Australian Jumping Team takes shape

2013 Australian Show Jumping Champion, Jamie Kermond and London 2012 Olympic team reserve, Amy Graham have satisfied the requirements of automatic nomination to the Australian Jumping Team for the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG).

Graham and Kermond are the top two ranked riders after Australia’s two round nomination series which stared a week ago in Mons (Belgium) with eight shortlisted combinations. The series required riders to compete in a qualifying round and Grand Prix at both the Mons CSI4* and this weekend’s Spangenberg (GER) CSI3* accumulating no more than 20 penalties along the way. As the top two ranked riders at the end of the series, Graham and Kermond join early nominated rider Edwina Tops-Alexander  on Australia’s Jumping team bound for WEG.

Leading into the Spangenberg Grand Prix which was held overnight, Graham and Kermond were the only riders still eligible for automatic nomination. Graham had some breathing space with 11 penalties in-hand, but the pressure was on for Kermond who couldn’t afford any jumping penalties as he only had three spare. 

Both riders were outstanding among the field of 50 in particular Graham and her mount Bella Baloubet who produced one of 12 clear rounds to progress to the jump off where the pair was clear and fast once more finishing on the podium in third position.

Having already accumulated 17 penalties before starting in Sunday’s Grand Prix, Kermond and his mount Quite Cassini could not afford a mistake and the combination handled the pressure with ease picking up just one time penalty.

Kermond has once been to the World Equestrian Games in 2006 (Aachen) but Normandy will be the first World Championships for 28 year old Graham who is based an hour from the Games precinct

National Jumping Selectors will choose a further two combinations to make up the Australian team of five with an announcement expected shortly. 

London Olympians Julia Hargreaves (Vedor) and James Paterson-Robinson (Boris) also contested the Spangenberg Grand Prix with Hargreaves finishing with 9 penalties and JPR with 8. 

12 July 2014

Mixed results for Australia's Jumping Elite

Australia' two round jumping nomination series continued overnight producing mixed results for riders vying for automatic selection to the Australian team for the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG).

Leading into this weekend’s Spangenberg (GER) CSI3* there were three riders eligible for two positions offered through automatic selection – Amy Graham, Jamie Kermond and James Paterson-Robinson. But with penalties from the overnight Grand Prix qualifier added to each of the riders’ running scores it is Amy Graham and Jamie Kermond who remain in contention for these positions. 

Graham and her mount Bella Baloubet were the standout performers of the Australians picking up one time penalty and finishing 12^th in the class of 88 starters. Jamie Kermond and Quite Cassini had 8 penalties while Paterson-Robinson and Boris picked up 12.  

With only Sunday’s Grand Prix to contest, the overnight results give Graham some breathing space as she has now accumulated 9 penalties in the series thus far. It is a nervous time for Kermond who has a total of 17 penalties and he has little room for error in the Grand Prix, which he still needs to qualify for if he is to be eligible for automatic nomination (In accordance with the selection policy only combinations that produce a total of 20 penalties or less from the qualifier and Grand Prix from each nomination round are eligible for automatic nomination).  

It is not the end of the road for London Olympian and WEG 2010 representative Paterson-Robinson who carried 12 penalties leading into the overnight qualifier. He is eligible to be considered by national selectors for discretionary nomination to the Australian team.

Although not eligible for automatic nomination, combinations from Australia’s jumping short list are still in contention for discretionary nomination to the Australian team and the following combinations competed in the overnight Grand Prix qualifier at Spangenberg and produced the following scores:

Julia Hargreaves & Vedor - 2

Thaisa Erwin & Matilda - 12

James Passey & Yirrkala Cortina - 12

David Goodwin & Warrego Jericho - 13

Australia’s Jamie Winning and Wirragulla Nickalus also stepped out at the event finishing on a score of 5 penalties.

Riders selected to Australia’s Jumping Team for the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games through automatic and discretionary nomination will join Edwina Tops-Alexander who earned early nomination to the Australian team.  (Read the process of selection HERE).

11 July 2014

Spangenberg to close Australia's World Equestrian Games Jumping Nomination Series

Australia's two round jumping nomination series will come to a close this weekend at the Spangenberg (GER) CSI3* where three riders will go head to head for two positions on Australia's team for the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG).

The three combinations that remain alive in the series are Amy Graham and Bella Baloubet, Jamie Kermond and Quite Cassini and James Paterson-Robinson and Boris. They’ll each take part in a Grand Prix qualifier on Friday evening and must progress through to Sunday’s Grand Prix if they are to remain in contention.

Should all three make it through to the Grand Prix, the top two ranked combinations will be awarded a position on the Australian team, so long as the total number of penalties they accumulate during the qualifier and Grand Prix from each nomination round is no greater than 20 (this is in accordance with the selection policy).

Amy Graham carries eight penalties into this weekend’s decider and has a small lead over Jamie Kermond who has nine penalties. James Paterson-Robinson has the least room for error with 12 penalties.

Graham says her horse is feeling fresh and happy after the first nomination event last week.

“I felt confident and happy going into Mons. Bella has come off a long break after a small injury and had only jumped in saint Tropez before coming to Mons.

“I made two mistakes that could have been avoided, 0 penalties is always the desired outcome, but we keep fighting and will be trying for a better result this weekend.

“I've worked really hard these last two years to try to have some solid consistent performances. I've tried to get into some big shows and jump well. Bella has really performed well and so I was feeling excited about Mons but not much pressure,” reflected Graham.

Eight combinations started the two round nomination series but with scores tight amongst the large international field in last weekend’s nominated qualifier only three combinations progressed to the Grand Prix.

Although they are not eligible for automatic nomination shortlisted combinations are still in contention for discretionary nomination to the Australian team and will compete at Spangenberg this weekend. The only exception to this is Alison Rowland and Bickley Brook Bella after Equestrian Australia was advised that Bickley Brook Bella would be withdrawing from further consideration for WEG2014 selection.

Those remaining on the shortlist include: Julia Hargreaves & Vedor; David Goodwin & Warrego Jericho; Thaisa Erwin & Matilda; James Passey & Yirrkala Cortina.