With more than 25 competitors expected in the National title the field will be the strongest in some years. This year the feature class has been supported by ten performance horse breeding studs and is aptly named the Breeders’ Plate National Title. The largest prize pool ever offered is up for grabs. Athletes will compete for $10,000 across the three National tile classes.

John Vallance, Australia’s highest ranked course designer, will set the challenge for the three championship divisions, Junior, Young Rider and the Breeders’ Plate National Title. 

Standards will be very high. The first round of the Breeders’ Plate National Title final on Sunday 16 October is an MES (Minimum Eligibility Standard) which provides riders an opportunity to gain partial qualification for the 2012 Olympic Games. Riders must gain their full MES to be considered for selection in the Australian Jumping Team for the London Olympics. The 2011 Australian Jumping Championships is one of six events this year to offer an MES class.

2010 National Champion, George Sanna from Glossodia, NSW will not be defending his title. Sanna has taken last year’s winning horse CP Aprilla to compete in Europe.

Young super star Tom McDermott from Wagga Wagga, NSW, will be among the starters. McDermott stole the show last year winning the Junior and Young Rider titles - he also finished runner-up in both divisions. 2010 was McDermott’s third consecutive junior title. Now aged 18 he is eligible for all three championship divisions (Junior 12-18 years, Young Rider 16-21 years and the National title which is open to riders aged 18 and over). However, a rider may only compete in two divisions. With recent success including winning the Gawler World Cup qualifier, McDermott may challenge the older riders for the Breeders’ Plate National Title.

This is the first time that the event has been held in Dubbo and Event Director, Edwena Mitchell, hopes it will be the home of the championships for a few years to come.

“We need a really big venue and Dubbo showground provides an ideal site,” explained Mitchell.

“It is great to take these big events to the rural areas, riders enjoy it and it is great for the local community.

“We have been well supported by the local Pony Club and Dubbo Eventing and Showjumping Association and ideally, Dubbo will be the location of this event for a number of years.”

The national championships are a feature event on the competitive Australian jumping circuit. Australian horses and riders have made an impression on the international scene over the last 12 months. Home grown horses have produced world class results as demonstrated by Vivant (=7^th at the 2010 World Cup Final), Ashleigh Drossel Dan (winner of the 2011 Global Champions Tour of Doha CSI5*) and ASB Conquistador (recently placed 7^th at the CSI-W Grand Prix of Showpark in California).

World number one female jumping rider, Edwina Alexander, cut her teeth on the Australian jumping scene.  Australia’s future international jumping stars will undoubtedly emerge from the dust of Dubbo.

For event specific information please contact Edwena Mitchell at emcat@bigpond.com or phone 0419 64 2053.

Quick Link

• View the full program of events
• Read 'Five Minutes With... Tom McDermott'
• Read 'Five Minutes With... Paula and Olivia Hamood'
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Story & Photo: Equestrian Australia