Equestrian Australia National Squad Announcement

On the eve of Rio 2016 one year to go celebrations, Equestrian Australia (EA) has announced the composition of its national squads for eventing, dressage, jumping and para-equestrian. 

The squads are organised in accordance with new criteria which was announced by EA in April. The new structure includes two tiers – High Performance and Recognition, with categories and criteria for each. 

View Equestrian Australia’s National Squads

While EA’s Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games selection policies are still undergoing approvals with the AOC and APC, only athletes named on a High Performance Squad are eligible for nomination to their discipline’s Shadow Team (in accordance with the squad selection criteria athletes may be named on a High Performance Squad at any time). Only athletes who are named on a Shadow Team will be eligible for nomination to Australia’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Teams.

In determining the squads EA’s High Performance Program has given consideration to the athlete and/or athlete and horse combinations, however only athletes are named on High Performance Squads. This ensures EA is closely aligned to the structure set down by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).

National Selection Panel* appointments for dressage, jumping and para-equestrian have also been finalised with Australia’s International Jumping Coach Gilbert Boeckmann joining existing selectors Clive Reed and Graeme Watts on the three member jumping panel.

The three member dressage selection panel will consist of current selector Jan Smith who is to be joined by new appointments Connie Bookless and Maryjane Crabtree. Australia’s Para-Equestrian selection panel of Sue Bright, Merrilyn Hamilton-Smith and Carolyn Lieutenant remains unchanged.

“Although our team selection policies for Rio are still to be approved, the dressage policy will call on selectors to make decisions based on objective criteria,” said Equestrian Australia High Performance Manager Chris Webb.

“Maryjane’s appointment is an important one as her legal background and experience in managing decisions against objective criteria will assist the panel as they work through nomination. She also has a long association with equestrian sport as a previous state board representative, high level competitor, breeder and official.

“We also welcome Connie Bookless to the panel. Connie brings a diverse skillset to the panel as she has been involved in the sport for over 40 years as a breeder, trainer, rider, coach and judge.

“Our jumping selection panel will be boosted by Gilbert Boeckmann who through his many years as jumping coach to the Australian team has established an excellent understanding of our jumping team’s requirements for major Championships. As Gilbert is Europe based it will allow us to have a selector on the ground at important events.

“Gilbert fills the position vacated by long serving selector Rod Brown who is stepping down to support his daughter Jessica who has been named on a High Performance Squad. We thank Rod for his many years of support to the Australian Equestrian Team.”   

*the national eventing selector panel was announced in June – see announcement HERE