The 18th National Vaulting Championships Wrap Up

The 18^th National Championships were held in the indoor arena at the Mallala Equestrian Centre.

The competition began on Friday, starting with the vet check. All horses made it through the vet check on Friday.

There were over 80 competitors attending the Championships. Competitors came from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. The competition was spread over four days in order to assist with placing interstate vaulters on local horses.

The standard of competition in Australian vaulting continues to improve. This is evident through all competition levels, with our lowest classes also demonstrating good technical skills and our horses achieving much better scores. This is great to see and will be a huge benefit as our competitors move into our higher level competition.  

At the top level, we had Zachary Singlehurst, our male individual competitor at WEG Normandy, competing at the championships. After compulsories, James Hocking on Super Special lunged by Nina Fritzell, was in the lead in the Open Male Individual Class. However Zac’s strong technical test and freestyle saw him come through to take out the National Male title on his horse Iramoo Megabyte, lunged by Wendy Singlehurst.

In the women’s division there was also strong competition with seven individual females vying for the National title. Ruth Skrzypek was in the lead after the compulsories, however Kayla Brewer had an outstanding performance in technical test and freestyle, which saw her take the Women’s National Champion Title.

The Advanced individual was one of the largest competitive fields, with great performances from many vaulters. Natalie McNeil had an almost flawless freestyle routine on the SA horse Skansen Duan lunged by Nina Fritzell. Natalie claimed the Advanced Women’s title. Jarrod Boyle on Hunterview Sinatra lunged by Robyn Boyle, came in ahead of Jakob Bell for the Advanced Male Title.

Team competition saw two canter teams competing, with the Open Squad title once again claimed by the defending Champions from Fassifern, Queensland, on Kamilaroi Cavalier, lunged by Melanie Fedrick.  The Intermediate Squad title went to PhEVA Heights on Goron Toron Griffen, lunged by Karen Blunden.

It was great to see more teams in the Associate team classes, with great performances across many clubs.

The Pas de Deux competition is growing in Australia. There were four Open Pas de Deux pairs and the competition was exciting to watch. A range of themes and styles kept the crowds’ attention, with high level performances across the Pas de Deux. The Championship title went to Mckeira Cumming and Zac Singlehurst on Iramoo Megabyte lunged by Wendy Singlehurst.

The Saturday and Sunday competition days were very hot for all competitors, with intense winds and sporadic rain adding further challenges for competitors, especially unsettling  horses.

Overall, it is great to see the standard of vaulting continue to develop in Australian vaulting.

Congratulations to everyone who attended the Championships.