Adelaide CCI4* Preview

Last year's winner Stuart Tinney and the wonderful mare Panamera (photo by ESJ)

You thought the Eventing season was over? Well, not for Australia! They are just getting geared up for their biggest and baddest event of the year, Adelaide CCI4* International Event. Last year, Adelaide was won by Stuart Tinney, but who will it be this year? Despite swirling rumors earlier this year that William Fox-Pitt would be tackling the only CCI4* that he hasn’t won to date, he will not appear on the 2012 entries list, but will be attending the event nevertheless. 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.

[Adelaide CCI4* Website]

The event, held from November 22-25, will include some big names, however. All of the entrants are Australian natives, and the field of horses is only 18 strong, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t stacked. Sydney Olympic gold medalist (and last year’s winner) Stuart Tinney is entered on Pluto Mio, Beijing Olympic Silver medalists (and unlucky in London) Shane Rose and Megan Jones are entered on Aph Moritz and Kirby Park Irish Jester, respectively. I’m not familiar with Craig Barrett, but he is the only competitor with two horses entered in the CCI4*, which is an ambitious goal for any rider.

[Adelaide Entries]

One exciting aspect of this year’s Adelaide is the introduction of classes and course walks given by un-mounted riders such as Andrew Hoy, Sam Griffiths, Chris Burton and Clayton Fredericks, as well as the HSBC Ambassador William Fox-Pitt.

“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,” Event Director Gillian Rolton says.

 

Winner of Adelaide 2010, Wendy Schaeffer and Koyuna Sun Dancer

 

 

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