New look National Young Rider Selection Series launches

A new-look National Young Rider Selection Series has been developed for 2016.  The series offers Young Riders in Jumping an opportunity to compete in a national series in which they obtain ranking points which will contribute to an overall leaderboard.

The 19 round series will include three rounds in each state as well as the Australian Show Jumping Championships. 

The series is modelled off the Australian League of the FEI World Cup Jumping Series, giving young people the chance to experience a truly national competition which will also offer prizemoney to the overall top three placegetters at the end of the season. A group of Young Rider families has stepped up to sponsor the initiative and as further financial support is secured the scope of initiatives will be expanded. 

Athletes may ride up to three horses in each round but like World Cup rules they will only earn points on one horse, which must be declared prior to the start of competition. Read more about the criteria here.

The National Jumping Committee (NJC) has evolved the series in an effort to recognise the performance of Young Riders across the country. The structure of the Series will recognise consistency of performance at the top level.

The sponsors will look to host and acknowledge the current Young Rider Squad at an informal gathering ahead of the Australian Showjumping Championships. It is hoped this will be an annual get together for Young Riders in Jumping.

Visit the Jumping Young Rider website

The NJC has also advised the National Talent Identification Series (TIE) will not run in 2016 after it agreed that young horse classes being run around the country are fulfilling the objectives of the TIE. The NJC believes recognition should be given to young horses competing in Australia, not only for the horses but also for their breeders, owners and riders.

The NJC will encourage and strongly support organising committees that would like to conduct young horse classes, futurity's and future stars competitions, as performances in these competitions will be used to form the National Jumping Futures Recognition Squad.

The NJC looks forward to the upcoming Jumping season and seeing the development of the Australian domestic show jumping scene.