had been staged in Gawler, north of Adelaide, since 1954. [cite web | accessmonthday =August 1 | accessyear =2006 | url =http://www.adelaidehorsetrials.com.au/general_information.html | title = 2006 Adelaide International Horse Trials: General Information | publisher =Adelaide Horse Trials Management ] In its period as the Gawler Trials, it was a successful competition and was selected to host the Eventing World Championship in 1986. On this occasion the Australian Post Office issued a sepcial set of four stamps showing horse-riding in the country in general.

The new event débuted in the East Parklands with a CCI*** rating, but was subsequently upgraded to CCI**** in 1999 to become the only so rated event in the Southern Hemisphere, and one of only five in the world.

Since 2005, it has been staged concurrently with the Adelaide Christmas Pageant and in 2007 the event has been renamed the Australian International Three Day Event.

Event

The event, managed by Adelaide Horse Trials Management Inc, is held throughout the East Parklands in separate stages over three days.

The dressage phase is held on Friday at CBC Oval in Park 15. The cross-country phase is held on Saturday across the parklands and attracts the most spectators. The course starts at Victoria Park and crosses Wakefield Road though parkland and into Rymill Park. The cross-country course has been designed by Michael Etherington-Smith, who has designed courses for the Olympics in 2000 and 2008 and other CCI**** events, since 2001. The water jumps in Rymill Park are regarded as some of the most challenging in international competition. The final show-jumping phase is held on Sunday at CBC Oval.

The event also incorporates the Australian stages of the biannual Trans Tasman Championship, which has been staged in Adelaide since 1985. A youth Trans Tasman is held in the alternate years.

Winners

List of winners of the four star event:
*2007 [Trials were not held]
*2006 Heath Ryan (NSW) Flame
*2005 Megan Jones (SA) on Kirby Park Irish Jester
*2004 Shane Rose (NSW) on Beauford Miss Dior
*2003 Boyd Martin (NSW) on True Blue Toozac
*2002 Wendy Schaeffer(SA) on Koyuna Sun Smoke
*2001 Matthew Grayling (NZ) on Revo
*2000 David Middleton (VIC) on Willowbank Jack
*1999 Natalie Blundell (NSW) on Billy Bathgate

ee also

The other four-star events are:

*Badminton Horse Trials
*Burghley Horse Trials
*Kentucky Three Day Event
*Luhmühlen Horse Trials

References

External links

* [http://www.australian3de.com.au/ Australian International 3 Day Event]
* [http://www.horseoz.com/adelaide/ Adelaide results and pictures at HorseOz.com]
* [http://www.adelaidehorsetrials.com.au/ Adelaide International Horse Trials]