Australia Names Jumping Teams for Oceania Championships

Jumping prodigy Tom McDermott (pictured) is set to strike twice at the Oceania Championships* (formerly known as the Trans-Tasman) happening at this weekend’s Australian Showjumping Championships with the 20 year old today named a member of Australia’s senior and young rider teams.  

McDermott will be flanked by in form riders Jamie Kermond and Sharon Slater as well as Shane Davidson who has previously represented Australia as an individual at the World Young Horse Championships but never in a team’s event.

Davidson says he’s excited for the chance to represent his country.

“I’m very honoured to have this opportunity. It’s been a goal of mine for a long time to make an Australian team and I’m very excited to have this opportunity.

“I’m also really excited to be competing on a horse which I’ve bred and trained. 

‘I’m really looking forward to competing in a team’s event for the first time. You’ve got to try that little bit harder because you’re competing with others and they’re relying on you to do well. It’s a big responsibility but a great honour,” Davidson said. 

New South Wales rider Sharon Slater will also have a close eye on the Young Rider competition after daughter Kelly was named in the Australian team. She joins McDermott in the four member outfit as well as Sarah Beale and Nicole Bruggermann who were part of an Australian Young Rider team which toured New Zealand earlier in the year.

The senior team will be supported by Olympian Vicki Roycroft in the role of Chef d’Equipe with Jessica Barton taking on this role for the Young Rider team.

The Oceania Challenge headlines a full four days of jumping action at the Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre. Not since 2005 has Australia had the home ground advantage when taking on New Zealand in a jumping test and both nations will be looking to take an early lead in the two round series which will continue at the Royal Melbourne Show from 26-29 September.

Action at the Australian Show Jumping Championships gets underway on Thursday. For further information on the event please visit http://www.asjc.equestrian.org.au

The Australian teams are as follows:

Senior Team

Rider                                                       Horse                                      Owner(s)

Shane Davidson                                    Fairbanks Lulu                        Shane Davidson

Jamie Kermond                                      Colthaga                                 Jacqueline Cox

Tom McDermott                                     CP Romantic Dream                Van Zyl Tripp Pty Ltd

Sharon Slater                                        Ulixes                                      Sharon Slater

Reserves:

1^st reserve: Robert Moffatt                  Viduka                                    Robert Moffatt

2^nd reserve: Clem Smith                      Guru                                       Clem Smith & Leanne Bruggermann

Young Rider Team

Rider                                                       Horse                                      Owner(s)

Sarah Beale                                           Alpha Centauri                       Sarah Beale

Nicole Bruggermann                              Marine                                    Nicole Bruggermann

Tom McDermott                                     Rolex                                      Emily Blinkworth

Kelly Slater                                            Silverton                                 Ally Lamb

Reserves:

1^st reserve: Clint Beresford                  Emmaville Jitterbug                 Clint Beresford

2^nd reserve: Jack Maunder                   Cyra                                        John Maunder

Support Staff:

Vicki Roycroft – Senior Team Chef d'Equipe

Jessica Barton – Young Rider Chef d’Equipe

*Australia and New Zealand have joined together to form the Oceania League in a bid to boost the lobbying opportunities of both nations at FEI level. As part of this move, equestrian test events between Australia and New Zealand will now be referred to as Oceania Championships.