Author: spec

Third place was held down by Team Chatham Park, which also had clear rounds by Tom McDermott (his seventh in the AJTL) and Kate Hinschen, with Amelia Douglass having a refusal and incurring two-time penalties to see them on a total of six. Fittingly, the top three teams in the overall Series leaderboard going into the final leg, were the top three teams, in order, at the half-way mark of that leg.

Team Yandoo Park and Team Horsepower, who were having their best leg of the entire Series were back in fourth and fifth place having taken two rails each, incurring eight penalties.

The following table lists the number of penalties incurred by each combination in Round One.

By combining the above scores for each team, the full team standings after Round One were as follows:

Unfortunately for Team Martin Collins Australia and Team Kiernan Haulage, under the AJTL competition rules, only the top eight teams are eligible to continue to Round Two. With just a single rail separating the top five teams, it looked like the final leg was going to be an absolute nail-biter!

Round Two

Coming out in seeded order, the situation grew even more intriguing after each team’s first rider had completed Round Two. Jess Brown again went clear to keep Team Horsepower in the hunt on a total of eight, however Jamie Winning-Kermond (YAN) took a rail to move her team up to 12. Kate Hinchen (CHA) incured a single time penalty, while Katie Laurie kept Team Willinga Park in the lead with a clear round. Amanda Madigan then got her chance to go clear and keep Team Emcee Apparel tied with Team Willinga Park, however a rail took them to a total of eight.

After four rides, the top five placed teams were Team Willinga Park on 4, Team Chatham Park on 7, Team Emcee Apparel and Team Horsepower on 8 and Team Yandoo Park dropping off the pace on 12.

The next stage of Round Two saw the under 25 riders from each team ride and once again, the landscaped changed almost after every ride. Erin Buswell (HOR) took a rail to move them to 12, however Madeline Sinderberry (YAN) took two rails, to drop her team back into the pack. Amelia Douglass (CHA) recovered from her Round One ride to record a clear, putting the pressure squarely in the face of Brooke Langbecker (WIL). Langbecker rode a magnificent clear round to keep Team Willinga Park in the lead. Next to go was Jess Tripp from Team Emcee Apparel, who, unfortunately for them, took a few rails and a couple of time penalties to incur a total of 14, meaning that their chance of victory in this leg was on very shaky ground.

With just one rider to go for each team, there were only three teams left in the competition with a realistic chance of winning the leg. Team Willinga Park were leading, still on just the four penalties. Team Chatham Park were three points back on seven, however, notably within a rail of the lead. Team Horsepower were in third on 12, ready to pounce should either of the first two get the wobbles.

Last rider out for Team Horsepower was Clem Smith who needed a clear round to keep his team in with a chance of winning, however it was not to be. A rail at the last and a single time penalty saw Team Horsepower move to total of 17. Unless the two leaders made major mistakes, they could not win, however, 17 was enough to earn them third place when the scores were sorted out at the end of the event.

Last to go for team Chatham Park was Tom McDermott and his lovely mare Elegance de la Charmille. He rode a brilliant round to again go clear, his eighth of the Series, and in doing so kept the pressure right on Team Willinga Park, which were the next team to go.

As Billy Raymont and Anton entered the arena, the excitement and tension were palpable. It is unlikely that there has ever been a higher pressure ride in the history of the sport in Australia, and certainly not one worth as much prize money. Raymont had two options available to him. He could complete the course incurring less than two penalties to secure not only the leg win for Team Willinga, but ensure that his team won the whole series and therefore take home $44,000 of the $80,000 Series prizemoney. Alternatively, he could take a rail (or more). This would mean that Team Chatham Park would win the leg, which would give them enough points to secure the overall series, relegating Team Willinga to second place in each. With a total prizemoney differential of $40,000, Raymont had quite a decision to make.

He and Anton rode a measured careful round. If the spectators were riding with him every step of the way, then it was nothing compared to the animated contortions of his teammates as they physically willed them over every jump. Raymont, himself looked as if they were out for a Sunday afternoon stroll in the park. The pressure didn’t show and in the end, he made the right decision by his teammates – a clear round with just a single time penalty to secure the win in both the leg and the Series.

After Round Two, the penalty count for each rider was as follows:

Based on these individual scores, team positions and totals after Round Two were:

The final results for Leg 4 are as follows:

Below is the series point score at the conclusion of the Series:

The $80,000 series prize money was split 55%, 30% and 15%, so Team Willinga Park won $44,000, Team Chatham Park $24,000 and Team Emcee Apparel $12,000.

This afternoon saw the running of the third leg of the Australian Jumping Teams League (AJTL) series for 2019 at Sale, in Victoria, as part of Elms World Cup Show. With the series at the half way point going into this leg, it was desperate times for most teams as they either faced a steep climb up the leader board to reach the top before the Series concludes, or the pressure of trying to stay at or near the top.

As with the previous rounds, each team was required to name its three competing combinations and their order yesterday and to recap, here are the riders named for each team.

Team Takapoto Estate Showjumping (TAK): Will Dight (U25), Paul Brent and Olivia Hamood.
Team Equine International Airfreight (EIA): Chris Chugg, Elliott Reeves (U25) and James Arkins.
Team Kiernan Haulage (KIE): Andrew Lamb, Jasmine Dennison (U25) and Russell Johnstone.
Team Emcee Apparel (EMC): Jessie Rice-Ward (U25), Jess Tripp (U25) and Jennifer Wood.
Team Chatham Park (CHA): Amber Fuller, Amelia Douglass (U25), and Tom McDermott.
Team Horsepower (HOR): Jess Brown, Erin Buswell (U25) and James Mooney.
Team Oaks Sport Horses (OAK): Alison Rowland, Izabella Stone (U25) and Stephen Dingwall.
Team Yandoo Park (YAN): Jamie Winning-Kermond, Melissa Blair and Madeline Sinderberry (U25).
Team Martin Collins Australia (MAR): Brook Dobbin, Jamie Priestley (U25) and Rhys Stones.
Team Willinga Park (WIL): Katie Laurie, Brooke Langbecker (U25) and Billy Raymont.

In a departure from the usual jumping attire of jackets and ties, the teams for the AJTL ride in long sleeved polo shirts in their team colours. Today, black arm-bands were worn by the riders from all teams as a mark of respect for the recent passing of a great friend to many, Carole Mason. Having not had the pleasure of meeting Carole ourselves, we asked Greg McDermott about his great friend Carole who he described as “a lovely person”. In her younger years, Carol was a competitive showjumper, who continued as a huge supporter and lover of the sport and was an owner of a number of great horses. Many current riders, have had the opportunity of riding one of Carole’s horses over the years and it was particularly pertinent that Glenara Cognac, ridden today by Alison Rowland is owned by Carole’s estate.

Today’s competition saw jumping of the highest quality with ten combinations recording double clears, however it was the closeness of the competition and the excitement as the competition reached its climax that will most be remembered by the spectators.

Warm sunny conditions greeted the riders as they, one-by-one, tackled the course built by Gavin Chester as a small but knowledgeable crowd watched on.

As they did in Sydney in the second leg, Will Dight (TAK) and Thea were the first combination on course and started with a couple of rails and a time penalty. The very next combination on course was Chris Chugg (EIA) and his mare KG Queenie, who immediately proved that the course could be mastered by going clear with a time more than four seconds under the time allowed of 84 seconds. When Jessie Rice-Ward (EMC) and Dusky Farm Cavalier, fourth out, also went clear, the day might have started to look a little ominous for many of the other teams. In just four combinations, the two clears were recorded by the top two teams on the leader board coming into this leg. By the time that each team had seen one combination tackle the course, there were still just the two clears, however two other combinations, Amber Fuller (CHA) and CP Aretino and Brook Dobbin (MAR) and Gina MVNZ had recorded just a single time penalty.

This set the precedent for the these teams as clear rounds came thick and fast for the rest of the combinations. For Team Equine International Airfreight, clears were recorded by Elliot Reeves and Aveden Indigo as well as James Arkins and Eurostar, leaving them on a perfect score of zero after Round One. Not to be outdone, Series leaders Team Emcee Apparel saw clears recorded by Jess Tripp and Diamond B Verona and Jennifer Wood and Cocaine Ego Z, to also finish on the perfect score, however, with a slightly slower combined time, they were relegated to second. Billy Raymont and Anton rounded of Round One with a clear for Willinga Park – leaving them in a good position for Round Two should any of the leaders faulter.

The following table lists the number of penalties incurred by each combination in Round One.

*After initially refusing a fence, Madi Sinderberry and Ciel retired from the round and as a result, in accordance with AJTL rules, were allocated a score equal to the highest number of penalties incurred by any other rider, plus 20.

By combining the above scores for each team, the team standings after Round One were as follows:

Unfortunately for Team Yandoo Park and Team Horsepower this was the end of their competition today, as only the top eight teams were eligible to continue on to Round Two. With only a rail separating the top five teams and four within a single time penalty, Round Two had all the prospects of being a real nail-biter.

Coming out in reverse seeded order, the first three combinations all recorded a rail, causing these teams to fall further behind the leaders. Team Martin Collins Australia, represented by Brook Dobbin and Team Chatham Park, represented by Amber Fuller both went clear to keep their teams on just a single penalty and breathing down the next of the two leading teams. If Jessie Rice-Ward was feeling any pressure, she certainly didn’t show it as she completed a clear round, her team’s fourth of the day to keep Team Emcee Apparel on the perfect score of zero. Chris Chugg was next out, however, unfortunately for him and his team, they accidentally took a jump out of order and were eliminated from the round. The penalties applied to his score took his team out of contention leaving three teams with just a point separating them. Four rides completed, two to go.

During the second wave of Round Two, the two under 25 year old riders, Amelia Douglass (CHA) and Sirius Du Granit and Jamie Priestley (MAR) and Courage both recorded their second clear rounds of the day, to keep their teams tied in second place on just a single penalty with one ride to go. Soon after, Jess Tripp (EMC) and Diamond B Verona got their chance to keep their team in the lead, but so tight was the competition, they were going to need their team’s fifth consecutive clear round to do so. Unfortunately for them they took just a single rail to drop the team back to third, leaving Team Chatham Park and Team Martin Collins Australia tied in the lead with just a one combination to go each.

The last combination for Team Chatham Park was Tom McDermott and Elegance De La Charmille and to say that they are currently in form would be an understatement. In fact, with wins in the Australian Senior Championship two weeks ago (click HERE) and a win in yesterday’s World Cup Qualifier (click HERE), it is impossible to imagine that they could be in better form. As he has a habit of doing lately, McDermott and “Charmille” rose to the occasion, completing a clear round in a very fast time, meaning that Team Chatham Park had finished on just a single penalty, throwing down the gauntlet to Rhys Stones (MCA) and Tulara Colmar. The commentators did some quick caclulations and told us that Stones had to not only ride clear, but if he did, it would come down to times to determine the Leg winners and therefore he had to finish in less than about 70 seconds.

The crowd held their breath as Stones and Tulara Colmar travelled the course, however, when they knocked a rail down towards the end of their ride, two sounds occurred nearly simultaneously. The first was a gasp from the crowd, who instantly knew that Team Martin Collins Australia’s chance of winning was gone, while the second was an excited yell of joy from the Chatham Park Team who knew that they could not be denied victory. Stones and Tulara Colmar went on to take another rail with them before finishing, giving Team Martin Collins Australia a total of nine penalties to finish fourth, making this by far their best leg of the series, given that in both previous legs, they had been eliminated prior to the start of round 2.

So Team Chatham Park (Amber Fuller, Amelia Douglass and Tom McDermott) took out the well deserved win as they were the only team to not take a rail during six individual rides. Team Willinga Park snuck into second place due to all three combinations in the second round going clear to finish on a total of four penalties, which tied with Team Emcee Apparel, however, Team Willinga Park recorded the faster aggregate time in Round 2.

With Team Martin Collins Australia finishing fourth, fifth and sixth placings had to be separated based on aggregate Round 2 times and thanks to a super fast time by Olivia Hamood and Knockout 111, Team Takapoto Estate Showjumping finished ahead of team Oaks Sport Horses.

After Round Two, the penalty count for each rider was as follows:

*Chris Chugg was eliminated from the round and as a result, in accordance with AJTL rules, was allocated a score equal to the highest number of penalties incurred by any other rider, plus 20.

Based on these individual scores, team positions and totals after Round Two were:

The final results of today’s competition are as follows:

Below is the series point score after three rounds:

The win by Team Chatham Park has seen them improve from seventh place on the leader board to third, still some seven points adrift of the very consistent Team Emcee Apparel, who retain the lead. Team Willinga Park, who are yet to actually win a leg of the Series, sit comfortably in second place. These three teams would seem to have the best chances of finishing in the top three and taking home a share of the $80,000 bonus prize money on offer at the end of the series. With 20 points on offer for the win and minimum of three points available even for coming last in the fourth leg, there are still six teams who have a theoretical chance of winning the inaugural season of the Australian Jumping Teams League.

We look forward to the fourth and final AJTL event, scheduled for Sunday 8 December at SIEC after which we will know all the final placings.

An enthusiastic and youthful crowd filled to near capacity the indoor arena at Sydney International Equestrian Centre (SIEC) last night, to witness the second leg of the Australian Jumping Teams League (AJTL). With a major Interschools event in full swing, the competitors by day were excited to see the jumping action provided by many of the best combinations in the country.

There was high expectation of a thrilling event and if it was even half as compelling as the first leg at Willinga Park it was going to be a fantastic night.

With only three of the four members of each team able to compete in each event, most teams made a change from their Round One Willinga Park line-ups. Here is how the teams shaped up.

Team Takapoto Estate Showjumping (TAK): Will Dight (U25), Paul Brent and Clint Beresford.
Paul Brent has his first AJTL ride, while Oivia Hamood sits this round out.

Team Martin Collins Australia (MAR): Rhys Stones, Jamie Priestley (U25) and Merrick Ubank.
Brook Dobbin did not make the trip up from Victoria, however, Merrick Ubank from Queensland takes his place.

Team Chatham Park (CHA): Kate Hinschen (U25), Amber Fuller and Tom McDermott.
Kate Hinschen comes in as the under 25 rider, replacing Amelia Douglass.

Team Yandoo Park (YAN): Jamie Winning-Kermond, Briar Burnett-Grant (U25) and Jamie Kermond.
Melissa Blair is replaced by Jamie Winning-Kermond

Team Oaks Sport Horses (OAK): Aaron Hadlow, Izabella Stone (U25) and Stephen Dingwall.
This team is unchanged from Round One with Alison Rowland waiting for her first ride.

Team Horsepower (HOR): Erin Buswell (U25), James Mooney and Clem Smith.
James Mooney comes into the team after recovering from a broken shoulder to replace stand-in Bridget Berry, while Jess Brown sits out to give Clem Smith his first ride in the series.

Team Willinga Park (WIL): David Cameron, Brooke Langbecker (U25) and Katie Laurie.
David Cameron gets his first ride in the competition while Billy Raymont sits this one out.

Team Equine International Airfreight (EIA): Gabrielle Kuna, Elliott Reeves (U25) and Chris Chugg.
James Arkins sits this round out, with Gabrielle Kuna getting her first ride.

Team Emcee Apparel (EMC): Amanda Madigan, Jess Tripp (U25) and Jennifer Wood.
Jennifer Wood replaces Jess Rice-Ward in the winning team from Round One

Team Kiernan Haulage (KIE): Brooke Campbell, Jasmine Dennison (U25) and Russell Johnstone.
This team remains unchanged so Andrew Lamb will have to wait until at least Series Round Three for his first ride.

After some competitive cheering from the youngsters from each State, Will Dight (TAK) riding Thea, kicked off the action on a beautiful looking course. We only had a short wait until the cheers rang out for the first clear round achieved by Kate Hinschen (CHA) and Finch Farm Cadel. Immediately after her, Jamie Winning-Kermond (YAN) and Yallambi’s Galliano also cleared all the rails, but unfortunately for them, they were just outside the adjusted course time of 78 seconds. Willinga Park Rider David Cameron and Finch Farm Clifford also went clear, as did AJTL debutant Gabrielle Kuna (EIA) and Flaire.

Team Emcee Apparel rider Amanda Madigan and Diamond B Vivienne added to the clears to repeat her double clear effort from the first event 2 weeks ago, and in fact, Team Emcee Apparel were yet to take a rail in the whole series. The last team of the ten to appear tonight, Brooke Campbell (KIE) and Copabella Voltage rode fantastically to record a clear round as well, despite seeming to get just a little lost at one point on their journey around the course. So after 10 rides, there were five teams tied for the lead on a perfect score of zero.

any of the teams opted to send their under 25 year old rider out second in their order, which made for exciting jumping. Two of the five teams recorded penalties, leaving just three teams tied for the lead on a perfect score. These clears were achieved by Brooke Langbecker (WIL) and Beijing LS La Silla, Jess Tripp (EMC) and Diamond B Verona (to keep Team Emcee Apparel’s perfect Series intact) and Jasmine Dennison (KIE) and Nicolossi, who completed the course over two seconds faster than any other combination.

The third combinations from each of these three teams also went clear to leave us with a three-way tie at the end of Round One. All were great rides, achieved by Katie Laurie (WIL) and Cera Caruso, Jennifer Wood (EMC) and Cassando B and Russell Johnstone (KIE) and Daprice. Amazingly Team Emcee Apparel had now had nine rides in the AJTL without incurring a single penalty.

So after Round One, there were three teams with perfect records, however as they had a faster combined time Team Kiernan Haulage were in first place, Team Willinga in second and Team Emcee Apparel had to settle for third.

The number of penalties recorded by each rider in Round One is listed below:

The team standings after round One were as follows:

Unfortunately for Team Martin Collins Australia and Team Takapoto Estate Showjumping, under the AJTL competition rules, only the top eight teams are eligible to continue on to Round Two. With only a rail separating the top five teams Round Two had all the prospects of being a real nail-biter.

First of the three leading teams was Team Emcee Apparel represented by Amanda Madigan and Diamond B Vivienne. They went clear to maintain their perfect record and remain in the lead. Next was David Cameron (WIL) who attempted to do the same, however, a few rails meant that Team Willinga Park had to surrender their share of the lead. Brooke Campbell (KIE) and Copabella Voltage took a single rail, meaning that Team Emcee Apparel still had a perfect record and were alone in the lead tonight. It was starting to look like these girls were invincible! All they had to do was keep up their perfect record and they could not be beaten.

During the next phase, where each of the eight teams still in the competition send out their second riders, the pressure was really on. Jess Tripp (EMC) who up until now had not taken a rail in the whole AJTL, had a round that they would not have been happy with, taking three rals and incurring a time penalty. This blew the competition wide open, surrending the lead to Team Kiernan Haulage. Their second last rider, Jasmine Dennison had the opportunity to consolidate their position, but, like Tripp before her, a couple of rails when they were least wanted put them back in the pack. With Team Emcee Apparel and Team Kiernan Haulage both back now on 12 penalties, the lead was overtaken by Team Oaks Sport Horses, who had only incurred nine penalties to date.

The last combination for Team Oaks Sport Horses was Stephen Dingwall and Cavalier Du Rouet. Their task was a simple one. Incur less than three penalties and they could not be beaten, even with three combinations to come. Unfortunately for his team, they took a rail to place them back in third position, leaving the door open for Team Emcee Apparel and Team Kiernan Haulage, who now again shared the lead on 12 penalties. Swings and roundabouts!

The last rider for Team Emcee Apparel, Jennifer Wood, unfortunately took a rail and with it went their chance of winning. So once again, the AJTL came down to the last combination. Team Kiernan Haulage were in the lead and would stay there if the very experienced Russell Johnstone and Daprice could get around the course while leaving all the rails intact. In fact, as they held the lead by just a single penalty, they had to be quick as well, which would not be easy, given almost half the field had incurred a time penalty in Round Two.

Perhaps surprisingly, the crowd was completely hushed as Johnstone and Daprice went about their business in a calm confident manner. As they crossed the finish, wild applause and cheering broke out as Johnstone had achieved what he had set out to do and Team Kiernan Haulage were the victors by the smallest of margins to secure the $40,000 first prize money.

At had been a fascinating night, full of drama as the lead changed hands several times. Showjumping at its best!

After Round Two, the penalty count for each rider was as follows:

Based on these individual scores, team positions and totals after Round Two were:

The final results of tonights competition are as follows:

Below is the unoffical series point score after two rounds:

We look forward to the third AJTL event, scheduled for Sunday 24 November at Sale.

Under the clearest of blue skies on the most beautiful of spring days, the first round of the inaugural season of the Australian Jumping Teams League (AJTL) was held this afternoon at Willinga Park on the NSW South Coast. In a thrilling contest, held in front of an enthralled crowd, Team Emcee Apparel, took the victory, with Team Yandoo filling second place and Team Willinga Park running third, but only after tying with Team Yandoo on penalties and having to be split on times.

The contest came right down to the end, with Team Emcee Apparel being the only team to complete all six rides clear and claim the win. Let’s review how the excitement unfolded.

Ten corporate owned teams; Team Chatham Park – (CHA), Team Emcee Apparel – (EMC), Team Equine International Airfreight – (EIA), Team Horsepower – (HOR), Team Kiernan Haulage – (KIE), Team Martin Collins Australia – (MAR), Team Oaks Sport Horses – (OAK), Team Takapoto Estate Showjumping – (TAK) , Team Willinga Park – (WIL) and Team Yandoo – (YAN) were represented today. Each team was comprised today by three of their four team members, with one competing member required to be less than 25 years old. For details of the competing riders and the order draw conducted last night, please click HERE.

Round One saw all thirty riders do their best over the beautifully designed 1.40m course. It wasn’t long before we saw our first clear round by Amanda Madigan (EMC) and Diamond B Vivienne, which was closely followed by the second by James Arkins (EIA) and Eurostar 1. Melissa Blair (YAN) and Zidora also went clear so that after each team had sent their first rider around the course, there were three teams tied on the best possible score of zero.

When the second riders from each team took to the course, Team Emcee Apparel representative, Jess Tripp (EMC) and Diamond B Verona went clear, keeping them in the lead. Her performance was matched by Elliott Reeves (EIA) and Aveden Indigo and later by New Zealander Briar Burnett-Grant (YAN) and Fiber Fresh Veroana keeping these three teams tied in first place with perfect scores.

Jessie Rice-Ward (EMC) was the third rider and by also going clear, it meant that her team had finished Round One on zero penalties to really put the heat on the other clear teams.

If Chris Chugg (EIA) and KG Queenie were feeling the pressure, then it certainly did not show, because they also went clear to retain a share of the lead. Jamie Kermond (YAN) and Yandoo Oaks Constellation also matched their rivals to retain a three way lead ofter Round One.

So after Round One, there were three teams with perfect records, however as they had a faster combined time, Team Yandoo were in first place, Team Emcee in second and Team Equine International Airfreight had to settle for the third spot.

The number of penalties recorded by each rider in Round One is listed below:

*Due to a fall, the rider was eliminated. Penalties are allocated as highest completed score +20

Based on these individual scores, team positions and totals after Round One were:

Unfortunately for Team Martin Collins Australia and Team Horsepower, under the AJTL competition rules, only the top eight teams are eligible to continue on to Round Two. With only a rail separating the top six teams, Round Two had all the prospects of being a real nail-biter.

Just as they did in Round One, the three leading teams had their first riders, namely James Arkins (EIA), Amanda Madigan (EMC), and Melissa Blair (YAN), all go clear to keep it tied on zero penalties at the top of the leaderboard.

Elliott Reeves (EIF) and Aveden Indigo attempted to produce the fifth clear round for his team, however took a rail and, at least temporarily, lost the lead. By going clear Jess Tripp (EMC) and Diamond B Verona, kept their team’s perfect record and now the pressure was on the Team Yandoo. Unfortunately for them the next Yandoo rider Briar Burnett-Grant took a rail, leaving Team Emcee Apparel in the lead by themselves. As a number of the last riders from each team went clear, the pressure was on when Team Emcee Apparel’s final rider, Jessie Rice-Ward and CP Southern Cross hit the course. If they could go clear then they could not be beaten. In a fantastic pressure ride by the youngest competitor in the field, Rice-Ward completed her team’s sixth clear round to secure the victory and the $40,000 prize money.

After Round Two, the penalty count for each rider was as follows:

Based on these individual scores, team positions and totals after Round Two were:

Teams Yandoo, Willinga and Equine International Airfreight could only be separated by aggregate times of the three riders in Round Two.

The competition was of the highest class with the top four teams, recording only three rails between them after 24 individual rides, however, with a perfect record, and with two under 25 riders competing today, Team Emcee Apparel were the deserved winners.

After the first AJTL event for the season, unofficially, the Teams pointscore table looks like this:

We look forward to the second AJTL event, scheduled for 1 October at SIEC.

After two months of great anticipation, the wait is almost over. Tomorrow will see the Australian Jumping Teams League (AJTL) spring into life with the first of four events to be held at Willinga Park, a magnificent purpose built equine property located at Bawley Point on the NSW South Coast.

With only three riders from each team of four being eligible to ride at each event, Team Managers were required to nominate their riders for the Willinga Park event today. Each team of three, including the required under 25-year-old rider, is listed below.

Team Chatham Park: Amelia Douglass (U25), Amber Fuller, and Tom McDermott.
Team Emcee Apparel: Amanda Madigan, Jessie Rice-Ward (U25) and Jess Tripp (U25).
Team Equine International Airfreight: James Arkins, Chris Chugg and Elliott Reeves (U25).
Team Horsepower: Jess Brown, Erin Buswell (U25) and Bridget Berry.
Team Kiernan Haulage: Brooke Campbell, Jasmine Dennison (U25) and Russell Johnstone.
Team Martin Collins Australia: Brook Dobbin, Jamie Priestley (U25) and Rhys Stones.
Team Oaks Sport Horses: Stephen Dingwall, Aaron Hadlow, and Izabella Stone (U25).
Team Takapoto Estate Showjumping: Clint Beresford, Olivia Hamood and Will Dight (U25).
Team Willinga Park: Brooke Langbecker (U25), Katie Laurie and Billy Raymont.
Team Yandoo: Melissa Blair, Jamie Kermond and Briar Burnett-Grant (U25).

This evening a draw was held to determine the order in which the teams would ride in tomorrow’s event. With teams definitely showing their preference for start positions, it was a electric evening with much team spirit and rivalry on display,

The team order for the AJTL Round One will be as follows:

With $100,000 prize money, as well as valuable points in the overall AJTL competition on offer, the competion is sure to be hot right from the start. The pressure will be on all riders, as every rail will count towards their teams’ performance and overall standing in the race for Series prize money of $500,000.

The action is scheduled to start at 2:00 pm tomorrow. If you live close enough to get to Willinga Park, tickets can be purchased HERE. We extend our best wishes to all competitors and teams for tomorrow’s competition!

When we announced, back in July, the launch of the Australian Jumping Teams League (AJTL), we knew there would be great anticipation for the first event at Willinga Park. Well, the time has flown and now the first event is almost upon us –  this coming Friday.

Since the launch two months ago, many of the details of how the competition will run have been finalised and we are delighted to summarise them below for you.

Firstly, the teams will assemble at the beautiful Willinga Park at Bawley Point on the NSW South Coast on Thursday. By Thursday at noon, each team will nominate the three riders (including at least one under 25 yrs) and horses who will line up to represent them in the first event of the four-event series. Later, on Thursday evening, a draw will take place to determine the order in which the teams will ride  We will bring these details to you as soon as they become available.

When the competition commences at 2:00pm on Friday, each team (in draw order) will be represented by their first rider. The second block of ten will see another rider from each team and finally, the last 10 riders on course will comprise of the final rider from each team. After all 30 riders have completed the course, the penalties incurred by each team’s three riders will be added with teams then ranked by the penalty total. Just a couple of things to note here, if teams are tied on penalties, then time taken will come into play. Also, if any rider is eliminated or retires during Round One, then they will be allocated the highest number of penalties incurred by any other rider in that round, plus 20 penalties. If a further combination from any team is eliminated or retires, then the whole team will be eliminated from the event.

After Round One, only the top eight ranked teams will proceed to Round Two, where the order will be the reverse of the rankings from Round 1. Again, eliminations and retirement will incur the maximum penalties from any combination in Round Two, plus 20 penalties. When all 24 combinations have completed Round Two, the total penalties for each team in Rounds One and Two will be added and teams ranked according to these penalty totals to determine the overall placings for the event.

After the completion of the second round, the team incurring the least total penalties will be the declared the winner and awarded 20 points and win $40,000. Next lowest total penalties will score 17 point and earn $20,000 points, and so on, according to the following table.

Points awarded over each of the four AJTL events will be added to determine the overall series winners.

Australian Jumping will be at Willinga Park to cover all the action and keep you up to date with team results.