What is the AI3DE?
Held annually in November, the Australian International 3 Day Event is Australia’s premier equestrian competition.
It is the only CCI four star event held in Australia, the only one held in the Southern Hemisphere and one of only six held across the world. For the past ten years, Adelaide has been the chosen host city of this Hallmark Equestrian event.
In 2011, the Australian International 3 Day Event becomes a part of the World Wide ‘Pro Tour’of Eventing - the HSBC FEI Classics Series with a Prize Pool of $333,000.00. The 2011 Adelaide event will also have the biggest prize pool ever for Eventing in the Southern Hemisphere with over $100,000 up for grabs!
The AI3DE proudly takes its place alongside the other great international four star events, the Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event in the United States, Burghley Horse Trials and Badminton Horse Trials in England, Luhmuhlen in Germany and Pau in France.
The Adelaide event however is unique in the world, being the only one staged in the heart of a bustling city centre, taking place in the picturesque Adelaide Parklands.
History
The Adelaide International Horse Trials was born in 1997 to replace the Gawler Horse Trials that had been staged at Gawler, north of Adelaide, since 1954.
The new event debuted in Adelaide’s East Parklands with a Three Star rating but was subsequently upgraded to a Four Star rating in 2002 to become the only event of this calibre in the Southern Hemisphere.
The competition was relaunched and renamed the Australian International 3 Day Event in 2007 to celebrate the events tenth anniversary and better reflect the national focus of the competition.
The AI3DE is owned, managed and marketed by the Board of the Adelaide Horse Trials Management Inc comprising equestrian greats, professional business directors and media advisers.
The Event Director is the internationally renowned dual Olympic Gold Medalist, and FEI committee member, Mrs Gillian Rolton.
Past Results
Honour Roll CCI ****
The Australian International 3 Day Event has been conducted in the City of Adelaide since 1997 (formerly a CCI*** event held at Gawler). The Event has been at CCI**** level since 1999.
- 1997 Nick Larkin NZ – Red (CCI***)
- 1998 Peter Haynes AUS – Alcheringa (CCI***)
- 1999 Natalie Blundell AUS – Billy Bathgate
- 2000 David Middleton AUS – Willowbank Jack
- 2001 Matthew Grayling NZ – Revo
- 2002 Wendy Schaeffer AUS – Koyuna Sun-Glo
- 2003 Boyd Martin AUS – True Blue Toozac
- 2004 Shane Rose AUS – Beauford Miss Dior
- 2005 Megan Jones AUS – Kirby Park Irish Jester
- 2006 Heath Ryan AUS – Flame
- 2007 cancelled due to Equine Influenza outbreak around Australia
- 2008 Chris Burton and Newsprint
- 2009 Stuart Tinney AUS - Vettori
- 2010 Wendy Schaeffer AUS - Koyuna sun Dancer
- 2011 Stuart Tinney AUS - Panamera
Levels of Competition
There are four international levels recognised in the sport. One Star (Novice), Two Star (Intermediate), Three Star (Advanced) and the very top, Four Star. The Olympic Games and the World Equestrian Games, each held every four years are also classified Four Star level.
Adelaide is the only city in the Southern Hemisphere to host a four-star event. Other four-star events are held in Kentucky, USA; Badminton and Burghley, UK and the Luhmühlen Horse Trials, Germany.