21 combinations will come forward to contest the Adelaide International CCI5* at the 2025 Adelaide Equestrian Festival, the 25th Anniversary of the only FEI 5* eventing competition in the southern hemisphere.
Hazel Shannon and Willingapark Clifford return to Adelaide
It is an exciting line-up with the Adelaide triple 5* winners, Hazel Shannon and her very experienced partner, Willingapark Clifford, heading the line-up as well as the defending champion David Middleton with his 2024 winner WEC In The Money and WEC In The Breeze. Last year’s third place getter Donna Edwards-Smith is also returning, the only New Zealand entry in the CCI5*, with DSE Mendoza.
Three Australian Olympians are in the mix with Shane Rose’s two rides in the 5* on The Bandit and Matrixx, as well as his talented mare Easy Turn, who is heading to Aachen and Luhmuhlen, and Holy Moses in the CCI4*-S and Western Australia’s Sonja Johnson riding Parkiarrup Showtime, the only pair making the long journey from WA in the 5*.
Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture are finally making their 5* debut after competing at World Championships and Olympic Games, and Victoria’s Sam Jeffree, the Bates Saddles Young Rider Champion here in 2019, is also fulfilling his long-held 5* ambition with two horses, Santoro and Wimborne Conjuror.
Several other Victorians are making their way across with Sophia Hill and her cross country machine, Humble Glory aiming to go two places better than their third place in 2023 joined by Kirilee Hosier riding AEA Flynn and Yona Lloyd on Ballahowe Ayurvedic.
Queensland-based Andrew Cooper will be another hot favourite with Hey Arnold and Sharvalley Thunder and is joined by fellow Queenslander Gemma O’Leary riding Arnage Porsche at their first 5* start.
Queen of the Trot-Ups, Jess Somerfield will also be having her first 5* start with Finch Farm Carpentaria, the horse bought for $1, as are Joel Funnell and Airbrushed. At the other end of the scale, the very experienced Gordon Bishop and Advantage Hill are back in Adelaide and two ladies to watch from up in NSW are Emma Mason with her big KPH Kingfisher and Jess Rae with Fifth Avenue. And that’s your lot!
Check out who to watch in the Horseland CCI4*-S, Racing SA CCI3*-L and Bates Saddles Young Rider Championship in our article here.
Adelaide Equestrian Festival CCI5* Accepted Entry List
Gordon Bishop (AUS) riding ADVANTAGE HILL
Andrew Cooper (AUS) riding HEY ARNOLD
Andrew Cooper (AUS) riding SHARVALLEY THUNDER
Donna Edwards-Smith (NZL) riding DSE MENDOZA
Joel Funnell (AUS) riding AIRBRUSHED
Sophia Hill (AUS) riding HUMBLE GLORY
Kirilee Hosier (AUS) riding AEA FLYNN
Samuel Jeffree (AUS) riding WIMBORNE CONJUROR
Samuel Jeffree (AUS) riding SANTORO
Sonja Johnson (AUS) riding PARKIARRUP SHOWTIME
Yona Lloyd (AUS) riding BALLAHOWE AYURVEDIC
Shenae Lowings (AUS) riding BOLD VENTURE
Emma Mason (AUS) riding KPH KINGFISHER
David Middleton (AUS) riding WEC IN THE MONEY
David Middleton (AUS) riding WEC IN THE BREEZE
Gemma O'Leary (AUS) riding ARNAGE PORSCHE
Jessica Rae (AUS) riding FIFTH AVENUE
Shane Rose (AUS) riding THE BANDIT
Shane Rose (AUS) riding MATRIXX
Hazel Shannon (AUS) riding WILLINGAPARK CLIFFORD
Jess Somerfield (AUS) riding FINCH FARM CARPENTARIA
