The final Young Rider Showjumping Squad for 2003 saw the announcement of the Victorian Young Riders who will be travelling on teams in 2004. This innovation for Victorian Young Showjumpers can only be a good thing for the future of showjumping in Australia as more and more Young Riders are exposed to travelling overseas and working together as teams.
February 2003 saw the first tour to Britain where the team consisted of Russell Morrison, Matt Williams, Jamie Kermond, Andrew Long and Scottie Barclay and all the boys did extremely well and were exceptional ambassadors for Victoria Young Showjumpers. Russell Morrison took out the honours as Leading Rider of the Show which began an excellent year for Rusty in his last year as a Young Rider which saw him go from strength to strength and capped off the year with a win in the Sale World Cup Qualifier.
2004 sees one team again heading to Britain and the second team heading to the North Island of New Zealand.
The British tour takes team members to Towerlands in Braintree, Essex which is in driving distance from Stanstead Airport. Towerlands is owned by the Hunnables, long time supporters of top level International showjumping and there are as yet unconfirmed shows being a possibility in Lancashire and Scotland. The Towerland show runs from 15th to 17th March, 2004.
The Team heading to Towerlands is: Amy Johnstone, Andrew Long, Jamie Kermond, Matt Williams and Scottie Barclay.
Amy Johnstone heads to England on 9th February, along with Queensland young rider Rebecca Crack and they will be basing with Nick Saville of Panama Sporthorses who supplied horses for the Australian team in March 2003 and Nick was also Chef d'equip for the touring British team to Australia in November/December 2003.
Scottie Barclay heads back to Ireland on 10th February where he will continue riding for Kill International Equestrian Centre and he will be joining the team in Essex.
At the time of going to air there is no confirmation of Chef d'equip and Coach for the England tour.
The New Zealand Team head out the week before the England tour and this team consists of: Amanda Barclay, Cassie White, Emma Flemingham, Leigh Shera-Jones and Michael Webster.
Again no announcement has been made of Chef d'equip and Coach.
We wish both teams the best of luck in their adventures and jumpingaround.com will be "on tour" with the England team and we will bring you full coverage including photos within hours of the classes finishing so make sure you make us your homepage so that when you log on you will get the latest straight from the event.
