The Adelaide Equestrian Festival has announced the appointment of Clayton Fredericks as its CCI5* cross country course designer, starting with the 2027 Adelaide Equestrian Festival.
As one of only six CCI5* events in the world and the only Five-Star event in the Southern Hemisphere, the Adelaide Equestrian Festival occupies a unique position on the international eventing calendar. Renowned for its iconic urban cross-country course set within Adelaide's picturesque park lands, the Festival attracts elite riders, horses and spectators from across the globe.
Clayton is also well known as one of Australia's most distinguished eventing riders. A multiple Olympian, he was a member of Australia's Silver Medal-winning team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and secured Individual Silver and Team Bronze at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany. In 2026 he designed the CCI4*-S Oceania Championships course at Adelaide and assisted Mike Etherington as course designer for the CCI5* (watch our interview with Clayton here)
“His achievements at the highest level of the sport, combined with his growing international reputation as a course designer, position him uniquely to guide the future development of Adelaide's world renowned urban cross-country track” say the organisers of the Adelaide Equestrian Festival “This appointment reflects the commitment to maintaining the highest international competition standards while continuing to evolve one of the sport's most distinctive venues”
Clayton says he is ‘honoured to accept the appointment and contribute to the future of one of eventing's most iconic competitions’
"Adelaide is one of the world's iconic eventing competitions, combining elite sport with a spectacular city setting. Having competed at Adelaide in the inaugural year of 1997, I have a deep appreciation for the event's history and significance. My goal is to build on the outstanding work of Mike Etherington-Smith and the Festival team by designing courses that are challenging, fair and, above all, safe for both horse and rider.”
Clayton’s appointment comes at an exciting time in his course design career, with appointments across some of the Northern Hemisphere’s leading eventing competitions including Galway Downs International Horse Trials (USA), Bouckaert Equestrian International (USA), Tryon International Three-Day Event (USA) and The Fork Horse Trials (USA).
His Assistant Course Design appointments also include the Burghley Horse Trials CCI5*-L (UK) and Avenches International CCI4*-S (Switzerland).
Internationally respected course designer Mike Etherington-Smith, who has designed the 5* course for many years will transition into the role of Course Advisor, while Australian based FEI Level 4 Course Designer Ewan Kellett will support Fredericks as Assistant Course Designer. Mick Pineo will continue as Cross Country Lead.
Mike Etherington-Smith welcomed the appointment, saying that he was excited to see Fredericks take the next step in his course design career.
"I am absolutely delighted to see Clayton take on this challenge. Having worked closely with him at a number of venues around the world, I have seen first-hand his passion for the sport, his attention to detail and his understanding of what makes a great cross-country course. I have every confidence that he is the right person to design the Adelaide course."
Event Director Kirsty Withers said Fredericks' appointment marked an exciting new chapter for the event.
"Clayton's achievements as both an athlete and course designer have earned him enormous respect throughout the global eventing community. Together with Ewan, Mick and the best course-building team in the region, this exceptional group will continue to strengthen the Adelaide Equestrian Festival's reputation as one of the world's premier Five-Star events.
I'm also delighted that Mike Etherington-Smith will continue his longstanding association in his new role as Course Advisor, ensuring his invaluable knowledge and experience remain part of Adelaide's future."
Clayton will commence planning for the 2027 Festival immediately, working alongside the Festival executive team that create the largest spectator-attended equestrian sporting event in the Southern Hemisphere in the heart of South Australia's capital city.
