Australia on a Quest for Showjumping’s Holy Grail

Tom McDermott riding Romantic Dream (Photo: Jenny Sheppard/EA)

The long-standing rivalry between Australia and New Zealand will be on show at the weekend when the two nations go head to head in the first round of a two test Jumping series which kicks off on Sunday at the picturesque Church Road Winery in Hawkes Bay.

Showjumping’s Holy Grail is a new competition and a precursor to the prestigious Horse of the Year show which will take place on 15 March. These events form the two test Jumping series which will showcase Jumping’s top talent from both sides of the Tasman.

The Australian team of Sharon Slater (Ulixes), Alison Rowland (Bickley Brook Bella) Rory Hovell (Yalambi’s Val d’lsere) and Tom McDermott (Romantic Dream) will face tough opposition from the home team of Katie McVean (Dunstan Daffodil), Samantha McIntosh (Cambridge) Ross Smith (Quite Cassini) and Luke Dee (Ombudsman). 

After last year’s series ended in a tie, both teams will be eager to record a decisive victory and with the current Australian Showjumping Champion in McDermott and 2012 winner of the Australian league of the FEI World Cup Jumping Series in Rowland, the Aussie team has the goods to go the distance.  

In the young rider class Nicole Bruggerman (Blusta), Sarah Beale (Alpha Centauri), Jack Maunder (Cyra) and James Arkins (Dreamtime Invader) will take on Logan Massie (Kiwi Ludo), Rosie Commons (Glenara Chandon), Bridget Hansen (Shakespeare NZPH) and Melody Matheson (Cheltenham).

Ben Netterfield accompanies the Australian teams as Chef d’Equipe. Jamie Kermond (Colthaga) has been named reserve for the senior team while Amelia Clarke (Diamond B Jimmychoo) and Tegan Kidner (Federer) are reserves for the young rider team.

Annual Test events between Australia and New Zealand are an essential part of preparing riders for international Nations Cup competition because they simulate the experience of a major international meeting where each score counts to the team effort.  

This upcoming series signifies the start of Australia’s campaign to develop horse and rider combinations for the 2014 World Equestrian Games.

Results from both events will be made available.

Quick Links

• Visit the Equestrian Australia website
• More information on Horse of the Year is available here - www.hoy.co.nz